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Ireland Dog Licence Registers

Ireland Dog Licence Registers

Articles Import


Each record contains a transcript and an image of the original licence register entry. The information given varies but in general you should find out the following about your ancestor:


  • Name
  • Address
  • County
  • Year and date of dog licence


With these records it’s essential to look at the images so that you don’t miss finding out about your ancestor’s dog. The image will tell you:


  • Colour of dog
  • Sex of dog
  • Breed or type of dog
  • Dog licences were introduced into Irish law in 1865 and the first licences were issued the following year. It cost 2 shillings per dog with an extra 6 pence in administration costs. The licences were issued in the same courts as held the Petty Sessions.
  • In the first year 353, 798 dog licences were issued generating over £35,000 in revenue. Subsequent years saw an average of 250,000 licences purchased. In the following decades, millions of licences were issued. There are 6,041,095 records available to search on Findmypast with more records due next year.
  • Working dogs were widely and variously used. Collies were often sheep dogs. Mastiffs had first been bred by gamekeepers and were popular guard dogs due to their powerful build and otherwise quiet and loyal temperament. In coastal areas water dogs were in demand including the powerful Newfoundland. Terriers were often hunters as were spaniels.
  • The dog licences were introduced to make it easier to identify the owners of trouble making dogs, the ones which either worried sheep or damaged property. Once the owners were identified to accept liability no one paid much attention to what the dog was called but dog names do find their way into the records occasionally.
  • According to the records for Mountrath, in County Laois (known at the time as Queen's County) Prince was a popular name in 1866, as was Captain, Jess and Watch. Names like Flora and Floss were popular for bitches and many dogs had names that seemed more aspirational (Tiger, Hawk, Wolf or Buffalo) or descriptive (Snap, Spot or Coal). There is Curate the yellow greyhound and Brandy the grey and brown terrier. Smaller dogs were known as Gip or Fly and of course, there is Rover.
  • Pet owning had grown in popularity throughout the 19th century so lapdogs and toy dogs make an appearance. There are Pomeranians and poodles and of course there are those mongrels of uncertain lineage, the faithful mutt, known at the time as a loveable cur. But it’s worth noting that during the 19th century the selection of breeds generally kept as a family pet was far narrower than we are familiar with today, and usually restricted to spaniels, hounds, setters, pointers, terriers, mastiffs and bulldogs.
  • Even the most pampered lapdog would have had a far more Spartan existence than a modern family pet. Pet toys did not become popular until the 1920s. Dogs would have been fed mainly on biscuits or bread soaked in a meat broth, milk or water and would generally get meat only rarely and in the form of biscuits made from wheat meal flavoured with meat. It was not the 1920s that tinned dog food was introduced.


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County of Court

Court

Year

New

CARLOW

BAGENALSTOWN

1866-1914

 

CARLOW

FENAGH

1867-75

 

CARLOW

HACKETSTOWN

1908-14

New court

CARLOW

MYSHALL

1866-1914

 

CAVAN

BAILIEBOROUGH

1866-1914

New court

CAVAN

BALLINAGH

1866-1914

New court

CAVAN

BALLYJAMESDUFF

1866-1914

New court

CAVAN

BAWNBOY

1898-1911

New court

CAVAN

BELTURBET

1866-1914

New court

CAVAN

CAVAN

1866-1914

New court

CAVAN

COOTEHILL

1866-1913

New court

CAVAN

KILLESHANDRA

1868-1914

New court

CAVAN

KILNALECK

1866-86, 1910-14

New court

CAVAN

KINGSCOURT

1866-79, 1886-1912

New court

CAVAN

MOUNTNUGENT

1867-1914

New court

CAVAN

MULLAGH

1866-1914

New court

CAVAN

SWANLINBAR

1866-97

New court

CAVAN

VIRGINIA

1866-1914

Additional years

CLARE

BALLYVAUGHAN

1866-1908

 

CLARE

COROFIN

1864-1914

 

CLARE

CRUSHEEN

1866-1914

 

CLARE

ENNIS

1866-1914

Additional years

CLARE

ENNISTYMON

1866-1914

New court

CLARE

FEAKLE

1867-1914

New court

CLARE

KILDYSART

1866-94

New court

CLARE

KILKEE

1877-1912

 

CLARE

KILLALOE

1889-1914

 

CLARE

KILRUSH

1866-1914

Additional years

CLARE

KNOCK

1866-1914

New court

CLARE

MILTOWN MALBAY

1866-1914

 

