St Patrick’s Day (March 17) is celebrated by the Irish and Irish descendants around the world. Ancestry have added to the celebration by releasing a raft of new records that will help people uncover their Irish roots.

These four new collections date from the 19th century, and provide a detailed view of life before and during the Great Famine. This tragedy brought about mass emigration from Irish shores, so in many cases these records provide the last chance to see your ancestors in their native home.

The Griffith’s Valuation 1848-1864, and Tithe Applotment Books 1823-1837, act as crucial replacements for the destroyed Irish census records. They reveal where your ancestors were living, whether they were homeowners or tenants, and the value of their land – so you can really imagine how they lived their lives.

The other two collections let you add some colour to your discoveries – and put them within their historical context.

The Lawrence Collection of Photographs 1870-1910, brings together images from all over Ireland, showing the world your forebears lived in.

Meanwhile, the historical maps in Ordnance Survey 1824-1846, let you find your way around Ireland in this era.

Because the Irish have spread so widely over the globe, these records offer the tantalising prospect of discovering lost cousins in Ireland. Search the collections above to see if you can find any more connections to your family.

With these new collections, Ancestry now have over 35 million records to help you uncover your Irish roots. Click here to find out more.