Thread: Irish Civil Registration and Birth certificates

Hi all,

I've been asked to obtain a paper copy of 2 birth certificates for my father-in-law's parents. Both were born in Cork. I've got the details from FamilySearch, but I don't know what I need in order to order certificates. I've had a look on the web and everything seems to suggest that, rather than a reference number (as per UK certificates), I actually need a bunch of information that would seem to be from the certificate itself (parent's names, etc). Is that the case? I'm a bit confused. Isn't the point of getting these certificates to find out that information?

I'm hoping someone with experience of research in Ireland will be able to point me in the right direction. The record I have are below. Could someone please tell me what my next step needs to be?

Name Richard O'Keeffe

Registation District: Cork

Event Type: Births

Registration Quarter and Year: Oct-Dec- 1907

Film Number:101071

Volume Number: 5

Page Number: 87

Digital Folder Number: 4194690

Image Number: 00600





Name: Margaret Dawson

Registration District: Cork

Event Type Births

Registation Quarter and Year: Jul-Sept 1912

Film Number: 101074

Volume Number:5

Page Number: 105

Digital Folder Number: 4194693

Image Number: 00545

Orinoca I think The General Register Office Ireland :: An tSeirbhs um Chlr Sibhialta is what you need.

Thanks guys. So, is it really the case that I need to know the parents' names in order to order the certificate? That just seems bizarre. Surely the certificate should TELL me their names, or what's the point in getting it? Without getting the certificate how can I find out the names so that I can order the certificate? I'm getting really confused here...

This is the first time I've had to research records in Ireland and it's completely baffling compared with what I'm used to. Research in the UK is really straightforward, you find an index entry, it gives you a reference number, you give that reference number to the GRO and they send you a certificate, why is it so much more complicated in Ireland?

Am I making it more difficult than it needs to be? Do people who do research in Ireland not bother with certificates? Is there some other method I'm not aware of?

Apologies if I sound really frustrated, but basically I am. Any help appreciated, particularly anyone who's ordered these things before.

Hi Slizzy, yeah I came across that information too, but couldn't find anywhere that would actually let me order the certificates with just the volume and page number. I think I'm just going to call them and see if I can figure it out that way.

Thanks for that, Lola. I'll see what I can do with it. I think your RC Dawsons are more likely, but it'll take some figuring out. My wife's parents had an unusual approach to solving the religious issues implicit in one of them being catholic and the other protestant: They both became Mormons. It does suggest however, that my father-in-law's background is basically catholic.

You don’t need the parents names to order an Irish birth cert if you have the volume and page number. That will take them straight to the certificate. (The parents names etc are required when that info is not available). Your cheapest option incidentally is to order a photocopy which, provided they don’t have to do any searching, will only cost 4 euros. A lot cheaper than a full formal copy and it eliminates the possibility of transcription errors. Put the place, year, quarter (if there is one), volume & page number on the blank bit of the order form at the bottom of the first page.

You don’t have to pay by bankers order. You can pay by credit card, or some people just put euro notes in with the application. That works fine too except you won’t get any change if there is some due.

At present it takes about 7 to 10 days from when GRO Roscommon receive the order.