I agree and here are mine: Baptism Records: William O'Brien 23/02/1824 Parish: Hospital Father: Kennedy O'Brien Mother: Margaret O'Donnell Denomination: Roman Catholic Catherine O'Brien 00/03/1829 Parish: Galbally & Aherlow Father: Thomas O'Brien Mother: Ellen Noonan Denomination: Roman Catholic Catherine O'Brien 26/02/1829 Parish: Murroe & Boher Father: Patrick O'Brien Mother: Cath. Malley Denomination: Roman Catholic Catherine O'Brien 05/04/1829 Parish: Kilteely Father: Thomas O'Brien Mother: Bridget O'Sullivan Denomination: Roman Catholic I purchased 40 Euro and used 30 before getting these four at 5 Euro each. The William could be mine based on his obituary stating he was aged 40 in Dec 1864. One of the Catherine's could be mine based on her obituary stating she was 67 on 5 Jan 1897. This is the closest I have come in years to finding my great grand parents, natives of Co Limerick. Mike

Thanks JJ for posting; I have done as you suggested an emailed my 'two cents' to Olivia Mitchell. Basically my suggestions for her were to allow people to "subscribe" and obtain unlimited access to all the records for certain time periods and barring that approach to improve the search capabilities so that one has a reasonable "shot" at getting the right record prior to paying for it. Has it dawned on anyone else how completely unhelpful it is that when looking up marriages you can only see ONE of the parties involved? It is essential to know both the Bride and the Grooms' name on a particular record to be sure you have the "right" marriage record, but the way this web site's searches are set up it only shows you either the Groom or the Bride's record (never both names together). I spent hours yesterday combing through County Limerick's records trying to "correlate" names for marriage records--which it is possible to do (but only if the surnames you are searching are fairly uncommon). One might do it with more common names, or narrow one's searches if you are absolutely certain of the parties given names, but it takes a very very long time even when working w/ an uncommon name so really isn't terribly practical in terms of time. In case anyone is interested this is what I was doing: I took the name of my bride (fairly rare) LUBY and found all the marriages for females w/ that surname for the time period that I'm looking for. Then for each LUBY bride I found, I noted the year of the record (and then laboriously went through each and every parish until I determined what parish the record was from). Once I had that info, I then took the year and entered the Groom's surname SHANAHAN and extracted all the given names of the males for that particular year. Then, but putting in the groom's surname, the groom's given name, the particular year and the KNOWN parish that the Bride's record was from I was able to determine if there was a correlating LUBY / SHANAHAN marriage. I'm very glad I did this because my research showed me that there were NO correlating records that matched my criteria and that it would have been a complete waste to pay for (sight unseen) records. In other words there were lots of records that could have been my LUBY bride and lots of records that could have been my SHANAHAN groom in the right time frame in the right place but NONE of them were in the right time and place and parish AT THE SAME TIME, ergo none of the records would have been worth paying for! To better explain what I was doing here is the info that I ended up with: 4 Marriages for female Luby/Looby s that are in the right time period (1825-1834) in County Limerick: 1. Looby, Catherine 1829 Parish: KILBEHENNY Corresponding male Shanahan marriages 1829 ALL given names: Shanahan, Cornelius 1829 Shanahan, Denis 1829 Shanahan, Matthew 1829 Shanahan, Michael 1829 Shanahan, Michael 1829 However NONE of these male Shanahan Marriages took place in 1829 in KILBEHENNY so we can rule this Catherine LOOBY 1829 marriage OUT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Looby, Ellen 1827 Parish: GALBALLY & AHERLOW Corresponding male Shanahan marriages 1827 ALL given names: Shanahan, Daniel 1827 Shanahan, James 1827 Shanahan, Patrick 1827 Shanahan, Robert 1827 However NONE of these male Shanahan Marriages took place in 1827 in GALBALLY & AHERLOW so we can rule this Ellen LOOBY 1827 marriage OUT. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Looby, Mary 1834 Parish: GALBALLY & AHERLOW Corresponding male Shanahan marriages 1834 ALL given names: Shanahan, John 1834 Shanahan, John 1834 Shanahan, Patrick 1834 Shanahan, Philip 1834 Shanahan, Timtohy 1834 (note mis-transcription of given name Timothy) However NONE of these male Shanahan Marriages took place in 1834 in GALBALLY & AHERLOW So we can rule this Mary LOOBY Marriage record OUT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Looby, Elizabeth 1833 Parish: SOLOHEAD & OOLA Corresponding male SHANAHAN marriages in 1833 ALL given names: Shanahan, James 1833 Shanahan, John 1833 Shanahan, John 1833 Shanahan, Julian 1833 Shanahan, Mathew 1833 Shanahan, Michael 1833 Shanahan, Michael 1833 Shanahan, William 1833 Shannahan John 1833 However NONE of these male Shanahan Marriages took place in 1833 in SOLOHEAD & OOLA so we can rule this Elizabeth LOOBY Marriage Record OUT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- Original message from "JJ Woods" <woodsjj@gmail.com>: -------------- > Please read the following news item from Irish Times Newspaper. If any > person wishes to support Olivia Mitchell's call that the Genealogical > information should be free to all researchers , they should write in support > to: > > Olivia Mitchell T. D. Dail Eireann , Leinster House , Kildare Street, Dublin > 2. > > *email; Olivia.Mitchell@finegael.ie*

