About us
Irish Family Footsteps, founded in 2012, specializes in providing an expert research service for those seeking to trace their Irish family roots. Our principal researcher is Sandra Doble, M.A.G.I. (Member of Accredited Genealogists Ireland)
My Story
"My initial career was as an A.C.C.A. qualified accountant and auditor. In 2005, on a career break, I became passionate about family history research having discovered an intriguing 1911 census entry about my great-grandfather, Albert Doble, stating that he was born in England. I became quite obsessed with finding out precisely where in England he and my Doble family hailed from and then turned to my Irish born ancestors with the same enthusiasm.
I undertook a Diploma in Family History Research (Distinction), awarded by The Institute of Commercial Management which was run in conjunction with Accredited Genealogists Ireland (then the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland).
In 2012, after completing the diploma and discovering that I enjoyed researching other people's families just as much as my own, I set up Irish Family Footsteps to provide a research service to clients dedicated to helping individuals trace their Irish roots and discover their family history.
I joined Accredited Genealogists Ireland (AGI) as an affiliate in 2013 and became a full member in 2015. I am very proud of my membership of AGI as an organisation with a rigorous accreditation process, high professional standards and a strong regard within the Irish genealogy world. I have served two terms as their treasurer and continue to serve on Council.
In addition to the research work I carry out for clients, my professional journey has taken me down a number of interesting roads.
I am part of a panel of AGI members who staff the Genealogy Advisory Service in the National Archives of Ireland meeting people from all over the world to obtain assistance with their research.
I have been tutor and co-creator of a genealogy course run by City College Dublin in conjunction with AGI. I continue to provide lectures for this course. I have provided lectures for the National Archives of Ireland, the National Library of Ireland, the Irish Family History Forum and the Kildare Library Service.
I have a particular interest and expertise in researching families from counties Kildare and Wicklow and also in researching families with a Church of Ireland background."
Sandra Doble, April 2026
Testimonials
"I'm delighted with Sandra's detailed research into the life of great great grandmother, Julia Reilly. The reports are detailed, extensive and rigorous, with thoroughly documented references. The research and reports became quite an adventure and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Where I've had specific queries, they've been fully explored and Sandra was always willing to go the extra mile. I'm very pleased with every aspect of the report"
Michael Young, UK
"Sandra has an extensive knowledge of the available resources, her work is meticulous, and she thoughtfully suggests pathways which may take you to findings you never imagine possible. I am so grateful for all that she did for me."
Helen Barton, Australia
"It is a pleasure to be able to recommend the genealogical services offered by Sandra Doble.
I asked Sandra for help in tracing evidence of my Irish grandmother, about whom I knew very little. It was a difficult case, because my grandmother was born in 1851 before civil registration, so had no birth certificate and her baptism certificate did not exist - it was destroyed in the fire at the Public Records Office during the Irish Civil War in 1922.
I was astounded by the wealth of information that Sandra unearthed surrounding the circumstances of my grandmother's early family life and the death of her parents. I had no idea that her mother died when she was only eight, quickly followed by one of her brothers, and then, when she was eleven, her father. She was left destitute, but eventually was found a place in an Orphan School in Dublin. She stayed there until she was seventeen after which she was trained as a governess.
All of this, and many other details, were a complete surprise. What I had originally envisaged as a matter of dry dates and places, blossomed into information far more enlightening and challenging, both intellectually and emotionally.
I am deeply grateful to Sandra both for her professional skills and also her understanding and sensitivity.
I cannot recommend her too highly."
C. Bloor, UK