Paul Gorry

Paul Gorry
FIGRS, FSG, FAGI
Born1959 (age 66–67)
Baltinglass, County Wicklow
Occupationgenealogist

Paul Gorry (born 1959) is an Irish genealogist, author and historian, known for genealogical research in the south-west of Ireland and the local history of West Wicklow. He was a founding member of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI; now Accredited Genealogists Ireland, AGI), serving as president from 2007 to 2010.

Early life and education

Paul Gorry was born in 1959 in Baltinglass, County Wicklow; son of Pat Gorry, a pharmacist, and his wife, Eileen.[1][2] He was educated locally, attending St Pius X National School in Baltinglass, before going on to receive his secondary education at Baltinglass Post-Primary School (now Scoil Chonglais).[1][3]

Gorry's sister Mary, is an amateur golfer.[4]

Career

Gorry began working professionally on genealogical research in 1979, working initially as a freelance researcher for the Genealogical Office in Dublin,[3][5] before going on to co-found Hibernian Research, Ireland's first independent Irish genealogical company.[3] In 1987, Gorry established his own genealogical firm, Gorry Research.[3]

After Barry Trant McCarthy wrote to the Chief Herald in 1997 questioning the ancestry of Terence McCarthy, recognised as "The McCarthy Mór", Gorry Research was employed by the Genealogical Office produce a report reviewing McCarthy's documentation. This report, submitted as "On the Pedigree of Mr Terence McCarthy of Belfast" in March 1999, identified significant errors and inconsistencies in the documentation,[6][7] culminating in the Genealogical Office nullifying its recognition of Terence MacCarthy as the MacCarthy Mór.

He returned to Baltinglass in 1999, after living and working in Dublin for 20 years.[3][5]

Gorry was joint co-ordinator of the Diploma in Family History at Independent Colleges Dublin from 2009 to 2013.[8]

Gorry contributed to the 2018 "Doc on One" about the Battle of Baltinglass.[2][9]

Gorry has been consultant genealogist for guests at Kilkea Castle since May 2025.[10][11][12]

Gorry co-produced Baltinglass Hill & The Holy Year Cross, a documentary film directed by John Hughes, first screened in December 2025 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the erection of the Holy Year Cross in Baltinglass.[13][14]

Involvement in genealogical and historical societies

In 1979, Gorry became a member of the Irish Genealogical Research Society.[8][15] He served on the committee of the Ireland branch of the IGRS from 1986 to 1989 and 1997 to 1998.[5][8] He was elected a Fellow of the society in 2005,[1][5][8][16] and became a vice-president in 2017.[5][8]

Gorry was a founding member of the West Wicklow Historical Society (WWHS) in 1980,[1][3][5][16] and served as the society's first chairperson from 1980 to 1981.[17] He has held several WWHS offices since, including: minutes secretary from 1996 to 1998 and PRO from 2004 to 2022.[17] Gorry became acting secretary in 2022 after the death of Donal McDonnell.[17] Since 2023, he has been serving a second term as WWHS chairman.[17]

In 1986, Gorry was a founding member of APGI.[1][5][8][16] He served as secretary from 1988 to 1991,[8] and president from 2007 to 2010.[3][8] In 2022 he was elected a Fellow of the association.[3][5]

Gorry became a member of the Society of Genealogists (London) in 1987,[8] and was elected a Fellow in 1999.[1][5][8]

He was originator of the Irish Genealogical Congress in 1989.[1][15] This group held four congresses: in 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2001.[8][15] Gorry served as the congress's chairperson until 2002.[8]

Gorry was also a founding member of the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations (CIGO), and served as the council's chairman in 1993.[8][15]

Publications

Books

  • Tracing Irish Ancestors (1997); ISBN 978-0004720951 [with Máire Mac Conghail].
  • Baltinglass Golf Club: the first 75 years: 1928 - 2003 (2003).
  • Baltinglass Chronicles: 1851-2001 (2006); ISBN 978-1845885069.
  • Seven Signatories: Tracing the Family Histories of the Men Who Signed the Proclamation (2016); ISBN 978-1785370991.
  • Credentials for Genealogists: Proof of the Professional (2018); ISBN 978-1916448018.

