Having just returned from a research & discovery trip to Ireland, I want to share some info I picked up--old lessons rediscovered, it seems. My recommendations: DO your homework in America (or your homeland) where things are calm, and believe in your findings. When you don't get an answer that makes sense in Ireland, keep asking. Nobody will do it as well as you do it yourself, if you do your homework. Examples below: 1. A licensed genealogist at the NLI assured me that ALL the Irish parish films have been captured by the Mormons. I believe that to be NOT true. Otherwise I would be far more advanced in my family research. I could copy & study them for relationships and movement, from America. 2. Another licensed genealogist at NLI told me there were no such Townlands in Waterford as Ballynaguilke and Clonfadda listed in any of the library's resources. I have the wills and data from Newfoundland and we found these same Townlands on Seanruad and a Discovery map after we left the NLI. However, deciphering the Parish (once called Reiske) now turned into Dunhill, and finding them on the country roads is an amazing challenge. Next visit I bring a GPS! 3. Another knowledgeable Irish person who is expert at the internet and believes this data should be free----advised us that Heritage Centers are into it for the income and often staffed by low paid FAS workers who are not knowledgeable or exactly interested in Irish or family history. When inquiries come in, they refer to the computer or to established lists, and provide a quick response for the fee. There is no critical thinking going on there. I believe this may be true. For certain I know there are more records out there. An Irish detective is hard to find, and to that, I say, rely on yourself and the older people you meet who are willing to share their history. And go soon, while the elders are still alive. Regards, Candi McCarthy from California

> 1. A licensed genealogist at the NLI assured me that ALL the Irish > parish films have been captured by the Mormons. I believe that to be NOT > true. Otherwise I would be far more advanced in my family research. I > could copy & study them for relationships and movement, from America. It is most likely true, BUT they are forbidden by various Dioceses from making them available to the public., due to copyright issues. There appears to be clear evidence of this in their Library holdings. ***** Reply to the LIST ONLY - Please ***** ***** Thanks for your consideration ***** Pádraig Mór, An Sean Gabhar ----- Original Message ----- From: "Zizek, Candi (DHS-DCDC-IDB)" <CZizek@dhs.ca.gov> To: <irl-cork@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 12:29 PM Subject: researching in Ireland > Having just returned from a research & discovery trip to Ireland, I want > to share some info I picked up--old lessons rediscovered, it seems. > > My recommendations: >

I couldn't agree more! Prepare, prepare, prepare!! It pays to research the opening hours of institutions as well, and the bus routes and walking distances etc. Nothing worse than going all that way to find the place is closed on the only day you have free. A folder with copies of documents is useful to 'prove' that the places and people you are researching do/did actually exist. Most places are helpful, especially in the larger centres, but I think the comment regarding heritage centres is probably true. Cheers, Patsy - New Zealand. PS be sure to pack your Irish luck as well - some discoveries are a result of just that. > Having just returned from a research & discovery trip to Ireland, I want > to share some info I picked up--old lessons rediscovered, it seems. > > My recommendations: > > DO your homework in America (or your homeland) where things are calm, > and believe in your findings. When you don't get an answer that makes > sense in Ireland, keep asking. Nobody will do it as well as you do it > yourself, if you do your homework. > > Examples below: > > 1. A licensed genealogist at the NLI assured me that ALL the Irish > parish films have been captured by the Mormons. I believe that to be NOT > true. Otherwise I would be far more advanced in my family research. I > could copy & study them for relationships and movement, from America. > 2. Another licensed genealogist at NLI told me there were no such > Townlands in Waterford as Ballynaguilke and Clonfadda listed in any of > the library's resources. I have the wills and data from Newfoundland and > we found these same Townlands on Seanruad and a Discovery map after we > left the NLI. However, deciphering the Parish (once called Reiske) now > turned into Dunhill, and finding them on the country roads is an amazing > challenge. Next visit I bring a GPS! > 3. Another knowledgeable Irish person who is expert at the internet and > believes this data should be free----advised us that Heritage Centers > are into it for the income and often staffed by low paid FAS workers who > are not knowledgeable or exactly interested in Irish or family history. > When inquiries come in, they refer to the computer or to established > lists, and provide a quick response for the fee. There is no critical > thinking going on there. I believe this may be true. For certain I know > there are more records out there. > > An Irish detective is hard to find, and to that, I say, rely on yourself > and the older people you meet who are willing to share their history. > And go soon, while the elders are still alive. > > > Regards, > > Candi McCarthy from California > >