I agree and here are mine: Baptism Records: William O'Brien 23/02/1824 Parish: Hospital Father: Kennedy O'Brien Mother: Margaret O'Donnell Denomination: Roman Catholic Catherine O'Brien 00/03/1829 Parish: Galbally & Aherlow Father: Thomas O'Brien Mother: Ellen Noonan Denomination: Roman Catholic Catherine O'Brien 26/02/1829 Parish: Murroe & Boher Father: Patrick O'Brien Mother: Cath. Malley Denomination: Roman Catholic Catherine O'Brien 05/04/1829 Parish: Kilteely Father: Thomas O'Brien Mother: Bridget O'Sullivan Denomination: Roman Catholic I purchased 40 Euro and used 30 before getting these four at 5 Euro each. The William could be mine based on his obituary stating he was aged 40 in Dec 1864. One of the Catherine's could be mine based on her obituary stating she was 67 on 5 Jan 1897. This is the closest I have come in years to finding my great grand parents, natives of Co Limerick. Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon A. McArdle" <samcardle@verizon.net> To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 1:34 PM Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Suggestion for sharing > Baptisms: John Anderson of Limerick > > > John Anderson 17/06 1848 > Parish: St Johns > Father: John Anderson > Mother: Johanna Moylan > > John Anderson 04/09/1846 > Parish: St. John's > Father: Thomas Anderson > Mother: Bridget Leonard > > John Anderson 02/13/1851 > Parish: St. Munchins > Father: Patrick Anderson > Mother: Mary Walsh > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <PVMeistrel@aol.com> > To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 4:03 PM > Subject: [IRL-LIMERICK] Suggestion for sharing > > >> Many of us have spent money in the past or will in the future with our >> requests for birth records/baptisms to places like the Limerick >> Heritage >> Center >> or the Irish Family History Foundation. When we get a response, we >> should >> enter the info immediately here in the mailing list (despite whether it >> helped >> us with our own research or not). That way it is available forever for >> future researchers who search the mailing list archives. >> Rita >> >> I'll start off: >> >> Enright, Hanora: d/o Michael Enright & Mary Shanahan >> baptized: July 15, 1825 Kilcornan, Stonehall Parish, Limerick >> sponsors: John Shanahan & Judith McMahon >> >> >> >> **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & >> Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001) >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Hi Maureen, I was interested to read what you said re.'Heritage centre...has most of her siblings, so I can't figure out why not her', and that you think she may have had a different first name. I have similar puzzle, all of dozen siblings of my ancestor are to be found in heritage centre/parish records, but not my g-grandfather's baptism. It was suggested to me that if he was ill as a new born baby, the priest may have come to the house (half way up a mountain!) and baptised the baby, but not entered the details in the registers. Therefore the heritage centre wouldn't have the records either. The centres are only as good as the material , and the staff, they work with to start with - and as people have said, mistakes can and do happen with the transcriptions. Cheers Mags ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger-Maureen Maloney" <moemaloney@verizon.net> To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 3:23 AM Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Irish Family History Foundation and J.J. Woods > Hi Jan....glad to know you also wrote to Ms. Mitchell. I told her > basically the > same thing that you did regarding their fees. I have been searching for > my > grandmother from Cavan for years without success. I do know that the > Heritage > Center in Cavan has most of her siblings, so I can't figure why not > her. I am beginning > to think that she had a different first name than we knew her by. I > told Ms. Mitchell > if they could devise a way to searh for children of a certain set of > parents, that would > be a great help for most of us. > > Let's all hope that in time these databases will be available free to > search and then we can > either pay a membership fee or the cost of the document. I have no > problem with that, but > this idea of paying for each search is nonsense, especially with the > present cost of our devalued > dollar. > > Hope you and the family are doing well. It has been a bit since we > corresponded!! > > Maureen > > > > At 03:30 PM 3/15/2008, you wrote: >>Thank you to "J.J.Woods" for sharing the informaton about Olivia Mitchell. >>I >>have used the email address he so graciously shared to thank Olivia for >>her >>integrity and ethics. I did say I would be willing to pay a fair annual >>membership to help defray the cost of keeping the web site running. It >>would >>have to be fair, though. We could then access whatever records we were >>interested in. >> >>It is my understanding that transcribing the records was part of a >>training/make work program. The workers had no expertise in reading >>records >>or in genealogy. I have used the Mallow Heritage Center several times over >>the past few years and have then checked some records when I was in >>Ireland >>at the National Library. I have found MANY errors in transcription. >>Sometimes the errors are inconsequential but other times they are not. As >>one example, I was given the name Roderick Roche as the oldest son. So >>that >>meant I had to look for a paternal grandfather with that name. I knew that >>name did not run in my family so I ended my search. Last year, when I was >>in >>Ireland, I checked this record myself on the films at the National >>Library. >>The first name was not Roderick, but Garrett. WOW! That was exactly the >>name >>I had been looking for. >> >>Jan >> >> >>------------------------------- >>To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > -- > This email has been verified as Virus free. > Virus Protection and more available at http://www.plus.net > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1330 - Release Date: > 15/03/2008 14:36 > >

