Here in Ireland genealogy and family history is not looked on in the same vein as it is by those of you who research your Irish Ancestry. Our older graveyards are just left there to rot in the majority of counties, local history societies are few and far between, people for the most part do not have any interest in researching their ancestry. For the last few years the Government is supposed to have had a programme to computerise our Birth, Marriage and Death records - but that is scorned by our genealogists, it's been in dis-array or worked in a dis-organised fashion and they doubt that it will ever finish. So, this particular document and consultation exercise will only be looked at and commented on by a relative few here - that will be seen as the 'amount of interest' in the subject and then little notice will be taken of what the genealogists have to say about the matter more than likely because there are statistically so few compared to the rest of the population. Therefore it is very important that those of you who do have an interest in genealogy take the time to read this document and pass your comments on to those who Stephen lists here. Jane ----- Original Message ----- From: "steven smyrl" <smyrl@indigo.ie> Newsgroups: soc.genealogy.ireland Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 10:09 AM Subject: BRINGING IRISH CIVIL REGISTRATION INTO THE 21st CENTURY > > > COUNCIL OF IRISH GENEALOGICAL ORGANISATIONS > > On Tuesday, 1 May, CIGO was invited to a press launch in Dublin. The Ministers for Health & Children and Social, Community & Family Affairs, Micheál Martin TD and Dermot Ahern TD, were launching the consultative stage of the 'GRO PROJECT' in the form of a document entitled Bringing Civil Registration into the 21st Century - A Consultation Document on the Modernisation of the Civil Registration Service. This document can be found on the web at: www.groireland.ie/images/consultation.pdf . The consultation exercise is open to all, but unfortunately is quite short, it ends on the 31 May. CIGO encourages all organisations and individuals involved in Irish genealogical research to have their say. E-mail submissions may be sent to grodoc@welfare.ie , however CIGO suggests that lengthy and/or detailed submissions should be made in writing and sent to: > > Civil Registration Modernisation Programme > Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs > Goldsmith House > Pearse Street > Dublin 2 > Republic of Ireland > > Appendix 6 of Bringing Civil Registration... lists a number of questions designed to assist those who wish to submit their views. Of particular interest is the section headed 'Public Access to Registration Records'. This section needs to be addressed thoroughly or genealogists may find that the new legislation (which is to be enacted later in the year) will, for the first time since 1845, severely restrict their access to certain sections of the Public Record ! Don't forget that this is also your opportunity to let the two Departments know that it is high time that permission was given by the Registrar General to allow genealogical groups to purchase copies of the Irish civil registration films held by the LDS church. > > Given the number of times over the years that the problem of the Irish General Register Office has raised its ugly head, some readers might 'think why bother ?'. DON'T ! This is the opportunity that we have all waited so long for. The next few months are crucial. We must all work hard to make sure that the new legislation proposed by the Irish Government fairly reflects the interests of Irish genealogists - both in Ireland and overseas. > > Kind regards, > > Steven Smyrl > Executive Liaison Officer >

Where do I go to sigh up! I am breathing on 78 years old. My greatest comfort each day is to try and find where my Irish relatives lived and died and what their lives were like. I have been at this for nearly 30 years and my Mother tried to find information on her Gibson's and Graham's in the 1940s. It hasn't gotten any easier but someday I will find a list of Coldstream Guards that will have my great great great grandfather listed. I fight daily to be able to get to my computer and try and find Glenns, Hemphills, Doaks, Ankroms, Mc Sheas, and Starrs. I am writing a family history about all the people I can connect to, my final effort will not just be a list of names and where they were born but what was happening in the world at the time. Here, I thought some of these people lived under a rock, is it just that the material I am searching so hard for is being held back because of a few people who want to keep it secret! I would have been there several times over if I knew where in the world to go. My sons are interested but live busy lives and want a place to go rather than just wander into Ireland. Think what it would do for the country to have interested Americans enjoying walking on the same streets as their great great grandfathers walked on!. ----- Original Message ----- From: Jane Lyons <jlyons1@iol.ie> To: <IRL-MONAGHAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2001 9:24 PM Subject: Fw: BRINGING IRISH CIVIL REGISTRATION INTO THE 21st CENTURY > Here in Ireland genealogy and family history is not looked on in the same > vein as it is by those of you who research your Irish Ancestry. Our older > graveyards are just left there to rot in the majority of counties, local > history societies are few and far between, people for the most part do not > have any interest in researching their ancestry. > > For the last few years the Government is supposed to have had a programme to > computerise our Birth, Marriage and Death records - but that is scorned by > our genealogists, it's been in dis-array or worked in a dis-organised > fashion and they doubt that it will ever finish. > > So, this particular document and consultation exercise will only be looked > at and commented on by a relative few here - that will be seen as the > 'amount of interest' in the subject and then little notice will be taken of > what the genealogists have to say about the matter more than likely because > there are statistically so few compared to the rest of the population. > > Therefore it is very important that those of you who do have an interest in > genealogy take the time to read this document and pass your comments on to > those who Stephen lists here. > > Jane > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "steven smyrl" <smyrl@indigo.ie> > Newsgroups: soc.genealogy.ireland > Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 10:09 AM > Subject: BRINGING IRISH CIVIL REGISTRATION INTO THE 21st CENTURY > > > > > > > > COUNCIL OF IRISH GENEALOGICAL ORGANISATIONS > > > > On Tuesday, 1 May, CIGO was invited to a press launch in Dublin. The > Ministers for Health & Children and Social, Community & Family Affairs, > Micheál Martin TD and Dermot Ahern TD, were launching the consultative stage > of the 'GRO PROJECT' in the form of a document entitled Bringing Civil > Registration into the 21st Century - A Consultation Document on the > Modernisation of the Civil Registration Service. This document can be found > on the web at: www.groireland.ie/images/consultation.pdf . The consultation > exercise is open to all, but unfortunately is quite short, it ends on the > 31 May. CIGO encourages all organisations and individuals involved in Irish > genealogical research to have their say. E-mail submissions may be sent to > grodoc@welfare.ie , however CIGO suggests that lengthy and/or detailed > submissions should be made in writing and sent to: > > > > Civil Registration Modernisation Programme > > Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs > > Goldsmith House > > Pearse Street > > Dublin 2 > > Republic of Ireland > > > > Appendix 6 of Bringing Civil Registration... lists a number of questions > designed to assist those who wish to submit their views. Of particular > interest is the section headed 'Public Access to Registration Records'. > This section needs to be addressed thoroughly or genealogists may find that > the new legislation (which is to be enacted later in the year) will, for the > first time since 1845, severely restrict their access to certain sections of > the Public Record ! Don't forget that this is also your opportunity to let > the two Departments know that it is high time that permission was given by > the Registrar General to allow genealogical groups to purchase copies of the > Irish civil registration films held by the LDS church. > > > > Given the number of times over the years that the problem of the Irish > General Register Office has raised its ugly head, some readers might 'think > why bother ?'. DON'T ! This is the opportunity that we have all waited so > long for. The next few months are crucial. We must all work hard to make > sure that the new legislation proposed by the Irish Government fairly > reflects the interests of Irish genealogists - both in Ireland and overseas. > > > > Kind regards, > > > > Steven Smyrl > > Executive Liaison Officer > > >

