Marguerite et Henri Bernard <henry.bernard@globetrotter.net> wrote: : Seems as if many of us are struggling with the same problem. I too have just discovered an Irish connection from army papers I received of my g-grandfather. I now know he was born in Birr Eglish county of Offlay(King's) about 1838. His name Charles Donoghue parents John Donoghue and Elizabeth Carroll. I have paid a research to look for a birth certificate but no luck and am wondering where to go from this. What sort of research did you pay for? Civil registration of birth did not start until 1864. Were you requesting a search for a baptism? The Laois/Offally heritgae centre has RC parish records for Birr, baptisms 1838-1913, marriages 1838-1905, and burials 186901970; Curch of Ireland baptisms 1760-1899, marriages 1760-1900, and burials 1786-1984; and Mthodist baptisms 1877-1900. See: http://www.irishmidlandsancestry.com/ Offaly (King's) Family Heritage Centre computerizing parish records Provides search service for a fee See http://tiara.ie/results.htm for customer comments http://scripts.ireland.com/ancestor/browse/counties/leinster/index_of.htm Offaly sources for genealogy http://www.irishmidlandsancestry.com/ Laois and Offaly Family History http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/county/offaly.html County Offaly Fianna Page http://www.offalyhistory.com/ Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society