Chapters

  • 'O'Brien's Baltinglass origins' in Chris Lawlor and Donal McDonnell (eds), General O'Brien: West Wicklow to South America (Naas, 2006), pp 144-61.

Journal articles

  • 'Wicklow biographies: Brandubh' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 1 (1983), pp 22-3.
  • 'The family of Michael Dwyer' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 1 (1983), pp 30-6.
  • 'The Valentine family—part 1: Origins' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 1 (1983), pp 63-9.
  • 'Index to the Coolattin estate emigration records 1847-58' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 1 (1983), pp 78-85.
  • 'Extracts from the Turtle manuscripts' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 1 (1983), pp 86-7.
  • 'Main St. (south side) Baltinglass 1894 (compiled from Land Valuation Office Revision Books and Slater's Directory of Ireland 1894)' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 2 (1985), p. 8.
  • 'The Valentine family—part 2: the Valentines of Donard' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 2 (1985), pp 22–6 [with A. E. S. Valentine].
  • 'The Greenes and Kilranelagh House' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 2 (1985), pp 48–51.
  • 'Index to the Coolattin estate records 1847–58, part 2' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 2 (1985), pp 76–9.
  • 'Review: Handbook on Irish genealogy: how to trace your ancestors and relatives in Ireland' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 2 (1985), p. 87.
  • 'Index to the Coolattin estate emigration records 1847–58, part 3' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 3 (1989), pp 91–5.
  • 'John Thomond O'Brien day in Baltinglass' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 4 (2007), pp 83–5.
  • 'Miscellaneous biographical notices relating to Baltinglass, appearing in newspapers, 1748-1904' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 6 (2011), pp 32–41.
  • 'Lathaleere – the evolution of a place-name' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 9 (2017), pp 11–25.
  • 'Charles Maule Drury (1848–1939) – collector of folklore' in Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society, no. 12 (2023), pp 152–7.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Gorry, Paul (2006). Baltinglass Chronicles: 1851-2001. Dublin: Nonsuch Publishing. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-84588-506-9.
  2. ^ a b "The Battle of Baltinglass". RTÉ Radio Doc on One. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Baltinglass Jotter: Paul elected Fellow of AGI". Wicklow People. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Baltinglass celebration". Irish Independent. 15 June 2003. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Paul Gorry". Accredited Genealogists Ireland. 14 March 2025. Archived from the original on 24 May 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  6. ^ Ellis, Peter Berresford (2002). Erin's blood royal: the Gaelic noble dynasties of Ireland (Revised ed.). New York: Palgrave. ISBN 978-0-312-23049-4.
  7. ^ "Terence McCarthy 'Mór' and Peter Berresford Ellis – History Ireland". historyireland.com. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Paul Gorry Elected a Vice-President of IGRS". Irish Genealogical Research Society. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  9. ^ "The fiery Battle of Baltinglass in 1950". Wicklow People. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Experiences". www.kilkeacastle.ie. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  11. ^ "Kilkea Castle - Further Reading". Turtle Bunbury Histories. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  12. ^ "Irish genealogy news round-up, May 2025: Kilkea Castle genealogy experience". IrishHeritageNews.ie. 30 May 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Baltinglass Jotter: Holy Year Cross Documentary". Wicklow People. 24 December 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  14. ^ "Baltinglass Holy Year Cross to feature in new documentary by local film maker". Carlow Nationalist. 26 December 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  15. ^ a b c d "Council". Irish Genealogical Research Society. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  16. ^ a b c "Paul Gorry". The History Press. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  17. ^ a b c d "Our Officers 1980 to date". West Wicklow Historical Society. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
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