BBC Newsline

The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) has responsibility for looking after millions of official documents, many of which are of huge historical and cultural importance.

PRONI was established in 1924, just after the partition of Ireland, but some of the documents it holds date back as far as the 13th century.

Historic accounts

As well as official government papers, the Public Records Office has an extensive collection of privately deposited archives, including manuscripts which give first hand accounts of seminal events such as the Irish Famine and the Plantation of Ulster.

PRONI also maintains a large collection of church registers, including baptismal records and you can view original, handwritten wills dating back to 1900. 

Valerie Adams

Valeria Adams is the Head of Strategic Development at PRONI. Not only did she help us to track down living relatives of 2nd Lieutenant Robert Kelly Pollin, she also took us on a brief tour of the Public Records Office.