I have found that it was NOT uncommon for a baptism or birth to be unregistered. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Margaret Butler" <magsbutler@mrnoisy.plus.com> To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 9:25 AM Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] IFHF and missing records etc > Hi Maureen, > I was interested to read what you said re.'Heritage centre...has most of > her > siblings, so I can't figure out why not her', and that you think she may > have had a different first name. > I have similar puzzle, all of dozen siblings of my ancestor are to be > found > in heritage centre/parish records, but not my g-grandfather's baptism. It > was suggested to me that if he was ill as a new born baby, the priest may > have come to the house (half way up a mountain!) and baptised the baby, > but > not entered the details in the registers. > Therefore the heritage centre wouldn't have the records either. The > centres > are only as good as the material , and the staff, they work with to start > with - and as people have said, mistakes can and do happen with the > transcriptions. > Cheers > Mags > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Roger-Maureen Maloney" <moemaloney@verizon.net> > To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 3:23 AM > Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Irish Family History Foundation and J.J. Woods > > >> Hi Jan....glad to know you also wrote to Ms. Mitchell. I told her >> basically the >> same thing that you did regarding their fees. I have been searching for >> my >> grandmother from Cavan for years without success. I do know that the >> Heritage >> Center in Cavan has most of her siblings, so I can't figure why not >> her. I am beginning >> to think that she had a different first name than we knew her by. I >> told Ms. Mitchell >> if they could devise a way to searh for children of a certain set of >> parents, that would >> be a great help for most of us. >> >> Let's all hope that in time these databases will be available free to >> search and then we can >> either pay a membership fee or the cost of the document. I have no >> problem with that, but >> this idea of paying for each search is nonsense, especially with the >> present cost of our devalued >> dollar. >> >> Hope you and the family are doing well. It has been a bit since we >> corresponded!! >> >> Maureen >> >> >> >> At 03:30 PM 3/15/2008, you wrote: >>>Thank you to "J.J.Woods" for sharing the informaton about Olivia >>>Mitchell. >>>I >>>have used the email address he so graciously shared to thank Olivia for >>>her >>>integrity and ethics. I did say I would be willing to pay a fair annual >>>membership to help defray the cost of keeping the web site running. It >>>would >>>have to be fair, though. We could then access whatever records we were >>>interested in. >>> >>>It is my understanding that transcribing the records was part of a >>>training/make work program. The workers had no expertise in reading >>>records >>>or in genealogy. I have used the Mallow Heritage Center several times >>>over >>>the past few years and have then checked some records when I was in >>>Ireland >>>at the National Library. I have found MANY errors in transcription. >>>Sometimes the errors are inconsequential but other times they are not. As >>>one example, I was given the name Roderick Roche as the oldest son. So >>>that >>>meant I had to look for a paternal grandfather with that name. I knew >>>that >>>name did not run in my family so I ended my search. Last year, when I was >>>in >>>Ireland, I checked this record myself on the films at the National >>>Library. >>>The first name was not Roderick, but Garrett. WOW! That was exactly the >>>name >>>I had been looking for. >>> >>>Jan >>> >>> >>>------------------------------- >>>To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>>without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> -- >> This email has been verified as Virus free. >> Virus Protection and more available at http://www.plus.net >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG. >> Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1330 - Release Date: >> 15/03/2008 14:36 >> >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Robyn The link below has a few pictures of and inscriptions from Kilfinane Church of Ireland graveyard. http://members.iinet.net.au/~nickred/kilmallock/kilfinane_mi.htm -- Regards Nick /Home/ http://members.iinet.net.au/~nickred/ <http://members.iinet.net.au/%7Enickred/> /Sites managed/ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~registryofdeeds/index.html <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Eregistryofdeeds/index.html> http://www.igrsoc.org/index.htm http://members.iinet.net.au/~nickred/majuratennis/ <http://members.iinet.net.au/%7Enickred/majuratennis/>

I apologize for the cross-posting but someone on one of these listings was searching for information about a FLEMING family -- names included James and George (and perhaps William) and having searched my old emails have been unable to locate which list -- but the family's history involved both Limerick and Chicago as I recall. The messages rang a little bell at the time, but I couldn't place why the names were familiar and just found this item which I hope will be a connection. The widow of James Fleming in the obit copied below was my mother-in-law's cousin, Planxty SCANLAN FLEMING. I actually have a letter written by Erin Samson, niece of James and Planxty Scanlan, to her cousins, the family of the George FLEMING mentioned. Planxty died in 1948 -- I have her obit, but it provides no survivor information apart from her brother, Kickham SCANLAN, who was an Illinois Supreme Court Justice, so presumably James and Planxty had no children. 1942-04-05 Chicago Tribune (IL) FLEMING Edition: Chicago Tribune James P. Fleming, beloved husband of Planxty Scanlan Fleming, brother of Arthur W., Ella May, and George J. Resting at funeral home, 2500 N. Cicero avenue. Funeral Monday, 10 a.m. Interment Arlington. Member of local No. 143, I. U. O. E. [school engineer], and McKinley camp, Spanish-American War Veterans. Berkshire 8070. Copyright 1942, Chicago Tribune. For permission to reprint, contact Chicago Tribune. Record Number: 19420405dn008 Would love to hear from the poster of the original messages re their FLEMING family to see if there's a connection. Beth Callanan Washington, DC **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)

