SNIPPET: Who can tie into pre-1600 Irish lineages? In truth, probably only descendants of those families who remained prominent through the early 1800s can hope for such a connection. The fact is that the lineages of Catholic peasant emigrants from Ireland often can only be traced back to about 1800, because Catholic records are largely lacking prior to the 19th century as a result of the Penal Laws restricting Catholics' rights. This leaves a tremendous gap which cannot be bridged for many Catholic families. There is a possibility of tracing some Protestant and prominent Catholic families back further. Some Catholic families 'converted' to the Protestant religion on paper to retain land and social status. Many pedigrees for more prominent Catholic and Protestant families have been compiled.