Dear listers. This is a very generous and helpful offer from Jenny which is much appreciated. In addition to these records (which appear to be available for direct download from the National Library of Ireland website http://www.nli.ie/en/parish-register.aspx) you may also find estate records helpful - for example the entire index to the Lismore Papers (Dukes of Devonshire) is online and downloadable/searchable. While it is a reference document for the papers themselves, it does contain many names of tenants etc. Just enter 'Lismore' in the search box on the home page: http://www.nli.ie/en/homepage.aspx It is a large file so takes some time to download/open but well worth checking. The Lismore estate covered a great area of land in Co Cork, especially around the Bandon area, as well as in Co Waterford. Many Bandon and surrounds related entries have been transcribed (from the actual papers) and can be seen on http://www.bandon-genealogy.com/ The National Library of Ireland is a magnificent institution, with massive records on Ireland, whose website is well worth exploring. In addition, the National Archives of Ireland has a list of the microfilms of Church of Ireland records they hold - this can be found at: http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy/church.html where you will also see a handy link to the RC register files of the National Library as above. Again, well worth exploring their website, which also hosts the 1901 and 1911 census project. Hope this adds to your research options. Of course, none of the actual records are yet online apart from through the Heritage Centres, which is pretty much where this discussion began! Regards, Patsy - New Zealand

about the list of microfilms of parish records....there are no dates mentioned....if we were to go to the Archives in Dublin, would we not want to know what years those films covered in a certain parish?.....am I overlooking something here?? I'm referring to: http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy/church.html Barbara

Hi Barbara - if you follow the links (RC) to the diocese register download at the National Library, you will find that some have the dates beside them. A very extensive list of Catholic registers and dates can also be found in John Grenham's 3rd edition of 'Tracing Your Irish Ancestors' The National Archives COI list does not appear to have dates but an earlier edition of Grenham (sorry not sure which one) listed the parishes existing, the dates and where they could be found. Happy to have a look if you have a specific parish. Regards, Patsy - New Zealand Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 2:31 PM Subject: Re: Free availability of Irish Records - more > about the list of microfilms of parish records....there are no dates > mentioned....if we were to go to the Archives in Dublin, would we not want > to know what years those films covered in a certain parish?.....am I > overlooking something here?? > I'm referring to: > http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy/church.html > > Barbara