Ireland Data Our article today is filled with expectation but clouded by effort regards Ireland documents for your pedigree and genealogy. Many people encounter the claim that considering the loss of significant national records in the Four Courts bombing and fires of 1922, that research in Ireland is a lost cause. However, experts have learned to build a case, to counter that disappointment, with alternative approaches, and an ever growing awareness of hidden treasures in other holdings and archives. Yes, most census entries before 1901 are gone except for a few scraps, and gone were many Legal Will proceedings and more. But any quick glance at the popularity of family history and the heritage of Irish roots should encourage you to continue since those deficiencies are stopping no one. In fact, some of those ashes served to bring to light private materials or copies of such, which were gathered to replace needed information that was necessary to reestablish ongoing society needs and/or business-as-usual. And since then, other materials termed as census-substitutes and alternate indexes have been used to also supplement any researchers' quest. After a thorough and exhaustive examination of all available documentation and clues in America, and after compiling history from all your known relatives, then your search for Ireland resources can start -- beginning with the obvious possibilities first. Sean Murray, in his "Primer for Irish Genealogy" has followed the pattern of the most respected guides, like James Ryan and his series on Irish Records, and Angus Baxter (Society of Genealogists) "In search of your British and Irish Roots". It becomes clear, that the topics and avenues of relevant search categories follows a knowledge of available records, from the time period of interest. The more you learn about what type of paper trail may have followed your ancestor, the better position you will be in to pinpoint their inclusion. For most people, that will start with church records or civil registrations -- another reason to emphasize the importance of knowing as precise a location as possible, to focus your searching with that. The closer you can identify the geography of your people, the more accurate and better opportunity the results. But don't be put off if you draw a blank with an elusive index on many online research sites. As one example, many Roman Catholic parishes in Dublin, and their Church of Ireland counterparts, have been cooperating with the recent internet portal churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords This is an excellent site, and user friendly tool, to do a quick survey, which includes parts of Cork and Kerry as well. But it is not comprehensive, and even specific register books are not complete. We have located some years, which were missing from the electronic text, but found in book form elsewhere. And nothing beats perusing the actual handwriting, in person, on microfilm, or digitized, page by page, in case your ancestors entries were skipped, misinterpreted, misspelled, or footnoted with additional information! Most Catholic parishes maintain the original, a copy, or the bishops transcripts, within their own facilities. However, some have been relinquished to an archive, diocese, or national institution for a better preservation environment. Church of Ireland records have been centralized at the offices of the Representaive Church Body, and any searches or extracts are fee based requests. Other denominations and faiths have similar various collections, and the biggest challenge is to determine what you are looking for and where it is held. Work in parallel with general history, and remember that many useful sources for Ireland genealogy are also in U.K. and European archives. Dr.David McCready, author of "The ordination of Women in the Church of Ireland", Published by the Royal Irish Academy, has given us the following advise: "There are abundant resources available to research your Irish heritage. One of the first ports of call should be the National Archives of Ireland, which has a whole section about genealogical research on its website: http://www.nationalarchives.ie . The same is true of the National Library of Ireland website: http://www.nli.ie/. For those whose origins lie in the northern part of the island, another invaluable resource is that provided by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, http://www.proni.gov.uk/index.htm. The first place to go specifically for Church of Ireland records is the RCB Library in Dublin, further details of which can be obtained from their website: http://www.library.ireland.anglican.org . The possibilities offered by the RCB should not be neglected by those whose ancestors were not Church of Ireland. To quote a recent post by Fiona Fitzsimons: ‘Given the administrative role of the Church of Ireland as the State church, the wills and marriage records of the diocesan (Consistorial) courts also encompass Protestant Dissenters and individuals who were Roman Catholic can also be found in the wills and administrations records. More unexpectedly, Church of Ireland parish registers will often record Presbyterian marriages up to 1782, and Methodist marriages up to 1845. Burial registers particularly of rural parishes, will often also record an entire community in death, regardless of their religious denomination. To ignore the records held in the RCBL would be a cardinal sin for the genealogical researcher, even if the person or family you’re tracing was not a member of the Anglican church in Ireland’ (http://blog.findmypast.ie/2012/01/the-representative-church-body-library-part-1/. ) Although it is great fun to return to the ‘auld sod’ for the purposes of genealogical research not everyone can do this. Nonetheless, they can seek the help of professional researchers, of which there is a recognized association, details of which can be found at http://www.apgi.ie ." Volunteers groups and heritage centers are also available in Ireland which may assist in facilitating inquiries and searches, as a courtesy or by fee. And, libraries have unique holdings, though typically understaffed considering the volume of requests. However, new initiatives such as "Ireland Reaching Out" at irelandxo.com are trying to fill that void with a network of local parish enthusiasts with specific interests in civil districts, in the native economy and culture, and records of those communities. Above all, patience and time will bring awareness, reading and learning about the local history, gaining familiarity with records available containing those potential neighbors, and through gathering and building a full-fledged fleshed-out biography of your people AND their allied kin, migration companions, and significant players in the immediate lives of your ancestors. =welcome>about>help>back(to"help")>NEXT: here

. . More Detailed Help Pages Coming Soon If you have any questions in the meanwhile, simply contact us. Topical Weblinks . Review Introduction Organizing Networking Libraries Sources Ireland Data NEXT