CLARE

NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS

1866-1914

New court

CLARE

QUIN

1866-1914

New court

CLARE

SIXMILEBRIDGE

1866-1914

New court

CLARE

TULLA

1866-1914

New court

CORK

AGHERN

1898-1914

New court

CORK

AHADALLANE

1866-1913

 

CORK

BALLINEEN

1907

New court

CORK

BALLINSPITTLE

1913-14

New court

CORK

BALLYDEHOB

1901-14

New court

CORK

BALLYMARTLE

1866-1914

New court

CORK

BANDON

1910-14

 

CORK

CARRIGALINE

1913-14

 

CORK

CARRIGBOY (CARRICKBUE)

1893, 1905-14

 

CORK

CASTLEMARTYR

1866-1914

New court

CORK

CASTLETOWNBERE

1866-1914

New court

CORK

CASTLETOWNROCHE

1866-1914

Additional years

CORK

DONERAILE

1866-1914

 

CORK

DRIMOLEAGUE

1899-1914

New court

CORK

DUNMANWAY

1865-1914

New court

CORK

FERMOY

1902-14

 

CORK

GOLEEN

1901-14

New court

CORK

KANTURK

1871-1914

New court

CORK

KILDORRERY

1866-1905

 

CORK

KINSALE

1866-1914

New court

CORK

LISCARROLL

1913-14

New court

CORK

MICHELSTOWN

1867-1910

 

CORK

MILLSTREET

1866-1921

Additional years

CORK

PASSAGE WEST

1901-14

 

CORK

QUEENSTOWN (COBH)

1866-1914

New court

CORK

RATHCORMACK

1866-1913

 

CORK

SCHULL

1901-14

New court

CORK

SKIBBEREEN

1889-1914

New court

CORK

TIMOLEAGUE

1899-1908

 

CORK

TRACTON

1905-14

 

CORK

UNION HALL

1912-14

New court

CORK

YOUGHAL

1866-1914

New court

DONEGAL

ARDARA

1866-1910

 

DONEGAL

ARRANMORE

1866-1914

New court

DONEGAL

BALLINTRA

1894-1914

 

DONEGAL

BALLYMORE

1870-1914

New court

DONEGAL

BALLYSHANNON

1866-1914

Additional years

DONEGAL

BALLYSHANNON

1891-1914

 

DONEGAL

BUNBEG

1901-09

New court

DONEGAL

DONEGAL

1900-14

New court

DONEGAL

DUNFANAGHY

1866-75, 1908

New court

DONEGAL

DUNGLOE

1900-14

New court

DONEGAL

FALCARRAGH

1891-1914

New court

DONEGAL

GLENTIES

1866-1914

New court

DONEGAL

KILLYBEGS

1866-1914

New court

DONEGAL

LIFFORD

1867-1914

New court

DONEGAL

MILFORD

1866-1914

Additional years

DONEGAL

MOVILLE

1866-1914

 

DONEGAL

NEWTOWN CUNNINGHAM

1866-1914

New court

DONEGAL

RAMELTON

1866-1914

Additional years

DONEGAL

RAPHOE

1866-1914

New court

DONEGAL

RATHMULLEN

1866-1913

 

DONEGAL

STRANORLAR

1863, 1892-1914

New court

DUBLIN

BALBRIGGAN

1866-84, 1887, 1898-99

 

DUBLIN

BLANCHARDSTOWN

1866-1914

Additional years

DUBLIN

CABINTEELY

1868-1912

 

DUBLIN

DRUMCONDRA

1866-93, 1903-14

 

DUBLIN

LUCAN

1867-90, 1895-1913

 

DUBLIN

RAHENY

1904-14

New court

DUBLIN

RATHCOOLE

1866-1914

New court

DUBLIN

RATHFARNHAM

1866-1914

New court

DUBLIN

SWORDS

1866-1914

New court

DUBLIN

TALLAGHT

1867-77, 1901-14

New court

GALWAY

AHASCRAGH

1864-1914

 

GALWAY

ARDRAHAN

1867-1914

 

GALWAY

ARRAN

1866-1914

New court

GALWAY

ATHENRY

1889-1914

 

GALWAY

BALLINAMORE

1912-14

 

GALWAY

BALLINASLOE

1866-1914

 

GALWAY

BALLYGAR

1872-1914

 

GALWAY

BALLYMOE

1866-1914

New court

GALWAY

CARNA

1898-1914

 

GALWAY

CASTLETOWN

1866-1912

New court

GALWAY

CLEGGAN

1902-13

 

