Alison, take a look through the site at http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/ Start with http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/guide/start1.html then go on to the Guide proper and browse about a bit... Even though you're not working on Co Clare, read the tutor for Co Clare because it can generalize to other searching. Check out everything about Dublin http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/county/dublin.html Since your father was placed with the Christian Brothers, he probably comes from a Catholic background. That fact might be of help in your searches..... There are LDS Family History Centers in London, so you CAN search through any records that have been microfilmed. That includes the 1911 Census, and maybe the 1901. If you know the birth, marriage or death dates of any of them, you might be able to find further information on the BMD indexes. This should get your feet wet and help you to formulate further questions :) When you're ready to ask more, come on back and ask ! :) And just for fun, take our two photo tours of Dublin :) HTH At 08:00 AM 7/21/99 -0700, you wrote: > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Alison Morris >Subject: Dublin Symingtons > > >Hi, >I hope you can help me ,I have just started to research my family history >and am finding it difficult to get started. >I am looking for info. on my grandparents family name Symington they married >in St Kevins in Dublin (Rathmines?) >My grandmothers maiden name was Harold-family from Bray. >My grandfather was called Joseph Thomas. I believe he had a coalmerchants >business in Dublin. >Most of my family have died and I am finding it really difficult to get info >as I am in London >so cant get to search through records etc. >I still have relations at 31 Ranlagh Rd Rathmines and this has been the >family home for over seventy years,but tey cant tell me much more than that. >My father was put into the Christian Brothers as a very young boy but I cant >get info on these either.His name was Thomas Joseph but he was always called >Joe by the family. >My father had a brother -Shamie is that James? and two sisters- May and >Annie. >Can you help? or lead me in the right direction? >Regards >Alison Morris nee. Symington >