Between the late 1940s and early 2010s, the National Archives and its partners microfilmed millions of pages of historically significant records.
Microfilm cameras are used to copy documents at a reduced scale into film. This film can be stored and accessed easily without handling the original documents, which helps prevent wear and tear.
Accessing our microfilm collections
We have 55 large microfilm collections that can be viewed in person using the microfilm readers in the Reading Room.
All microfilm collections are stored on-site, and it takes staff only a few minutes to retrieve the correct microfilm. The staff will help you set up the microfilm on a reader, so you can start your research right away.
Digitised microfilm records are available on the Genealogy website.
Plan a visit to the Reading Room
Reference codes
The table lists the microfilm collections and their reference codes. This is a guide to the codes used.
MFA refers to Microfilm Accession. These are microfilms of archives held in other institutions which relate to Ireland.
MFCI refers to Microfilm Church of Ireland. These are microfilms held under the Public Records (Ireland) Act 1867, Amendment Act 1875 and Parochial Records Act, 1876.
MFGS refers to Microfilm Genealogical Society of Utah. These are microfilms of archives held in the National Archives, filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah.
MFP refers to Microfilm Preservation. These are microfilms of archives held in the National Archives.
MFS refers to Microfilm Security. These are microfilms of archives held in the National Archives.
| Collection
|
Microfilm Reference | Details |
| Belturbet Corporation Records | MFP 4 M 3571, 3573, 3606, 3607, 3572 | |
| Betham’s Abstracts | MFGS 38/1 – 32 | |
| Board of Guardians Poor Law Unions: Minute Books | MFGS 49/1 – 130 | Rathdown BG137
Balrothery BG40 North Dublin Union BG78 South Dublin Union BG79 |
| Board of Guardians: Registers of Admission & Discharge | MFGS 52/1 – 71 | Rathdown 1841-1920
North Dublin Union 1840-1918 South Dublin Union 1840-1918 |
| Census 1851, Dublin, Heads of households | MFS 50 | |
| Census 1901 | MFGS 1 – 32 | |
| Census 1911 | MFGS 33 | MFGS 33/ County/ DED No./Townland No. |
| Census 19th century (surviving portions of 1821, 1831, 1841, 1851) | MFGS 34, 36 and 37 | View on genealogy.nationalarchives.ie |
| Census Search Forms | MFGS 59/1 – 27 | |
| Chief Secretary’s Office, Convict Dept., Convict Reference files, 1835-1856 (transportees only) | MFS 59/1 – 77 | |
| Chief Secretary’s Office, Convict Dept., Free Settlers’ Papers, 1828-1852 | MFS 59/76 and MFS 60/1 – 3 | |
| Chief Secretary’s Office, Convict Dept., Prisoners’ Petitions and Cases, 1788-1836 | MFS 57/1 – 14 | |
| Chief Secretary’s Office, Convict Dept., State Prisoners Petitions, 1798-1799 | MFS 58/1 – 6 | |
| Chief Secretary’s Office, Convict Dept., Transportation Registers, 1836-1857 | MFS 56/1 – 5 | |
| Chief Secretary’s Office, Rebellion Papers | MFP 6/1 – 149 Cartons 620/1-620/67 | Refer to indexes for reel no. |
| Church of Ireland records | MFCI 1 – 108 | See Church of Ireland card index for parish reel no. |
| Church of Ireland: Reports of Searches in Parish Registers | MFGS 55/1 – 5 & MFGS 56/1 | Alphabetical by parish |
| Colonial Office records of Irish Government in Dublin Castle, 1872 – 1926 (originals in PRO, ref. CO 904) | MFA 54/1 – 136 | See physical finding aid |
| Court of Chancery: Bill Books, 1633 – 1850 | MFGS 57/1 – 32 | |
| Court Service: Petty Sessions: Dog Licence Registers (CS/PS/2/1 – 1164) | MFGS 60/1 – 181 | |
| Court Service: Petty Sessions: Order Books (CS/PS/1/1 – 11720) | MFGS 58/1 – 3432 | |
| Crossle Genealogical Abstracts | MFGS 44/1 – 42 | |
| Dublin Metropolitan Police, Registers | MFA 6/1 – 3 | |
| Elphin Diocesan Census 1749 | MFS 6 | |
| Equity Exchequer: Bill Books, 1674 – 1850 | MFGS 56/1 – 36 | |
| LEC Rentals (O’Brien) | MFGS 39/1 – 66 | Arranged by province |
| Lodge, Records of the Rolls and other documents | MFS 42/1 – 12 | |
| National Education Commission: National School applications for grants, c.1832 – 90 | MFP 10/1 – 50 | Up to vol. 13 only
ED1/1 – ED/1/13 |
| National Education Commission: National School Registers/Roll Books | MFGS 50/1 – 21 | See physical finding aid |
| Ordnance Survey Name books (Placenames) OS 88 | MFP 1/1 – 322 (Antrim-Queens) | For Roscommon – Tyrone, originals need to be consulted |
| Ordnance Survey, 6-inch maps | MFA 57 | |
| Post Office Archives, Irish Minute indexes | MFA 43/1 – 13 | Vol. 1-20, records from CSO pre-1922 |
| Prison Registers | MFGS 51/1 – 163 | |
| PROI, Deputy Keeper’s Reports, 1-59 | MFS 15/1 – 7 | |
| Royal Hospital Kilmainham (PRO London) | MFA 40/1 – 14; MFA 41/1 – 12 | |
| Royal Irish Constabulary (PRO London) | MFA 24/1 – 21 | |
| Testamentary, Irish Will Registers and Administration Registers, 1828-1879 | MFGS 43 | |
| Testamentary, Prerogative Court Indexes Books 1536-1888 | MFGS 42 | |
| Testamentary, Will Books 1664-1901 | MFGS 41 | |
| Thom’s Directories 1844 – 1958 | MFA 51/1 – 249 | |
| Thrift Abstracts | MFGS 40/1 – 16 | |
| Tithe Applotment Books | MFA 53/1 – 114 | View on genealogy.nationalarchives.ie |
| Tithe Applotment Books: Northern Ireland | MFA 63/1 – 28 | |
| Valuation Office, Primary Valuation Books | MFA 56 | |
| Valuation Office: Field Books | MFGS 54/1 -170 | View on genealogy.nationalarchives.ie |
| Valuation Office: House Books (5.0001 – 5.4254) | MFGS 46/1 – 157 | View on genealogy.nationalarchives.ie |
| Valuation Office: Miscellaneous Books (OLX.1 – OLX.170) | MFGS 61/1 – 8 | |
| Valuation Office: Quarto Books (7.0001 – 7.0088) | MFGS 48/1 – 6 | View on genealogy.nationalarchives.ie |
| Valuation Office: Tenure Books (6.0002 – 6.0466) | MFGS 47/1 – 22 | View on genealogy.nationalarchives.ie |
| Wicklow Gaol Prison Registers, 1848-1901 | MFS 48/1 – 3 | |
| Shipping Records, 1863 – 1921 | MFGS 45/1 -411 | View on genealogy.nationalarchives.ie |
| State Papers, Register of convicts on convict ships, 1851 – 1853 | MFS 60/3 | |
| Survey and Distribution, books of | MFS 2/1 – 9 | |
| T series, including some of M and D Series | MFS 61/1 – 127 | |
| Testamentary, Calendars of Grants of Probate & Letters of Administration 1858-1920 | MFGS 53/1 – 43 |