GALWAY

CLIFDEN

1866-1914

Additional years

GALWAY

CLONBUR

1891-1914

New court

GALWAY

DERREEN

1893-1914

New court

GALWAY

DERRYNEA

1902-14

New court

GALWAY

EYRECOURT

1866-1914

Additional years

GALWAY

GALWAY

1894-1914

New court

GALWAY

GARRAFIN

1902-14

New court

GALWAY

GORT

1866-1914

Additional years

GALWAY

GURTEEN

1866-1914

 

GALWAY

HEADFORD

1895-1914

New court

GALWAY

KILLIMORE

1871, 1876, 1881, 1902-14

Additional years

GALWAY

KINVARA

1866-1914

New court

GALWAY

LAWRENCETOWN

1860-61, 1866-1914

 

GALWAY

LETTERFRACK

1866-1900

New court

GALWAY

LOUGHREA

1891-1914

New court

GALWAY

MAAM

1891-1914

New court

GALWAY

MOUNTBELLEW

1892-1914

 

GALWAY

MOYCULLEN

1876-1914

New court

GALWAY

ORANMORE

1894-1914

New court

GALWAY

OUGHTERARD

1897-1914

New court

GALWAY

PORTUMNA

1904-1914

New court

GALWAY

RECESS

1909-14

 

GALWAY

ROUNDSTONE

1898-1914

New court

GALWAY

SPIDDAL

1910-14

New court

GALWAY

TUAM

1866-1914

New court

GALWAY

WILLIAMSTOWN

1866-1914

New court

GALWAY

WOODFORD

1866-1914

New court

KERRY

ANNASCAUL

1901-14

New court

KERRY

BALLYLONGFORD

1894-1914

New court

KERRY

BROSNA

1909-14

New court

KERRY

CAHERCIVEEN

1901-14

 

KERRY

CAHERDANIEL

1866-1907

New court

KERRY

CASTLEGREGORY

1900-14

New court

KERRY

COOLMAGORT

1866-1914

New court

KERRY

DINGLE

1900-14

New court

KERRY

KILLARNEY

1866-1914

New court

KERRY

KILLORGLIN

1874-91

Additional years

KERRY

MILLTOWN

1866-1914

New court

KERRY

O'DORNEY

1908-14

New court

KERRY

PORTMAGEE

1910-14

 

KERRY

TARBERT

1901-12

 

KERRY

TRALEE

1884-1914

New court

KILDARE

BALLYLINAN

1866-1914

 

KILDARE

CLANE

1866-1914

New court

KILDARE

DONADEA

1909-14

New court

KILDARE

KILDARE

1868-1914

Additional years

KILDARE

KILMEAGUE

1866-1906

 

KILDARE

MONASTEREVAN

1903-14

 

KILDARE

NAAS

1866-1914

Additional years

KILDARE

NEWBRIDGE

1866-1903

New court

KILKENNY

BALLYRAGGET

1866-1914

Additional years

KILKENNY

CASTLECOMER

1865-1914

 

KILKENNY

FRESHFORD

1866-1914

Additional years

KILKENNY

GORESBRIDGE

1866-1914

Additional years

KILKENNY

GOWRAN

1867-1914

 

KILKENNY

GRACES OLDCASTLE

1866-1913

Additional years

KILKENNY

JOHNSTOWN

1866-1914

New court

KILKENNY

KILKENNY

1886-1914

Additional years

KILKENNY

KILMANAGH

1867-1913

 

KILKENNY

KILMOGANNY

1866-1906

 

KILKENNY

ROSBERCON

1866-1914

New court

KILKENNY

STONEYFORD

1899-1914

Additional years

KILKENNY

THOMASTOWN

1901-14

New court

KING'S

CLARA

1892-1914

New court

KING'S

EDENDERRY

1867-1913

New court

KING'S

FAHY

1866-1914

Additional years

KING'S

PARSONSTOWN

1888-1911

 

KING'S

PHILIPSTOWN

1866-1914

New court

LEITRIM

CARRICK-ON-SHANNON

1891-1914

 

LEITRIM

DRUMKEERIN

1866-1914

New court

LEITRIM

KESHCARRIGAN

1910-14

 

LEITRIM

KINLOUGH

1866-1914

New court

LIMERICK

ADARE

1866-1914

New court

LIMERICK

ASKEATON

1866-1914

Additional years

LIMERICK

BALLINGARRY

1866-1913

 

LIMERICK

BRUFF

1866-89, 1907-14

 

LIMERICK

BRUREE

1866-1902, 1912-13

Additional years

LIMERICK

CROOM

1866-1913

 

LIMERICK

KILMALLOCK

1866-1914

New court

LIMERICK

LIMERICK CITY

1866-1914

Additional years

LIMERICK

PALLASKENRY

1866-1913

 

LIMERICK

RATHKEALE

1902-13

 

