Find your family's school records

Explore millions of historical school registers from Ireland and beyond at Findmypast.

Irish National School Registers 1860-1922

Exclusive to Findmypast, this amazing collection of records includes registers from over 400 now-defunct schools across Ireland. In them, you'll find essential information for your family tree including the names of the pupils, their parents and addresses. And if you're lucky, you could even find out if your ancestor was top of the class in their school reports or playing truant with documented reasons for absence.

3 quick tips for making the most of school records

Add the details to your family tree

Colourful tidbits like exam results will bring your family tree to life.

Always check the original document

Transcripts gives you the most vital information. Images reveal even more.

Can't find your ancestor?

In Ireland, school wasn't compulsory until 1892.

Start your tree

Best days of their lives

I've only connected to Findmypast in the last three weeks but already discovered hundreds of pages on my great aunt's education records. She was a headmistress and I now have a much better understanding of life in an elementary school in the early 1900s.

Lain

Review collected independently by Trustpilot

Findmypast school records - frequently asked questions

What can school records tell me about my family's past?keyboard_arrow_down

Most family records detail your relatives' lives during adulthood. School records are some of the few surviving documents that can reveal exciting details about their childhoods too. Nowhere else will you discover how often your ancestor was absent from school, how they performed in class and what was going on in their young lives, day-to-day.

Where have the Irish school records come from?keyboard_arrow_down

These records are from the National Archives of Ireland and generally cover smaller, isolated communities in 24 Irish counties. The schools included are no longer operational.

Which schools are covered in these records?keyboard_arrow_down

Over 440 schools across Ireland are included. View a full list and the years their records cover.

What other school records are available?keyboard_arrow_down

Explore these equally-fascinating collections to discover even more about your family's school days.

Looking for something else? Try our A-Z of records to see what you can find.

Search online school records now

Enter a few details to see your family’s records at your fingertips.