See Co. Clare query below -- Mr. Paul Gorry's columns with professional genealogical advice appear in Irish magazines; he appears to be well thought of. Don't quote me, but it appears to me that he approaches research help in two ways - (1) advice on the direction the researcher should take for the greatest likelihood of success, and (2) actual research done by him. Paul Gorry, Gorry Research 12 Burrow Rd., Sutton, Dublin 13. Member of APGI. Full genealogical service. He does not appear to limit research to one particular county. He can be found on the Internet with the names of other professional genealogists. Clare Heritage and Genealogical centre, contact person Antoinette O'Brien, Church St. Corofin, Co. Clare (phone) 065 6837955; e-mail none. Website http://clare.irishroots.net/ Open Mon-Fri 9-5:30 RC Parish Registers, C of I Parish Registers, Other Parish Registers, Tithe Applotment Bks, Griffith's Valuation, B/D/M, 1901 Census, 1911 Census, Percentage of Computerized Records (1999) was 50% with estimated completion date 2002. Prel. FH report 75 pounds, waiting time 5-6 weeks, full report 180 pounds, waiting time 5-6 weeks, search specific record 10 pounds, no advantage to calling in person over writing or telephoning. At the time of the 1999 survey they had full access to all records above whether on-site at centre, itself, or not; only exception was partial access to "Tithe Applotment Books." The centre was part of the IGP. (It should be noted that some of this information can also be found on LDS (Mormon) FHC resources, etc. I have found a few books by a Josephine Masterson at my regular genealogy library with her transcriptions that includes 1841-51 census abstracts. Also, obtaining records from the known places they lived in the USA, Canada, etc., There is also an expert on Ejectment Books, Mr. Michael J. Coffey, who has spent years researching his own Co. Clare ancestry. Mr. Coffey was born in Liverpool and educated at the London School of Economics and the U. of Liverpool. His article,"Ballyvannon before 1840," (a townland in Tuamgraney), was published circa 1996-97 in the East Clare Heritage magazine "Sliabh Aughty." While visiting the Irish National Archives in 1996, he came across this important resource, which are documents of the Circuit Court. They list applications from Landlords seeking to evict their tenants, and the summary verdict of the court. Each Ejectment Book contains a wealth of genealogical information on the n ames of hundreds of tenants, the townland landlords, the attorneys involved in the case, the location of farms, and sometimes details of the least. For County Clare, which has the most complete records, There are are 17 Ejectment Books (including two missing) which cover the period 1816-1850. Another 28 books cover 1850-1914. Presumably these important Clare archives survive because they were not at the Four Courts location in Dublin when many precious documents were destroyed in 1922. The Civil Bill records for Clare have also survived, providing another source of information for that county. The Ejectment Books are listed in the Circuit Court County Indexes which are at the National Archives, Bishop Street, Dublin. The actual records are currently held at the Four Courts so it is necessary to order them a day in advance. The Ejectment books are written in longhand and with minimal punctuation. Mr. Coffey states that the Ejectment Books for Clare give us far more information about the occupiers of some townlands than the tithe applotment book. Barely a family in some townlands were left untouched by ejectment. In most cases of ejectment the tenants would have no legal representatoin, the majority would probably not even attend the sessions. Often ejectment females gave their full name. Throughout the 19th century, Ireland's impoverished tenants eked out a precarious existence from the soil. Since the turn of the century rapid population growth had led to continual sub-division of farms and more marginal land being brought under cultivation. Townlands often teemed with tenants working uneconomic patches of reclaimed bog and mountain. The potato, which was the staple diet of the majority, was a crop subject to frequent blight. Harsh and oppressive laws, unfeeling landlords, the "hanging gale," and fear of ejectment were features of daily life. Random evictions had occurred throgyout Ireland before 1840s, but it was the dreadul famine years that turned a stream into a flood. Faced with a blighted potato crop, tenants were often forced to sell everything they had to feed their families. The ramshackle poor law which was intended to provide relief for the distressed now exacerbated a developing crisis. Landlords receiving little or no income from rents were still liable to pay rates on holdings rated at 4 pounds and under. For some landlords the choice was stark: evict the tenantry or face impoverishment themselves. For other landlords ejectment was an opportunity to be rid of an unnecessary expsnese. Numerous properties were sold under the Encumbered Estates Act (see John Grenham's book) at prices which failed to cover mortgagees and debts. The new owners, often from the merchant class, were even more relentless in their clearance of tenants than the established landed families. An ejectment might explain a family's disappearance from a townland or parish. Mr. Coffey may be an author of some books about Co. Clare books, I don't know, and I don't have a contact number for him. My comment -- Another resource would be the Land Valuation Office, Irish Life Centre, Abbey St. Lower, Dublin 1 - Using their cancelled land books, current land books, survey, tenure, field books, old maps, they are often able to trace all transactions on particular parcels of land from the time of the Griffith's Valuation to the present. This sounds like a good resource (for a fee) for those who owned land. I have heard that interesting notations have been made by surveyors, etc., on these pages as well. http://www.valoff.ie/ More on Ejectments -- Capt. Kennedy, the Poor Law Inspector for Co. Clare wrote: "The number of receipt of out-door relief on 24th March 1849, was 22,661 at a weekly cost of 559 pounds for food alone." In May 1849 Kennedy estimated that around 15,000 had been unhoused within the year. On August 13, 1848, Captain Kennedy wrote to the Poor Law Commissioners: "These helpless creatures, not only unhoused but driven off the lands, no one remaining on the lands being allowed to lodge or harbour them. It is obvious they must go somewhere till disease and privation thin their numbers; and wherever they acquire residence the proprietor must eventually suffer, both in purse and character for the neglect or cupidity of others. Without means or energy they cannot emigrate, and without employment they cannot exist but on the rates. When winter sets in these evicted destitute will be an awful plight, as their temporary sheds, behind ditches or old fences, are quite unfit for human habitation, and if they attempted to build anything permanent they would be immediately demolished." Clare has the most surviving records. Other Counties include Carlow 1867-1910; Galway 1840, 1849, 1856-57, 1886-1902; Kildare 1870-1963; Kilkenny 1847-49, 1878, 1880-1963; Sligo 1868-1945; Monaghan from 1870. Ejectment books for Northern Ireland, per Mr. Coffey, appear to have been destroyed. The remaining counties have Ejectment Books staring from the late 1870s to the mid 1890s, and many continue till the mid-20th century.-- Excerpt, "Irish Roots" 1997 #2. John Grenham's 1999 ed. of "Tracing Your Irish Ancestors" is considered a wonderful resources for records on all counties. See query below: ----- Original Message ----- From: <smb-rgb@att.net> To: "Jean Rice" <jeanrice@cet.com> Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 10:46 AM Subject: Re: [IRELAND] Irish Heritage Centre Survey (1998) - East Galway Centre receives high marks! > My family originated in County Clare (Kilmurry). I have > never been able to get satisfactory information about > the family history although I am perfectly willing to > pay for competent research assistance. Perhaps you could > guide me into the hands of a reputable research source > for that area. I am greatly beholden to you for any help > you can provide. > Richard G. Birmingham, Roswell, Georgia, USA >