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Colette O'Flaherty | |
---|---|
8th Chief Herald of Ireland | |
Assumed office June 2010 | |
President | |
Taoiseach | |
Preceded by | Collette Byrne |
Personal details | |
Nationality | Irish |
Profession | Genealogy |
The Genealogical Office is an office of the Government of Ireland containing genealogical records. It includes the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland (Irish: Príomh Aralt na hÉireann),[1] the authority in Ireland for heraldry. The Chief Herald authorises the granting of arms to Irish bodies and Irish people, including descendants of emigrants. The office was constituted on 1 April 1943 as successor to the Ulster King of Arms, established during the Tudor period of the Kingdom of Ireland in 1552. The Ulster King of Arms' duties in relation to Northern Ireland were taken over by the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms.
The Genealogical Office was based in Dublin Castle until 1981.[2][3] It was made part of the Department of Education in 1943.[4] In 1987 it relocated to Kildare Street, occupying part of the former Kildare Street Club premises beside the National Library of Ireland (NLI).[5] It was formally recognised as part of the NLI in 1997.[1] In 2002,[6] it was transferred from Education to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.[6] The State Heraldic Museum was housed in the Genealogical Office until its closure in 2007.[7][8]
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In December 2007 an additional exhibition space was opened in the space previously occupied by the Heraldic Museum in 2/3 Kildare Street.