Use the CRO’s official CORE search to look up an entity by its name or register number. Check the entity type and full registered name before treating a result as the business you intended to find.
Start with the official record
The CRO’s search instructions explain that CORE accepts an entity name or register number. Its records cover companies, business names and limited partnerships. Begin at core.cro.ie, then check which kind of entity the result represents.
Before opening your browser, write down the question you are trying to answer. Are you checking the legal entity behind a supplier, finding your own registration details, or researching a proposed name? Those tasks can start with the same search box but need different conclusions.
Search by number when you have one
Copy the number from the document you are checking and search for it directly. Compare the result with the document’s full legal name. If something does not match, preserve the discrepancy and ask the business to explain it through a contact channel you already trust.
A useful working note contains the number searched, the legal name returned, the entity type, the source and the date. Avoid shortening the legal name in your note just because the brand is familiar. You want another person to be able to repeat the check without guessing which result you meant.
Search by name when you do not have the number
Start with the wording on the supplier’s terms, invoice or legal notice. If the results are ambiguous, try the distinctive words and compare each plausible record. A familiar logo or similar spelling is a reason to investigate, rather than evidence that you have identified the right entity.
| What you have | What to compare |
|---|---|
| A trading brand | The legal operator named in its terms |
| A registration number | The full name returned by CORE |
| Several similar results | Entity type, name and supporting details together |
| An old document | A fresh official record and the date of your check |
Keep different identifiers separate
Create separate fields in your supplier file for the CRO register number and any tax or other reference supplied to you. Label each with the issuing organisation and its purpose. Do not rename every reference “company number” simply because a form has one convenient field.
For a fictional example, a purchasing assistant receives a quote under the brand “Harbour Workshop”. The terms name a different full legal entity. The assistant searches that entity, records its details and asks for clarification of the trading relationship. The example does not identify or clear a real business.
Understand what a lookup cannot prove
A register result is one piece of your research. It is not a credit assessment, a guarantee that an email is authentic or an endorsement of a supplier. A copied registration number on a website does not, on its own, establish who controls that website.
If the purpose is naming your new venture, use the free company-name search to explore the wording and return to CORE for further research. Our tool searches by proposed name; it is not presented as a CRO-number verification service. A clear search also does not reserve the name.
Common lookup questions
- Can I search without knowing the company name?
Yes. CORE’s official instructions include searching by register number. Compare the returned legal name before recording the result.
- What if there are no results?
Check the characters and the entity category, then ask for the original registration details. Record the check as unresolved rather than inventing a match.
- Should I keep a screenshot?
A dated note or screenshot can support your working file. Keep its source visible and repeat the search when a later decision needs current information.
Sources & review
Editorial owner: Thomas O'Sullivan. Sources checked 17 October 2026. Professional review: Thomas O'Sullivan (Company formation expert and writer), 17 October 2026. Scope: The ten new 17 October guide drafts: current text, practical examples and official source references.
Examples are fictional and do not establish name or domain availability. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or provider. Report a correction.