Hi Jane, Appreciated your e-mail post to both "oldies" and "newbies." I have really been wanting to pose a question, but at the risk of seeming really stupid, :) have hesitated. I am a somewhat experienced researcher, but *not* in the area of Irish research. This is the year I have decided I am going to plunge ahead and try to discover my ROGERS' roots - my mother was a ROGERS and according to family records, the family was from Emyvale, County Monaghan and they were Presbyterian, either Reformed Presbyterian or Seceder Presbyterian. Sorry for the lengthy preamble, but since these posts are archived, thought it would be nice if someone at least knows what family line I am researching. (MORRISON as well, and ALEXANDER and McKIRK) My current question involves the Irish system of baronies, parishes, etc. Can someone give a good explanation of these, simple and understandable, or direct me to a good source? I have already started to "arm myself" with reading material, trying to get a handle on Irish history, especially since my ancestors came to the USA in 1846 during the time of the Famine. When I look at _A Topographical Index of Parishes and Townlands of Ireland in Sir William Petty's Mss. Barony Maps_ published by Genealogical Publishing Co. of Baltimore, authored by Y.M. Goblet, I get confused when I see the mention of Barony, Parish, etc. I know that Ireland's official church, I believe, at the time of the famine, was the Church of Ireland. Does this mean, when I see the mention of "Parish" in the aforementioned book, that this is the Civil Parish? Finally, how can knowing these help me in my research? I know they can, but would like to use them to their fullest. Thanks for any explanation forthcoming and thanks for patience with "the new kid on the block." Regards, Donna Ristenbatt ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ der@redrose.net Visit: ON THE TRAIL OF OUR ANCESTORS http://www.ristenbatt.com/genealogy