Kilrush Genealogy Conference 2026

What to Expect

Kilrush and District Historical Society runs its genealogy conference at Teach Ceoil on Grace Street from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October 2026, and the timing is deliberate. The 1926 Irish census was released to the public on 18 April 2026, the first new census records in 65 years, and the conference is built around what that release means for anyone tracing Clare ancestry. The society expects a surge in research and has pitched the weekend at both the Irish diaspora and local family historians.

The speaker list is drawn from the top of the field: Zoe Reid and Catriona Crowe, both of the National Archives of Ireland, Fiona Fitzsimons of Trinity College Dublin, DNA specialist Maurice Gleeson, John Grenham, Rachel Murphy of the University of Limerick, and David Ryan. One to one genealogical consultations run throughout the weekend for delegates who want help with a specific family line rather than general instruction. Around the talks there is a programme of optional extras: a bus tour of the Loop Head Peninsula, a visit to Scattery Island, and a closing dinner, all bookable separately. A historical walking tour and a traditional music session are free.

Good to Know

• Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October 2026 at Teach Ceoil, Grace Street, Kilrush.
• Organised by Kilrush and District Historical Society. Bookings opened in January 2026.
• Ticket prices vary by element. The optional Loop Head bus tour, Scattery Island visit and closing dinner are booked separately.
• Free elements include a historical walking tour and a trad session.
• One to one genealogy consultations are available across the weekend.
• Contact: kilrushgenealogyconference@gmail.com or +353 89 255 0259.

Getting There

Kilrush is the main town of west Clare, on the N67 coast road and roughly 45 minutes from Ennis via the N68. Teach Ceoil is on Grace Street, a short walk from the Market Square in the centre of town. There is on-street parking and public car parking within a few minutes’ walk. From Limerick and Kerry, the Killimer to Tarbert car ferry lands a few minutes east of the town. Bus Eireann’s Limerick to Kilkee service, which runs via Ennis, stops in Kilrush, making the conference reachable without a car if your timings suit the bus.