Hi Group, Bob Cook has suggested that I write something for the benefit of those of you trying to research ancestors who came from Ireland. The main problem with research here is the fact that all official records went up in flames during the Civil War in 1922. These included Wills, Marriage Licence Bonds and Parish Registers. The best I can do is to tell you what is left, and then say where it might be found. I often get the feeling that it is easier for people living at the other side of the pond, with access to Family History Centres, to get a lot of this. WILLS These were all destroyed. However the indexes remain, organized by Church Diocese, they give the name and date the will was proved. For those people who held land in one or more Diocese their wills were proved in the Prerogative Court, and various people with time on their hands, amongst them a Mr. Thrift and a Mr. Beetham, made genealogical extracts from them. There are copies of these around. MARRIAGE LICENCE BONDS These were destroyed, but the indexes still remain giving the names of the bridal pair and the year of marriage, arranged by Diocese. PARISH REGISTERS All clergy were supposed to send these up to Dublin in 1880. The very efficient ones made copies, and the very inefficient ones didn't send them, so about half still survive. DEEDS. If your ancestors held land, they may have made deeds, and luckily all these, dating from about 1700 still survive. REGISTRY OF BIRTHS MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. This was started in about 1850. and all records from then are still in existence. SOURCES. Where and how do you get hold of this information? (Please don't ask me to help as I try to stay away from Dublin as much as possible). PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE DUBLIN Has the indexes to Marriage Licence Bonds, Wills, the extracts from Prerogative wills and Parish Registers on microfilm. SALT LAKE CITY I gather that copies of everything are there, whether you can get copies at your local FHC is something you will have to find out. DEEDS OFFICE IN DUBLIN. Has copies of all deeds made from 1700. HERITAGE CENTRES. These are in the process of being set up around Ireland, generally one for each Diocese, and the efficient ones, have not only computerized their parish registers, but are also in the process of entering details of census returns and any other relevant information. The problem is they charge for their services. REGISTRY OF BIRTHS AND MARRIAGES. I know someone in Canada has got hold of all Birth and Marriage registrations for 1850 to 1870 on a CD. FROM CORK? The O'Kief Note books, which run to 16 volumes contain everything available for Cork and portions of Kerry, Limerick Tipperary and Waterford. Vols. I. II IX X XII XII XIII contain nothing of genealogical interest. People in America are getting hold of them from some source, (FHCs?) ROOTSWEB. Just as there is a list for the Cook family, so there are lists for most of the counties in Ireland. For an index to most user mailing lists hosted by RootsWeb, visit <http://www.rootsweb.com/~maillist/>. If the county you are interested in does not have a site, or you do not know which county, subscribe to the Shamrock list which covers all Ireland, I advise using the Digest mode or you will be inundated. You can make inquiries regarding your ancestors or ask if anyone on the list knows the address of the local Heritage Centre. Hope this is of some use. Cheers, Peter in Ireland.