Robyn, As Sharon suggested perhaps SKS will have a look for you. The graveyard is in Kilfinnane Town five miles from Kilmallock. John...Sydney ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robyn Clarke" <rsclarke@bigpond.com> To: <IRL-LIMERICK@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 9:56 AM Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Limerick Charges >I just received a reply to my request re the possible Gravestone site of my > MARGARET TRISTRAM 1862 in Kilfinnane, Limerick from Limerick Genealogy. > > Confirming, they do have the transcriptions for the Church of Ireland > Graveyard at Kilfinnane, the cost to do a lookup would be 30 euros! > > As I have already spent 10 euros to find the one entry relating to her > burial (the day before their special 5 euro deal), with no Informant or > name > of Graveyard, I do not have the resourses to continue this search in > Limerick........ > > It seems from some of the comments read, I am not alone in my > thoughts......I guess it also depends on one's currency conversion and our > Australian dollar is not up with the euro....... > > Cheers, > Robyn > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Sacramental records, especially pre 1864 can be missing but post 1864, Civil registration of births carried a penalty if not done. Initially, the native Irish were slow to follow so when they did, IF there was a Baptism record it could have a date that was a year or more before the actual civil birth date. The child did not have to accompany the person who reported the birth so no one was the worse for not realizing the duplicity :-) Marriages and deaths did not carry a penalty for non registration post 1864

Hello, Being married by licence in the UK means that you did not have to make the marriage public knowledge & announce it for three Sundays leading up to the marriage. Obtaining a licence also meant someone had to put money up that all was okay with marriage & sometime quite a bit of money, so this would not have been a family without a healthy bank balance. I am also after a licence in Limerick but I believe only an index survives & I have not been able to find anyone to tell me if it would have the name of the person who was responsible for the financial side of it, in the case of mine they were both under 21. But a marriage licence can be quite interesting. When I locate the department that has this index I will post it on this site. I was interested to find that the people I spoke to in the C o I church in Limerick were not familiar with what a licence was. Robyn (there appears to be two of us!) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Margaret Spearin" <margaretspearin@eircom.net> To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 7:00 AM Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick > Hi Carla > I dont know where St Georges Church in Limerick was. > I know that St Michaels Protestant Church was in Perry Square, > and the Catholic St Michaels Church is in Denmark Street. > I think married by licence means that the marriage was State registered as > well as Church registered > You could try the general registery office to see if they have records for > you. www.groireland.ie > is the page to go to if you want to find original records. > Hope this helps. > Margaret. > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Carla Johnson" <csj0767@sbcglobal.net> > To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 2:38 AM > Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick > > >> Hi Margaret, >> >> Thanks for finding this. I have a copy of it from the Freemans Journal. >> I >> had paid for a short subscription as I knew the day they married, so just >> had to find the anouncement. I also have the church recording of this >> from >> St. Mary's Cathedral. They were married in St. George's Church by >> license. This church was being used while I believe St. Michael's was >> being built. What I would like to know is what by license would have >> meant >> for February 22, 1821. Is there an actual license that I could buy. >> >> Carla >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Margaret Spearin <margaretspearin@eircom.net> >> To: irl-limerick@rootsweb.com >> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 4:40:43 PM >> Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >> >> Hello Carla >> There is a record for the marriage of a Paul Hughes in 1821 on the IFHF >> website. >> Maybe that would be worth looking at www.brsgenealogy.com >> Hope you find what you are looking for. >> >> Margaret >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Carla Johnson" <csj0767@sbcglobal.net> >> To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 2:23 AM >> Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >> >> >>> Hi, >>> >>> Yes, I am looking for Paul Hughes 1800, Maria Hughes 1803, William >>> Hughes 1822, Robert baptised 1823, John baptised1825, Wellington and >>> Anna >>> Maria 1826 baptised 1829 at St. Mary's (twins), Charles born 1827 and >>> Henry 1829. They moved from the area to Adelaide, Canada between October >>> 1831 when commuted his commission and July 25, 1832 when he was settled >>> on >>> his land in Adelaide, Ontario, Canada. >>> >>> Carla >>> >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ---- >>> From: Margaret Spearin <margaretspearin@eircom.net> >>> To: irl-limerick@rootsweb.com >>> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:42:26 PM >>> Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >>> >>> As far as i know it is both Catholic and Protestan as most parishes in >>> Limerick are. >>> Do you have a name that you are searching? >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Carla Johnson" <csj0767@sbcglobal.net> >>> To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> >>> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 11:18 PM >>> Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >>> >>> >>>> Is Saint Patricks Protestant. >>>> >>>> Carla >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ---- >>>> From: Margaret Spearin <margaretspearin@eircom.net> >>>> To: irl-limerick@rootsweb.com >>>> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 3:08:39 PM >>>> Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >>>> >>>> Hello Carla. >>>> Park is an area in the suburbs of Limerick City,on the banks of the >>>> Shannon. >>>> Park, Corbally is on the borders of County Clare and Limerick City. >>>> It is adjacent to The university of Limerick which is in Plassey. >>>> Saint Patricks is the parish you are after,but it is in the Diocese of >>>> Limerick. >>>> I hope this helps. >>>> Margaret. >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Carla Johnson" <csj0767@sbcglobal.net> >>>> To: <Irl-Limerick@rootsweb.com> >>>> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:25 PM >>>> Subject: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >>>> >>>> >>>>> Hi, >>>>> >>>>> Does anyone know where a map of the area for Park-Lodge at >>>>> Corbally >>>>> would be? I have looked up Corbally at www.countylimerickgenealogy.com >>>>> and >>>>> there is four of them. >>>>> Townland Civil Parish Diocese Barony >>>>> Poor Law Union >>>>> Corbally 1 Galbally >>>>> Coshlea Mitchelstown >>>>> Corbally 2 Kilkeedy >>>>> Pubblebrien Limerick >>>>> Corbally 3 St. Patricks Cashel & Emily Limerick, >>>>> Muni >>>>> Limerick >>>>> >>>>> Borough of >>>>> Corbally 4 Shanagolden >>>>> Shanid >>>>> Glin >>>>> >>>>> My ggggrandfather Ensign Paul Hughes on the Freeman Records of 1824 >>>>> and >>>>> 1829 is shown as Park-Lodge with Land and house at Corbally. >>>>> >>>>> I am trying to get an idea where this was or is. >>>>> >>>>> Carla >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------- >>>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>>> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >>>>> the >>>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------- >>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >>>> the >>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>> >>>> ------------------------------- >>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >>>> the >>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >>> the >>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >>> the >>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

I just received a reply to my request re the possible Gravestone site of my MARGARET TRISTRAM 1862 in Kilfinnane, Limerick from Limerick Genealogy. Confirming, they do have the transcriptions for the Church of Ireland Graveyard at Kilfinnane, the cost to do a lookup would be 30 euros! As I have already spent 10 euros to find the one entry relating to her burial (the day before their special 5 euro deal), with no Informant or name of Graveyard, I do not have the resourses to continue this search in Limerick........ It seems from some of the comments read, I am not alone in my thoughts......I guess it also depends on one's currency conversion and our Australian dollar is not up with the euro....... Cheers, Robyn

Hi Jan....glad to know you also wrote to Ms. Mitchell. I told her basically the same thing that you did regarding their fees. I have been searching for my grandmother from Cavan for years without success. I do know that the Heritage Center in Cavan has most of her siblings, so I can't figure why not her. I am beginning to think that she had a different first name than we knew her by. I told Ms. Mitchell if they could devise a way to searh for children of a certain set of parents, that would be a great help for most of us. Let's all hope that in time these databases will be available free to search and then we can either pay a membership fee or the cost of the document. I have no problem with that, but this idea of paying for each search is nonsense, especially with the present cost of our devalued dollar. Hope you and the family are doing well. It has been a bit since we corresponded!! Maureen At 03:30 PM 3/15/2008, you wrote: >Thank you to "J.J.Woods" for sharing the informaton about Olivia Mitchell. I >have used the email address he so graciously shared to thank Olivia for her >integrity and ethics. I did say I would be willing to pay a fair annual >membership to help defray the cost of keeping the web site running. It would >have to be fair, though. We could then access whatever records we were >interested in. > >It is my understanding that transcribing the records was part of a >training/make work program. The workers had no expertise in reading records >or in genealogy. I have used the Mallow Heritage Center several times over >the past few years and have then checked some records when I was in Ireland >at the National Library. I have found MANY errors in transcription. >Sometimes the errors are inconsequential but other times they are not. As >one example, I was given the name Roderick Roche as the oldest son. So that >meant I had to look for a paternal grandfather with that name. I knew that >name did not run in my family so I ended my search. Last year, when I was in >Ireland, I checked this record myself on the films at the National Library. >The first name was not Roderick, but Garrett. WOW! That was exactly the name >I had been looking for. > >Jan > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Carla I dont know where St Georges Church in Limerick was. I know that St Michaels Protestant Church was in Perry Square, and the Catholic St Michaels Church is in Denmark Street. I think married by licence means that the marriage was State registered as well as Church registered You could try the general registery office to see if they have records for you. www.groireland.ie is the page to go to if you want to find original records. Hope this helps. Margaret. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carla Johnson" <csj0767@sbcglobal.net> To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 2:38 AM Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick > Hi Margaret, > > Thanks for finding this. I have a copy of it from the Freemans Journal. I > had paid for a short subscription as I knew the day they married, so just > had to find the anouncement. I also have the church recording of this from > St. Mary's Cathedral. They were married in St. George's Church by > license. This church was being used while I believe St. Michael's was > being built. What I would like to know is what by license would have meant > for February 22, 1821. Is there an actual license that I could buy. > > Carla > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Margaret Spearin <margaretspearin@eircom.net> > To: irl-limerick@rootsweb.com > Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 4:40:43 PM > Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick > > Hello Carla > There is a record for the marriage of a Paul Hughes in 1821 on the IFHF > website. > Maybe that would be worth looking at www.brsgenealogy.com > Hope you find what you are looking for. > > Margaret > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Carla