There are so few genealogical societies in Ireland and yet the names can be confusing. This is a copy of a mail from Stephen Smyrl who was chairperson of the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations last year. Currently, Michael Merrigan who is a member of the Genealogical Society of Ireland is posting to some lists re the action which should be taken on this issue. The Genealogical Society of Ireland was at one time called the Dun Laoghaire Genealogical Society - Dun Laoghaire is a suburb of Dublin. I'm explaining this so that those of you who see the name Genealogical Society of Ireland will not assume that they are the only Society in Ireland or the 'main' or 'head' society in Ireland. There are so many other societies which have ben around and caried out so much good genealogical work for a hundred or a hundred and fifty years even and they are all members of the CIGO. The Council of Genealogical Organisations takes in most of the Genealogical Societies in Ireland - if not all. First - if you go to the General Registrar's Office Home page at : http://www.groireland.ie/ then on the left hand side of the page you will see a link for that consultation document and it may be downloaded as a zipped word doc or an ordinary word doc (someone there is moving them into the 21st century!! <g>) or else the PDF file which I posted to you the other night. So - this is now what is being recommended by the Council of Genealogical Organisations as the action to be taken concerning the Civil Records issue. Stephen makes some points re why access to these records would be important to those of you who research. Marian Finnucan is one of our most listened to radio chat show hostesses There are from what I can remember 150+ subscribers to the Monaghan list (the full list) and another 80 or so subscribed to the Digest. That's not taking in to account those people who have subscribed over the last few weeks. Sometimes it's hard to get a list to respond - people are afraid to open their mouths - put their fingers to the keyboards for fear that anyone might say anything untoward to them - they hope that maybe they'll see some name appear on the list which they can connect to. I have to say that I've never seen anything which could even be considered 'not nice' being said to anyone on ethis list. Then, I can never say this enough - the majority of people in Ireland are not really interested in genealogy - a minority, yes. I live here, I transcribe graveyards - not in Monaghan - I 'work' the mail lists (for want of a better word) I'm list manager of two Rootsweb lists - this being one of them - I am *not* researching my ancestors - they don't even come from Monaghan. I'm just interested. I'm creating the From Ireland web site, really and truly just to give people some of what I have seen that they want from Ireland over the years - I also want to try and show people where there is information to be had - and sure, the web site is not perfect yet - but it will be in time :-))))) Whatever our Government does is not going to affect me - or most of us who live in Ireland, we have more relations than we know how to deal with (I have 60+ first cousins on one side, none on the other - but that's unusual)- but it is going to affect you. When I first encountered Stephen it was on the Ireland mail list and I thought he was a genealogist out to make a buck and challenged him.............and we had a little to do on that mail-list for ourselves, as well as off-line - he called me cheeky"!!!. I made enquiries about him and was told he was one of the best, one of the forward moving, hardest working in relation to Irish genealogy. I've since met him and I can say that what was told to me of him is true. Stephen is a gentleman and someone who always is in there in the front as regards moving Irish genealogy and research resources forward.........and I ask you to please read his mail and follow up. and if this can't be called a begging mail to the Monaghan list - nothing ever will!!!!!!!!!!! Jane :-) ----- Original Message ----- Dear friends of CIGO, As many of you will know the Department of Health & Children and the Department of Welfare, Community & Family Affairs are now engaged in a period of consultation regarding the future of Irish civil registration. In this regard, CIGO suggests that as part of the general campaign to get an all-round better service at the GRO as much publicity should be generated as possible. Firstly, CIGO suggests that you should put pen to paper and write a short letter about the GRO and civil registration and send it for publication to the Irish Times, the Irish Independent and the Irish Examiner. Secondly, please e-mail or telephone the Marian Finnucane radio show. The more e-mails and telephone calls the show receives the more likely it is that the subject will be given an airing. Send your e-mail to Marian Finnicane with the words 'Civil Registration' in the subject box. E-mail: marian@rte.ie In both instances, please drive home the fact that for the first time in over 150 years the Department of Health is seriously considering denying access to Irish civil registration records. The records of the GRO are 'public records' and have been open to direct public access since 1845 - and for very good reasons. The general Irish populace and those of Irish descent living overseas need access to records of birth death and marriage for such diverse reasons as health issues, tracing birth parents, inheritance, family history, tracing old friends, confirming possibly suspect information, and probate, to name but a few. The list is endless and unless we fight this move there is a real possibility that the Department may get its way ! PLEASE - do this today, don't put it off until it's too late ! Kind regards, Steven Smyrl