‘From The Ashes’: The 1922 Irish Public Record Office Fire with David Ryan

The destruction of the Public Records Office in June 1922 at the outset of the Irish Civil War has cast a long shadow over Irish genealogical research. Anyone who has sought their Irish ancestors has likely encountered frustration at the gaps in available records caused by this disaster. But how much do we really know about the events that caused the fire and were all our records really lost?

This talk will explore the background to the Public Record Office fire and address some of the myths that have grown up around it. It will also examine how recent advances in conservation techniques and modern technology are allowing the recovery of some records previously believed lost.

Date: 30 May 2026, 14:00

Book here: ‘From The Ashes’: The 1922 Irish Public Record Office Fire with David Ryan | SoG