Books and Research Sources for Leitrim History

There is a wealth of sources on the history of Co Leitrim, many of which are online. This page attempts to list most of them, including books, archive sources, and especially online source.

Below, find information and links to sources, including:

  • Leitrim and the Revolution / Decade of Centenaries, including military archives
  • Archive and online material held by Leitrim County Library (including newspapers)
  • Parish histories
  • Census Returns, Griffith's Valuation, Tithe Applotment Books
  • Digitised rent books from Lord Leitrim’s estate at Lough Rynn
  • Irish Folklore Commission, The Schools’ Collection 1937-39
  • Historic 6" and 25" maps of towns
  • National Library images of Leitrim
  • Free and commercial genealogy sites and sources

Books about Leitrim

There are a number of wonderful books about Mohill and Leitrim, or by people connected to the area. These range from novels to history, and all provide essential insights and knowledge about our people and our past.

A selection is given under the About Mohill tab on this website:

https://loughrynn.net/books-about-mohill


Parish histories

Leitrim County Library has digitised and published a treasure trove of parish histories that can be read online. These include histories of Annaduff and Dromod, Aughavas, Ballinagera, Carrigallen, Cloone, Dromahaire, Drumshanbo, Eslin Bridge, Glenfarne, Kiltoghert, Kiltubrid as well as the Church of Ireland Story.


Research Sources

Building History & Heritage into the Mohill Public Realm Plan

In consultation with Mohill Historical Society, in November 2020, I made a submission to Leitrim County Council on its proposed Public Realm Improvement plan for Mohill town. 

The focus of the submission was a request to build more historical and heritage references into the plan - reminding the Council of Mohill's unique and comprehensive 15 centuries of visible history.

Some pages from the submission are below.


Access the original Leitrim County Council documents here >>>


For the full submission (and higher resolution text), click here or the button below >>>>

War of Independence & Civil War

Bureau of Military History, 1913-1921

The Bureau of Military History, 1913-1921, is an outstanding collection of 1,773 witness statements; 334 sets of contemporary documents; 42 sets of photographs and 13 voice recordings that were collected by the State between 1947 and 1957, in order to gather primary source material for the revolutionary period in Ireland from 1913 to 1921. 


It is also easy to search by keyword by clicking Search the Collection.

If you are search for reports from County Leitrim, for example, just enter Leitrim in the search bar. If you want to read statements relating to Cumann na mBan in Leitrim, just enter 'cumann na mban Leitrim'. If you have a name that might have been mentioned in a statement, enter the name in inverted commas.

If you want to find someone who made a statement, i.e. a 'witness', search Witnesses - where 10 names are listed (including two women an officer and a member of Cumann na mBan).

 Military Archives (Military Service Pensions Collection)

The Military Service Pensions Collection contains a wealth of information about Brigade Activity Reports, Truce Period Fatalities and access to War of Independence and military service records.

Search by individual, organisation and membership, including pension applications and awards and medal applications.


Decade of Centenaries at Leitrim County Library

The Decade of Centenaries 2021 website hosts commemorative content for county Leitrim for the Decade of Centenaries programme. The site has a valuable library of digitised books and articles of historical interest as well as recordings of interviews with Dr Padraig McGarty and Frank McGrail. It also showcases the Leitrim Local Studies Library and Archives Collections.





Land occupancy and ownership

Griffiths Valuation

The primary valuation of Ireland or Griffith's Valuation was carried out between 1848 and 1864 to determine liability to pay the Poor rate (for the support of the poor and destitute within each Poor Law Union). It provides detailed information on where people lived and the property they possessed.

Griffith's Valuation is fully searchable online, free of charge on AskAboutIreland.

You can search by person name or place name. In my experience, it is easier to search by place.


Tithe Applotment Books

Part of the National Archives, the Tithe Applotment Books were compiled 1823-37 to determine how much occupiers of agricultural holdings over one acre should pay in tithes to the Church of Ireland (the main Protestant church and the church established by the State until its dis-establishment in 1871).
There is a manuscript book for almost every civil (Church of Ireland) parish in the country giving the names of occupiers of each townland, the amount of land held and the sums to be paid in tithes. Because the tithes were levied on agricultural land, urban areas are not included. Unfortunately, the books provide only the names of heads of family, not other family members.

