Don't know if it would be the same for Ireland records vs US records but I transcribe records for various sources, one being the USGenWeb Census Project. The references I have used, and the ones referred to from the census site are as follows. They give some examples of old handwriting. Old Style Handwriting http://www.usgennet.org/family/smoot/oldhand/ Deciphering Old Handwriting http://www.amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/oldhand.html Problems with Reading Old Records http://www.genealogy.com/00000008.html?Welcome=1025122064 Cathy Joynt Labath USGenWeb Census Project Coordinator for Iowa http://www.us-census.org/states/iowa/