Johnson" <csj0767@sbcglobal.net> > To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 2:23 AM > Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick > > >> Hi, >> >> Yes, I am looking for Paul Hughes 1800, Maria Hughes 1803, William >> Hughes 1822, Robert baptised 1823, John baptised1825, Wellington and Anna >> Maria 1826 baptised 1829 at St. Mary's (twins), Charles born 1827 and >> Henry 1829. They moved from the area to Adelaide, Canada between October >> 1831 when commuted his commission and July 25, 1832 when he was settled >> on >> his land in Adelaide, Ontario, Canada. >> >> Carla >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Margaret Spearin <margaretspearin@eircom.net> >> To: irl-limerick@rootsweb.com >> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:42:26 PM >> Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >> >> As far as i know it is both Catholic and Protestan as most parishes in >> Limerick are. >> Do you have a name that you are searching? >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Carla Johnson" <csj0767@sbcglobal.net> >> To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 11:18 PM >> Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >> >> >>> Is Saint Patricks Protestant. >>> >>> Carla >>> >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ---- >>> From: Margaret Spearin <margaretspearin@eircom.net> >>> To: irl-limerick@rootsweb.com >>> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 3:08:39 PM >>> Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >>> >>> Hello Carla. >>> Park is an area in the suburbs of Limerick City,on the banks of the >>> Shannon. >>> Park, Corbally is on the borders of County Clare and Limerick City. >>> It is adjacent to The university of Limerick which is in Plassey. >>> Saint Patricks is the parish you are after,but it is in the Diocese of >>> Limerick. >>> I hope this helps. >>> Margaret. >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Carla Johnson" <csj0767@sbcglobal.net> >>> To: <Irl-Limerick@rootsweb.com> >>> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:25 PM >>> Subject: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >>> >>> >>>> Hi, >>>> >>>> Does anyone know where a map of the area for Park-Lodge at >>>> Corbally >>>> would be? I have looked up Corbally at www.countylimerickgenealogy.com >>>> and >>>> there is four of them. >>>> Townland Civil Parish Diocese Barony >>>> Poor Law Union >>>> Corbally 1 Galbally >>>> Coshlea Mitchelstown >>>> Corbally 2 Kilkeedy >>>> Pubblebrien Limerick >>>> Corbally 3 St. Patricks Cashel & Emily Limerick, >>>> Muni >>>> Limerick >>>> >>>> Borough of >>>> Corbally 4 Shanagolden Shanid >>>> Glin >>>> >>>> My ggggrandfather Ensign Paul Hughes on the Freeman Records of 1824 and >>>> 1829 is shown as Park-Lodge with Land and house at Corbally. >>>> >>>> I am trying to get an idea where this was or is. >>>> >>>> Carla >>>> >>>> ------------------------------- >>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >>>> the >>>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >>> the >>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >>> the >>> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Perhaps you can find someone in Kilfinnane to look for you. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robyn Clarke" <rsclarke@bigpond.com> To: <IRL-LIMERICK@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 6:56 PM Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Limerick Charges >I just received a reply to my request re the possible Gravestone site of my > MARGARET TRISTRAM 1862 in Kilfinnane, Limerick from Limerick Genealogy. > > Confirming, they do have the transcriptions for the Church of Ireland > Graveyard at Kilfinnane, the cost to do a lookup would be 30 euros! > > As I have already spent 10 euros to find the one entry relating to her > burial (the day before their special 5 euro deal), with no Informant or > name > of Graveyard, I do not have the resourses to continue this search in > Limerick........ > > It seems from some of the comments read, I am not alone in my > thoughts......I guess it also depends on one's currency conversion and our > Australian dollar is not up with the euro....... > > Cheers, > Robyn > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

-----Original Message----- From: irish-american-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:irish-american-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Pat Connors Sent: 15 March 2008 17:32 To: ny irish; IRISH-AMERICAN; Can-Ontario-Irish-L@rootsweb.com; Irish-In-UK-L@rootsweb.com; new-england-irish@rootsweb.com; roll calls mailing list Subject: Re: [IRISH-AMER] Irish records online This was forwarded to me to share with the various list I admin. Interesting article from The Irish Times newspaper: *Date:* 13 March 2008 *Publication:* The Irish Times *SUMMARY:* The launch of a new national genealogy service that will charge people for every public record accessed has been criticised as a "betrayal" of the long-established tradition that public information in this country should be available free of charge. *ORIGINAL ARTICLE:* The new all-Ireland central database of genealogical records was launched yesterday by the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Se´amus Brennan, and the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness, at a ceremony on the Jeanie Johnston, the replica Famine-era sailing ship moored in Dublin. The website, sponsored by the Irish Family History Association, contains 8.6million birth, baptismal and deaths records from the 1600s to the 1900s obtained from a variety of State and church archives. However, Fine Gael spokeswoman for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Olivia Mitchell, said that it was very regrettable that the new genealogy service was designed to be a commercial one with people being charged EUR 10 for every single item of information. v"The gathering and digitalisation of the parish records was done at public expense and it was always envisaged that this kind of public information should be made freely available to the public. "It is a complete break with tradition and practice that an important aspect of our national archives should be subject to