Search Tithe Applotment Books here >>>>

Lough Rynn Estate

Lough Rynn estate of Lord Leitrim

Most recently the NLI digitised and published rent books from the Lough Rynn estate of the Earl of Leitrim. They provide a fascinating and salutary insight into the lives of tenants on the estate.

Dating from the 1840s (and Famine years), and listed by townland, they record rent and comments on the farm and tenants. Some were ‘industrious’; some ‘poor’; some had been repossessed or served a ‘notice to quit’, some had fever and were ‘in great distress’.

See these here >>>

The image below is just an example.


Irish Folklore Commission, The Schools’ Collection


Between 1937 and 1939, approximately 740,000 pages (288,000 pages in the pupils’ original exercise books; 451,000 pages in bound volumes) of folklore and local tradition were compiled by pupils from 5,000 primary schools in the Irish Free State.

More than 50,000 schoolchildren from 5,000 schools in the 26 counties collected folklore in their home districts. This included oral history, topographical information, folktales and legends, riddles and proverbs, games and pastimes, trades and crafts. The children recorded this material from their parents, grandparents and neighbours.


Entries are searchable at the Dúchas.ie website: for entries for Leitrim, click here >>>

You might find the handwritten entry of a family member, but it's also a treasure trove of history as told by the children and community in which they lived.


Maps

For Historic 6" and 25" maps of towns, counties and country, build your own map at Geohive.


The people at Leitrim-Roscommon.com have done huge work and have maps for Leitrim showing:

  • Catholic Parishes
  • Townlands
  • Civil Parishes
  • Baronies
  • Poor Law Unions


Images and Photographs

The National Library has a large number of categorised images that are searchable online at http://catalogue.nli.ie.


Have a look through images related to Leitrim by entering Leitrim in the catalogue.nli.ie page, or here >>>


Free Genealogy sources and guidance

Census returns

The National Archives of Ireland: Census of Ireland 1901 & 1911 (also 1821, 1841, 1851, 1861).


IrishGenealogy.ie

The General Register Office (GRO) hosts
IrishGenealogy.ie and provides a free search of all official records of Irish births, deaths and marriages from 1864 and of non-Catholic marriages from 1845. Click here to search.


Leitrim-Roscommon resources in one place

If doing genealogical research on your Leitrim (or Roscommon) ancestors, your first port of call needs to be Leitrim-Roscommon.com 

These unsung heroes have compiled an incredible list of key online resources including databases of Surnames, Townlands, Maps.

The entire 1901 Census is searchable here, as is Griffiths Valuation.


Irish Heritage and Workhouses

Some good guidance on tracing ancestors at Irish Heritage News.

There's a good blog on tracing people who may have spent time in a workhouse.

Leitrim County Library has minute books from Carrick-on-Shannon and Mohill workhouses.

Commercial genealogy sites

Sites like findmypast.com and ancestry.com provide access to personal records, including registries of birth, marriage, etc.

They are not free, and while subscriptions are expensive, they often run free 14-day trials during which you can unearth a wealth of information and determine the site's usefulness. Note that the site draws on resources like IrishGenealogy.ie.


Leitrim-specific genealogy

Tom Coughlan is a professional genealogist who lives in Co Leitrim. He has a useful website (Your Leitrim Ancestors) to enable people to trace their Leitrim ancestors and offers a family history research service.


Leitrim County Library

Online resources


YouTube

Leitrim Library has its own YouTube channel.

Young Historian programme

I am involved in the Young Historian programme, which was launched in 2020 to encourage young people to engage with their personal and local history and to develop the skills of history. The programme is designed for Transition Year students and is in place in five schools in Co Leitrim. It is run in collaboration with Leitrim County Library.

There are more sources in the Students page of the website.


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