LONGFORD

ARDAGH

1866-1914

 

LONGFORD

BALLINAMUCK

1914

 

LONGFORD

BALLYMAHON

1866-94

New court

LONGFORD

EDGEWORTHSTOWN

1866-1911

New court

LONGFORD

GRANARD

1879, 1897-1913

New court

LONGFORD

KEENAGH

1866-1908

New court

LONGFORD

LONGFORD

1894-1914

New court

LONGFORD

NEWTOWNFORBES

1911-14

New court

LOUTH

ARDEE

1866-1914

 

LOUTH

CASTLEBELLINGHAM

1866-1914

New court

LOUTH

COLLON

1866-1914

New court

LOUTH

DROGHEDA

1865-1914

New court

LOUTH

DULEEK

1910-14

New court

LOUTH

DUNDALK

1866-1914

New court

LOUTH

DUNLEER

1866-1904

New court

LOUTH

LOUTH

1892-1914

New court

LOUTH

MELL

1866-1914

New court

LOUTH

RAVENSDALE

1897-1914

New court

MAYO

BALLINA

1866-1914

 

MAYO

BALLINDINE

1904-14

New court

MAYO

BALLINROBE

1866-1906, 1911-14

Additional years

MAYO

BALLYCASTLE

1895-1914

 

MAYO

BALLYHAUNIS

1866-1914

Additional years

MAYO

CASTLEBAR

1866-1914

 

MAYO

CLAREMORRIS

1867-1914

New court

MAYO

CONG

1866-1914

 

MAYO

FOXFORD

1866-1912

New court

MAYO

HOLLYMOUNT

1866-1909

 

MAYO

KILLALA

1866-1914

New court

MAYO

KILMAINE

1866-1910

Additional years

MAYO

KILTIMAGH

1892-1914

New court

MAYO

LOUISBURGH

1866-89

New court

MAYO

LOWPARK

1866-1914

New court

MAYO

LOWPARK

1866-1905

 

MAYO

NEWPORT

1866-1914

New court

MAYO

SWINFORD

1866-1914

New court

MAYO

WESTPORT

1866-1914

New court

MEATH

ATHBOY

1866-1914

New court

MEATH

CROSSAKIEL

1866-1914

New court

MEATH

DRUMCONRATH

1866-1914

 

MEATH

DUNSHAUGHLIN

1866-1913

New court

MEATH

GEORGES CROSS

1866-89

New court

MEATH

JULIANSTOWN

1866-98, 1910-14

New court

MEATH

KELLS

1866-1914

New court

MEATH

MOYNALTY

1866-1914

New court

MEATH

NAVAN

1866-1914

New court

MEATH

OLDCASTLE

1866-93, 1906

New court

MEATH

SLANE

1866-1914

New court

MEATH

TRIM

1866-1914

New court

MONAGHAN

BALLYBAY

1900-14

 

MONAGHAN

CARRICKMACROSS

1866-1914

 

MONAGHAN

CASTLEBLAYNEY

1866-1914

 

MONAGHAN

CLONES

1866-1914

Additional years

MONAGHAN

MONAGHAN

1881-1914

Additional years

MONAGHAN

NEWBLISS

1866-1914

New court

MONAGHAN

ROCKCORRY

1910-14

New court

QUEEN'S

BALLICKMOYLER

1906

 

QUEEN'S

BALLYBRITTAS

1866-1913

 

QUEEN'S

CLONASLEE

1908

 

QUEEN'S

MARYBOROUGH

1866-1914

Additional years

QUEEN'S

MOUNTRATH

1866-87, 1903-13

 

QUEEN'S

PORTARLINGTON

1866-1914

Additional years

QUEEN'S

RATHDOWNEY

1885-1904

New court

QUEEN'S

STRADBALLY

1866-71, 1874-1913

 

QUEEN'S

TIMAHOE

1866-86

 

ROSCOMMON

ATHLONE

1866-1914

 

ROSCOMMON

BALLINLOUGH

1866-1914

 

ROSCOMMON

BALLINTOBBER

1866-1914

 

ROSCOMMON

BALLYFORAN

1866-1913

 

ROSCOMMON

BOYLE

1866-1914

Additional years

ROSCOMMON

BRIDESWELL

1866-96

 

ROSCOMMON

CASTLEREA

1866-1914

 

ROSCOMMON

COOLDERRY

1866-1913

 

ROSCOMMON

COOTEHALL

1866-1913

 

ROSCOMMON

CROGHAN

1866-1914

Additional years

ROSCOMMON

HILLSTREET

1890-1914

 

