Hello people, I read with interest - and growing concern - Paul Gorry's contribution to the postings regarding Griffith's Valuation. Whilst I cannot disagree that there is no substitute for visiting local record offices and archives in pursuit of tracing our ancestors, it is a great leap of faith to believe that we will find such information in any book. Yes, there are a number of excellent guides available, telling us how to set about our research, but none that tell us when our ancestors were born, married and died; where they lived and went to school, or what occupations they had. For this information we have to rely on "family gossip" and documents where possible. Many of us, for various reasons, are unable to travel to Ireland and do the rounds of National and Local archives in pursuit of such information and very few of us could afford the prices charged by "professional" genealogists to do the work for us. This is where the internet comes in to play such a vital role in our research. Projects like Free BMD, Free Cen, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and numerous other sites, some of which charge a nominal fee, are invaluable to us. The releasing of all the available censuses for England and Wales, either on pay-per view sites or in CD format is a move forward for the better. Then there are those kind souls who have transcribed parish registers and placed the results on websites - they all deserve a medal. As far as I'm concerned, the more information on the internet the better and I'd dearly love to see all the parish records fully digitised and made available to the general public. This information belongs to the people - not Governments. Such projects also preserve the knowledge that is available and does not become prey to the war, flood or fire damage that has destroyed so many vital documents over the years. I also find it difficult to understand why so few Irish records are available on the internet and cannot help but feel the authorities responsible are guilty of a general rip-off. A couple of years ago my niece visited the Wicklow Family History Centre and was informed that she could not look up records for herself but would have to pay 95 euros as an assessment fee to see if there were any records. If she then wanted a more detailed report, a fee of 444 euros would be charged. Being a student, with no income to speak of, she understandably declined both offers!! A great deal of criticism is hurled at the internet and its users but, in the area of genealogy, it has opened the doors to a wealth of knowledge that many of us would otherwise have missed, not least of all in appreciating our ancestors, their lives, struggles, hardships and sacrifices in order that we may enjoy the lives we do today. Internet users are neither lazy nor unread. For the most part they recognise a modern technology for what it is and put it to the use for which is was originally designed - the acquisition of knowledge and the development of world-wide friendship and understanding for people of all classes, backgrounds, races and creeds. In response to Paul's contribution then, all I can say is that there is room for all types of research, including the internet, and no one should feel less "worthy" for having used this wonderful tool to gather whatever information they can upon their ancestors. With every good wish to one and all, Marie.