I agree with Diane.  The Parish Priests and their staffs are not genealogists.  As in the USA, there is a shortage of priests in Ireland.  Considering the the huge numbers in the million + who emigrated D/T Famine and previously for various reasons, there now descendants who have more than probably quadrupled the original emigrants are seeking their roots, especially in prime tourist season.       Over the years, we have made appointments at particular parishes in advance.  Some will allow us actually to look at the books if we have an approx. year & other pertinent data.  Others, request we write down the information and they will look/copy and mail to us.  We leave a donation, about 5 Euros per request to cover postage and their time.       Pre 1864 records are iffy at best even if they do exist.  Your response may be a while in coming; several months on occasion.  I have never not received some type of response, even if it is to say that my ancestors have no record in a particular parish.  However, one must be patient, very patient.       The LDS records are a great inexpensive way do research, if one is lucky to live near one and able to access it.       I received from another website, the announcement a few weeks back, that a group of Irish from various counties, are enlisting other people from a particular county who are interested in tracking emigrants from their families who went out in the 18, 19 20 centuries.  I can't remember for sure, but the county that this project is starting is either Clare or Galway.  Eventually all counties will have such an organization.  This would be such a great assist to the descendants of emigrants and the families of those left behind.  A true fount of data for all. Will look up the article to get the particulars and put on the various root web boards, I subscribe.   Mary Ellen Chambers