ROSCOMMON

KEADUE

1909-14

New court

ROSCOMMON

LECARROW

1866-1914

 

ROSCOMMON

ROSCOMMON

1882-1913

 

ROSCOMMON

STROKESTOWN

1910-14

New court

SLIGO

BALLINAFAD

1866-1914

New court

SLIGO

BALLYMOTE

1866-1914

 

SLIGO

COLLOONEY

1897-1914

New court

SLIGO

DROMORE WEST

1888-1914

New court

SLIGO

EASKEY

1866-1914

New court

SLIGO

ENNISCRONE

1885

New court

SLIGO

MULLAGHROE

1866-1914

Additional years

SLIGO

SKREEN

1866-1902, 1909

New court

SLIGO

SLIGO

1894-1914

New court

TIPPERARY

ARDFINNAN

1908-14

 

TIPPERARY

BALLYPOREEN

1914

 

TIPPERARY

BANSHA

1866-1914

New court

TIPPERARY

BORRISOLEIGH

1910-14

New court

TIPPERARY

CAHIR

1866-1914

New court

TIPPERARY

CAPPAWHITE

1866-1914

New court

TIPPERARY

CASHEL

1913-14

 

TIPPERARY

CLONMEL BORO

1866-1914

New court

TIPPERARY

CLOUGHJORDAN

1903-14

New court

TIPPERARY

DUNDRUM

1866-1914

New court

TIPPERARY

FETHARD

1865-1913

Additional years

TIPPERARY

GOLDEN

1909-14

 

TIPPERARY

NENAGH

1866-1914

 

TIPPERARY

NEWINN

1866-1902

New court

TIPPERARY

NEWPORT

1913-14

 

TIPPERARY

ROSCREA

1883-1913

 

TIPPERARY

TEMPLEMORE

1881-1913

 

TIPPERARY

TIPPERARY

1866-1914

New court

WATERFORD

ARDMORE

1866-1914

New court

WATERFORD

BALLYMACARBRY

1866-1914

New court

WATERFORD

CALLAGHANE

1866-1914

New court

WATERFORD

CAPPOQUIN

1866-1914

 

WATERFORD

CLASHMORE

1866-1914

New court

WATERFORD

CLONMEL RURAL

1866-1914

New court

WATERFORD

DUNGARVAN

1901, 1908-14

New court

WATERFORD

KILMACTHOMAS

1887-89

New court

WATERFORD

LISMORE

1865, 1888-1914

 

WATERFORD

PORTLAW

1866-1914

New court

WATERFORD

VILLIERSTOWN

1888-1914

 

WATERFORD

WATERFORD CITY

1866-1914

New court

WATERFORD

WATERFORD CITY (ST PATRICK'S HALL)

1866-1914

New court

WESTMEATH

BALLYMORE

1866-1914

Additional years

WESTMEATH

BALLYNACARGY

1897-1914

 

WESTMEATH

BRAWNEY, ATHLONE

1866-1903

 

WESTMEATH

CASTLEPOLLARD

1913-14

 

WESTMEATH

CLONMELLON

1897-1914

 

WESTMEATH

COLLINSTOWN

1912-14

 

WESTMEATH

DELVIN

1866-96

 

WESTMEATH

GLASSON

1866-1914

New court

WESTMEATH

KILBEGGAN

1911-14

New court

WESTMEATH

KILLUCAN

1866-1914

 

WESTMEATH

MOATE

1866-1914

New court

WESTMEATH

MULLINGAR

1866-1914

 

WESTMEATH

MULTYFARNHAM

1866-1914

 

WESTMEATH

ROCHFORTBRIDGE

1876-1914

 

WESTMEATH

TYRRELLSPASS

1866-1914

 

WEXFORD

CLONROCHE

1912-14

New court

WEXFORD

ENNISCORTHY

1896-1914

New court

WEXFORD

FERNS

1866-1914

Additional years

WEXFORD

NEW ROSS

1866-1914

New court

WEXFORD

NEWTOWNBARRY

1881-1906

New court

WEXFORD

OULART

1866-1914

Additional years

WEXFORD

TAGHMON

1909-14

New court

WICKLOW

AVOCA

1885-1914

 

WICKLOW

CARNEW

1866-87

New court

WICKLOW

COOLKENNO

1866-87

New court

WICKLOW

ENNISKERRY

1866-1910

New court

WICKLOW

NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY

1866-1914

 

WICKLOW

RATHDRUM

1866-1914

Additional years

WICKLOW

SHILLELAGH

1888-1911

New court

WICKLOW

TINAHELY

1866-1914

New court

WICKLOW

WICKLOW

1866-1914