In the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), Belfast has one of the best — possibly even the best — regional archives in the UK. Here there are centuries of records relating to the families of Ulster.

In March 2011 PRONI reopened after its move to new premises in Titanic Quarter, Belfast. The new building is spacious and welcoming. The search room and reading rooms have many more spaces for researchers than was the case in the previous building. There is also an auditorium for public lectures and an exhibition area.

No previous knowledge of research techniques or sources is necessary. The Foundation’s experienced team of researchers will be on hand to assist participants carry out their research.

The great majority of the sources you will be using to research your ancestors will be found in at PRONI. Using the PRONI eCatalogue, which can be done online prior to a visit to the archive, it is possible to identify the records of greatest interest. In summary, the principal categories of record include: