Hi all - thanks to a web address provided by another lister I think I might have traced an elusive ancestor. Annie Helena Smyth emigrated in the 1870s to Cooktown Queensland. She came out as a governess. I know she was from Dublin and have just had found the Dublin library bdm information following a post from another lister. I emailed the library asking about two Anne Smythes born at the right time for my Annie Helena. They extremely promptly came back and advised the following: Anne Smyth Address: Lucan Date of Birth: 20/07//1858 Date of Baptism: 01/08/1858 Mother: Mary Harris Father: Philip Smyth Anne Smyth Address: Lusk Date of Birth: 15/08/1858 Date of Baptism: 24/08/1858 Mother: Mary-anne Carroll Father: Robert Smyth I'm interested in finding information about the Catholic Parish. I've googled Clondalkin & Lukan and Lusk and can see where they are. I've looked at Wiki for a potted history (very short) of Clondalkin. I looked at http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/county/dublin/dubrc.html and I'm not clear whether Clondalkin/Lukan/Lusk are city or country. I'd appreciate advice on this. What was the area like in the 1850s? Thanks all Anne

Lusk is a village in north county Dublin on the east coast of Ireland, about 30 miles north of Dublin city. Lucan is about 10 miles directly west of Dublin on the south bank of the river Liffey. It's now a Dublin suburb but was formerly a village. Clondalkin is about 8 miles west south west of Dublin city, again formerly a village but now assumed into Dublin. It's postal code is Dublin 24. My ancestors who were born in Lusk in the 1870s were all baptised in the Catholic church of St. Patrick in Skerries, north county Dublin. Debby Raymond, Queensland, Australia

Debby many thanks for your advice. I'll have to try and narrow the parents down to see which village they came from. Anne