a charge. "We have prided ourselves on free access to our archives, to our national museums and to the National Gallery. I am surprised that the Minister should lend his name to this betrayal by performing the launch of the online service," said Ms Mitchell. She said that an online service was long overdue. But Ms Mitchell called for the information to be given to the National Archives as an integral part of the public information service it provides. She added that she had no objection to the Irish Family History Association charging a fee to people who commissioned it to carry out research, but it was utterly unacceptable that Irish citizens be charged for accessing their own family records assembled at public expense. The association said in a statement that the bulk of the computerisation of genealogical material had been completed by county centres and that the collation of many millions of records as a searchable database online was a remarkable achievement. So far, 22 county centres had made their databases available online and it was planned that further centres would be added, the association added. -- Pat Connors, visiting Rotondo West, FL http://www.connorsgenealogy.com ====Irish American Mailing List===== Add/check your surname to the Irish-American mailing list Surname Registry at: http://www.connorsgenealogy.com/IrishAmerican/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRISH-AMERICAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

An annual membership fee sounds like a reasonable idea. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jan Fortado" <janfortado@comcast.net> To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 3:30 PM Subject: [IRL-LIMERICK] Irish Family History Foundation and J.J. Woods > Thank you to "J.J.Woods" for sharing the informaton about Olivia Mitchell. > I > have used the email address he so graciously shared to thank Olivia for > her > integrity and ethics. I did say I would be willing to pay a fair annual > membership to help defray the cost of keeping the web site running. It > would > have to be fair, though. We could then access whatever records we were > interested in. > > It is my understanding that transcribing the records was part of a > training/make work program. The workers had no expertise in reading > records > or in genealogy. I have used the Mallow Heritage Center several times over > the past few years and have then checked some records when I was in > Ireland > at the National Library. I have found MANY errors in transcription. > Sometimes the errors are inconsequential but other times they are not. As > one example, I was given the name Roderick Roche as the oldest son. So > that > meant I had to look for a paternal grandfather with that name. I knew that > name did not run in my family so I ended my search. Last year, when I was > in > Ireland, I checked this record myself on the films at the National > Library. > The first name was not Roderick, but Garrett. WOW! That was exactly the > name > I had been looking for. > > Jan > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

I paid 80 Euro to the Tipperary town group and only received back information I already had! I have no experience of it but, for some reason, I have the impression that the Limerick Ancestry wasn't very dependable. I think it might be useful to know that the IFHF records may well be those transcribed under a government programme for unemployed school leavers some years ago. Apparently, in at least one county, when the quality/accuracy of the transcriptions was questioned the comment made was that the programme was to teach computer skills and was not a genealogical exercise at all! It would appear that in a number of counties (maybe all) there was no input from skilled researchers, genealogists or archivists. If these are the records then 10 euro is not only exhorbitant but would raise serious questions. On 15/03/2008, DUCKEECPS@aol.com <DUCKEECPS@aol.com> wrote: > > Just a note regarding the fees > > Until the IFHF put Limerick records online, it would cost 30 Euro for a > one > record search through Limerick Ancestory. About a year or so ago, > Limerick > Ancestry told me that they were reluctant to do a 1 record search, but > would do > so, when time permitted, for 30 Euro. > > Kitty > > > > **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & > Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001) > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Carla could you please tell me how you got access to the Freeman's Journal ? Regards from Valerie in sunny Sydney. Researching: BEDDY, CULLODEN, DYAS and ROWAN in Belfast, Dublin, Wicklow & Wexford Guild of One-Name Studies No: 4825 for CULLODEN & HIGGINSON -----Original Message----- From: irl-limerick-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:irl-limerick-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Carla Johnson Sent: Saturday, 15 March 2008 1:38 PM To: irl-limerick@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick - Freemsans Journal Hi Margaret, Thanks for finding this. I have a copy of it from the Freemans Journal. I had paid for a short subscription as I knew the day they married, so just had to find the anouncement. I also have the church recording of this from St. Mary's Cathedral. They were married in St. George's Church by license. This church was being used while I believe St. Michael's was being built. What I would like to know is what by license would have meant for February 22, 1821. Is there an actual license that I could buy. Carla ----- Original Message ---- From: Margaret Spearin <margaretspearin@eircom.net> To: irl-limerick@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 4:40:43 PM Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick Hello Carla There is a record for the marriage of a Paul Hughes in 1821 on the IFHF website. Maybe that would be worth looking at www.brsgenealogy.com Hope you find what you are looking for. Margaret ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carla Johnson" <csj0767@sbcglobal.net> To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 2:23 AM Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick > Hi, > > Yes, I am looking for Paul Hughes 1800, Maria Hughes 1803, William > Hughes 