For those of you belonging to the NIR-L Co. Down Genealogy List, you have read comments from Raymond Kelly and others favorably mentioning the services of the Banbridge Genealogy Services.  Below is their address and email link for you to contact directly.  They are truly a valuable resource to those searching for their roots in South and SW Co. Down as well as Eastern Armagh.   They have a resource center in Banbridge and provide many services to all of us.   They are part of the Banbridge District Council's Services and not a privately held business.

You can write to them at the following address:

You can call them at:

You can email them at:

Jason Diamond is the main contact at this email address and is very helpful in aiding you in finding your ancestors.

Banbridge Genealogy Services hold birth, marriage and some death (civil and church) records for the South County Down area.  They do have a small charge of £10 sterling for the initial search of the database plus £2 sterling per record printed out and they are able to accept payment by VISA.  They also have the original Griffith's Valuation Books for the Banbridge and Newry areas, charging £10 sterling per look up.

In Cultural and Community Development - Banbridge boasts a rich cultural heritage including Patrick Bronte, father of the famous literary sisters, Helen Waddell, scholar and author, Captain Mayne Reid, frontiersman and author of stories such as The Boy Hunters, Scalp Hunters, The Rifle Rangers and The Headless Horseman, F E McWilliam, world renowned sculptor.  W B Yeats' father was also born in the area, his grandfather having been Rector of Tullylish Parish Church.