Genealogical Society of Ireland

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Genealogical Society of Ireland (Cumann Geinealais na hÉireann) is a voluntary non-governmental organisation promoting the study of genealogy, heraldry, vexillology and social history in Ireland and amongst the Irish Diaspora as open access educational leisure pursuits available to all. Founded in 1990, the Society has charitable status in Ireland and it is incorporated under the Companies Acts. Membership of the Society is open to all and therefore, the Society has both a national and international membership.

The Society is governed by a Board of Directors which is elected annually at the Annual General Meeting held in March of each year. The current Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) is Rory Stanley, FGSI [1] who was first elected in October 1996. The Society received a Grant of Arms from the Chief Herald of Ireland in 2001. The activities of the Society include two Open Meetings each month; the publication of a monthly newsletter, biannual journal and other occasional publications; the operation of an archive at the Martello Tower at Seapoint, Co. Dublin which was restored by the Society and various group projects. For further details on the Genealogical Society of Ireland please see the Society’s website: [2]

As a matter of policy the Society upholds and advocates the “principle of public ownership and right of access” to our heritage and in order to fully embrace the realities of a new and changing Ireland, the Society has adopted a comprehensive Social Inclusion Policy with the objective of encouraging and facilitating the fullest participation by the “New Irish” in the activities of the Society.

The Society does not engage in any commercial research assignments however, its members undertake their individual research in a professional manner to the highest standards. Indeed, many of the members of the Society have placed their research in the public arena through the submission of articles to various periodicals and in dedicated publications.

In May 2006, the Genealogy and Heraldry Bill, 2006, was introduced in Seanad Éireann (Irish Senate) by Senator Brendan Ryan. This Bill was researched, written and promoted by the Society, its officers, and members.