Yes Evelyn, and not only Americans! We of Irish extraction are far flung over the whole wide world and all feel the same. I agree wholeheartedly with your observations about we elderly family historians, not having enough time left to us, to wait to benefit from the release of the records, that will help us to find the places we long to visit. When we know were to go, we will all be pleased to tred the paths our ancestors trod and to breathe the air they breathed. To see the rivers and streams and the beautiful shades of green has long since been the theme of the songs the exiles sang and which we all sing in our homes and in Irish Clubs around the world. No matter how long ago it has been since our ancestors left the shores of their homeland, we their descendants, still feel a large part of our hearts belong to Ireland.

Yes Evelyn, and not only Americans! We of Irish extraction are far flung over the whole wide world and all feel the same. I agree wholeheartedly with your observations about we elderly family historians, not having enough time left to us, to wait to benefit from the release of the records, that will help us to find the places we long to visit. When we know were to go, we will all be pleased to tred the paths our ancestors trod and to breathe the air they breathed. To see the hills, rivers, streams and the beautiful shades of green has long since been the theme of the songs the exiles sang and which we all sing in our homes and in Irish Associations around the world. No matter how long ago it has been since our ancestors left the shores of their homeland, we, their descendants, still feel a large part of our hearts belong to Ireland. Many of those whose families never left Ireland do not feel the same urge to find their roots, because theirs are there with them. It may be hard for them to understand how we all feel and not surprising. The old Irish saying, "We never miss the water till the well runs dry", is so true. It is such a wonderful way of promoting Irish interests and tourism. The more that so many of we elderly genealogists from all over the world, learn about our ancestors, the more we long to visit the land of their birth. Young people too are members of all the Family History Societies worldwide and they in turn will influence their children and Ireland should have a constant stream of visitors right into the future. We would love to feel welcome. Regards to all family historians, everywhere, who are trying to find their Irish ancestors. I hope everyone will follow Jane's advice and email those who can help us gain our objectives. Therese, in Queensland Australia.

Yes Evelyn, and not only Americans! We of Irish extraction are far flung over the whole wide world and all feel the same. I agree wholeheartedly with your observations about we elderly family historians, not having enough time left to us, to wait to benefit from the release of the records, that will help us to find the places we long to visit. When we know were to go, we will all be pleased to tred the paths our ancestors trod and to breathe the air they breathed. To see the hills, rivers, streams and the beautiful shades of green has long since been the theme of the songs the exiles sang and which we all sing in our homes and in Irish Associations around the world. No matter how long ago it has been since our ancestors left the shores of their homeland, we, their descendants, still feel a large part of our hearts belong to Ireland. Many of those whose families never left Ireland do not feel the same urge to find their roots, because theirs are there with them. It may be hard for them to understand how we all feel and not surprising. The old Irish saying, "We never miss the water till the well runs dry", is so true. It is such a wonderful way of promoting Irish interests and tourism. The more that so many of we elderly genealogists from all over the world, learn about our ancestors, the more we long to visit the land of their birth. Young people too are members of all the Family History Societies worldwide and they in turn will influence their children and Ireland should have a constant stream of visitors right into the future. We would love to feel welcome. Regards to all family historians, everywhere, who are trying to find their Irish ancestors. I hope everyone will follow Jane's advice and email those who can help us gain our objectives. Therese, in Queensland Australia.