General query about how to pin down a 1940s/1950s couple to an address in NI

[elfinblues]

Hello everyone,

I'm a complete newcomer to Northern Irish genealogical research, but I recently discovered that I need to prove/disprove whether or not a great aunt and great uncle lived in Northern Ireland for a period of time after they married. In English research, I would be digging out electoral registers and phone books, but I don't know what sources are available in Northern Ireland or where I might find them. Would anyone be able to advise me?

Thank you very much in advance!

[Jon_ni]

If in Belfast then street directories are available on https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/ and Findmypast.
if elsewhere in N.I. then coverage is mostly just merchants in the larger towns. The 1939 Register is available (free) by FOI request from PRONI but one has to supply the address as that is how they are filed (no name index like that done by Findmypast and Ancestry for England and Wales).
Phone books are still an avenue you could use as on Ancestry included in the UK ones. There are no electoral registers online. If they died in NI then newspaper deaths, or entries by them for their parents or siblings deaths will often list residence so search BNA or Findmypast. Births of any children but would have to contact GRONI by phone and request a search.

[elfinblues]

Thank you very much for your kind reply. Unfortunately, I've had no luck with either the Belfast directories or the phone books. I think I must be at a dead end here, as there seem so few other options. They weren't married in NI and had no children - I believed they just lived in NI for a few years, though I don't know what reason they had for being there. Thank you, anyway, for your kind help.

[aghadowey]

Have you tried newspapers? Find MY Past have some Belfast papers but not sure if dates go far enough forward for your search. Sometimes even adverts can give clues to name and address.

[elfinblues]

I haven't, no, but thank you - I will.

[aghadowey]

If you want help but don't want to post names feel free to send me a pm and I'll try to find them for you.

[cwatterson]

I've found several obituaries with addresses in my own research - crucial nuggets in my case to continue building up a picture (1939 registry request to PRO NI).

If they might have posted a condolence on another family members death during those years, then worth checking - even if the newspaper its published in isn't in NI (just might mention at least they were in a city/town in NI).