Dear Friends of County Roscommon-- With all of these discussions about the costs of research in Ireland, I think it is appropriate for me to jump in and say a few words. My Mom came from a farm outside Keadue in County Roscommon. I have been to Ireland twice to meet many first cousins and to do genealogy research. Almost all of my research was done here in the USA through the Mormon (LDS) microfilm system before I made the trip. They have microfilmed many (perhaps all) of the church records that are were in existence (back to about the 1820's), and all of the civil records of B/M/D since they became mandatory in 1864. You do not have to be a member of their church to use their extensive library capabilities. What I did get in Ireland that is not be available anywhere else, were these five items: 1. Family stories 2. A visit to the very house where my Mom was born and grew up 3. Photos of gravestones of my grandparents and other relations 4. Holding in my hands the original 1911 Irish Census, which had my grandfataher's signature and his listing of all nine of his children. This included my Mom who was the youngest and was only one year old. 5. A map of the townland where my Mom was raised I also wish to advise that I paid about $45 (US) to the County Roscommon Heritage Society in Strokestown for research (by mail). They did provide some help to me, but they took several months to respond. I visited with them when I was there and found that they were tremendously overloaded and behind schedule. My recommendations: 1. Do everything you can through the Mormon capabilities before you go 2. If you go, first spend about two days in Dublin researching at: a. The Irish National Genealogy Society b. The General Records Office c. The National Library d. The map office at Phoenix Park (very expensive) 3. Then spend the rest of your time enjoying and immersing yourself into the Country Roscommon atmosphere and lifestyle of today. If you have cousins, you will find them to be the most wonderful people on the face of the earth !!! George Hoyt ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com