As a Forum I'd like to suggest we be more of a clearing house of Mayo data and information. I'd really like to have the "practical" experience and information gained by those who have already done the hard work. I know that one can get a listing of most all the RC cemeteries in Co. Mayo and just about where they are located but... What isn't always so clear is what geographical area[s] a cemetery covers or how many cemeteries there are in a specific area. I suspect that the peasant/farm people of rural or boggy or mountainous areas went to the most practical burial plots. After all, didn't carry the coffin [if there was one] to the grave? Didn't historically "sacred ground" exist all over the place and not just at the designated RC Church buildings? Many/most RC "chapels" didn't even get built until after the famine years, right? So, as in my case, if I'm looking for grave sites for CLOONKEEN townland, [ISLANDEADY RC Parish]; KIKENNY townland, [BREAFFY/BREAGHWY or BALLYHEAN/BALLYHEANE RC PARISH]; BALLINVOASH townland, [KEELOGUES/KEELOGES & TURLOUGH RC Parish] , what would I do? Another point; we family searchers tend to ask about surnames, right? I believe it is almost as important to ask about known townlands and relative relationships between locations. If there is a lake or a mountain or a bog separating one area from another, even if they are just yards from one another, could be very relevant information for the researcher. This brings up the point that it becomes essential to have the most detailed map possible when doing this kind of research. I have a very detailed map [partial copy] of the Breaffy area. I also have one of the Brown estate lands @ Breaffy circa 1870's. But I don't have other geographical areas I need. How can we exchange info, then? I can do lookups and make copies even though that is somewhat limited. I just bet there are subscribers to this forum that have some stuff I would love to have...or know how to get it. Neophytes will not see a need for this kind of material until they "really get into it." I have little confidence in the Family Centres...sorry. Westport and Newport put Castlebar to shame when it comes to having a website and a data base to access. I envy them since most of what I seek is related to the "Castlebar Union". Basically I think it would be better to overshare than undershrare information. That's my philosophy at least. Thanks for letting me vent. Walt, Atlanta