1822, Robert baptised 1823, John baptised1825, Wellington and Anna > Maria 1826 baptised 1829 at St. Mary's (twins), Charles born 1827 and > Henry 1829. They moved from the area to Adelaide, Canada between October > 1831 when commuted his commission and July 25, 1832 when he was settled on > his land in Adelaide, Ontario, Canada. > > Carla > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Margaret Spearin <margaretspearin@eircom.net> > To: irl-limerick@rootsweb.com > Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:42:26 PM > Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick > > As far as i know it is both Catholic and Protestan as most parishes in > Limerick are. Do you have a name that you are searching? > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Carla Johnson" <csj0767@sbcglobal.net> > To: <irl-limerick@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 11:18 PM > Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick > > >> Is Saint Patricks Protestant. >> >> Carla >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >> From: Margaret Spearin <margaretspearin@eircom.net> >> To: irl-limerick@rootsweb.com >> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 3:08:39 PM >> Subject: Re: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >> >> Hello Carla. >> Park is an area in the suburbs of Limerick City,on the banks of the >> Shannon. Park, Corbally is on the borders of County Clare and >> Limerick City. It is adjacent to The university of Limerick which is >> in Plassey. Saint Patricks is the parish you are after,but it is in >> the Diocese of Limerick. >> I hope this helps. >> Margaret. >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Carla Johnson" <csj0767@sbcglobal.net> >> To: <Irl-Limerick@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:25 PM >> Subject: [IRL-LIMERICK] Corbally in Limerick >> >> >>> Hi, >>> >>> Does anyone know where a map of the area for Park-Lodge at >>> Corbally would be? I have looked up Corbally at >>> www.countylimerickgenealogy.com and there is four of them. >>> Townland Civil Parish Diocese Barony >>> Poor Law Union >>> Corbally 1 Galbally >>> Coshlea Mitchelstown >>> Corbally 2 Kilkeedy >>> Pubblebrien Limerick >>> Corbally 3 St. Patricks Cashel & Emily Limerick, Muni >>> Limerick >>> >>> Borough of >>> Corbally 4 Shanagolden Shanid >>> Glin >>> >>> My ggggrandfather Ensign Paul Hughes on the Freeman Records of 1824 >>> and 1829 is shown as Park-Lodge with Land and house at Corbally. >>> >>> I am trying to get an idea where this was or is. >>> >>> Carla >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-LIMERICK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Please read the following news item from Irish Times Newspaper. If any person wishes to support Olivia Mitchell's call that the Genealogical information should be free to all researchers , they should write in support to: Olivia Mitchell T. D. Dail Eireann , Leinster House , Kildare Street, Dublin 2. *email; Olivia.Mitchell@finegael.ie* ** *or* ** *Irish Times Newspaper, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2 * *news@irish-times.ie* **** *Date:* 13 March 2008 *Publication:* The Irish Times *SUMMARY:* The launch of a new national genealogy service that will charge people for every public record accessed has been criticised as a "betrayal" of the long-established tradition that public information in this country should be available free of charge. *ORIGINAL ARTICLE:* The new all-Ireland central database of genealogical records was launched yesterday by the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Seamus Brennan, and the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness, at a ceremony on the Jeanie Johnston, the replica Famine-era sailing ship moored in Dublin. The website, sponsored by the Irish Family History Association, contains 8.6million birth, baptismal and deaths records from the 1600s to the 1900s obtained from a variety of State and church archives. However, Fine Gael spokeswoman for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Olivia Mitchell, said that it was very regrettable that the new genealogy service was designed to be a commercial one with people being charged EUR 10 for every single item of information. "The gathering and digitisation of the parish records was done at public expense and it was always envisaged that this kind of public information should be made freely available to the public. "It is a complete break with tradition and practice that an important aspect of our national archives should be subject to a charge. "We have prided ourselves on free access to our archives, to our national museums and to the National Gallery. I am surprised that the Minister should lend his name to this betrayal by performing the launch of the online service," said Ms Mitchell. She said that an online service was long overdue. But Ms Mitchell called for the information to be given to the National Archives as an integral part of the public information service it provides. She added that she had no objection to the Irish Family History Association charging a fee to people who commissioned it to carry out research, but it was utterly unacceptable that Irish citizens be charged for accessing their own family records assembled at public expense. The association said in a statement that the bulk of the computerisation of genealogical material had been completed by county centres and that the collation of many millions of records as a searchable database online was a remarkable achievement. So far, 22 county centres had made their databases available online and it was planned that further centres would be added, the association added.

Apparently the fees being charged by this group were discussed in the Dail (Irish Parliament) last week. At this stage I don't know what was debated but I must check it out. It seems that we have become conditioned to pay at least twice for everything that our government has an involvement in be it health, garbage, water, roads, etc., etc. It would seem that tax-payers money was used to transcribe all of these records and now we have to pay hefty fees to get the results of it all. Does anybody know if the IFHF is a profit or non-profit organisation? What do others think J. J.