Joan wrote: <snip> In three weeks time my husband and myself are going to Dublin for six days > short break,and when he is busy sampling the dark stuff, I want to do some > family history. >I have very little info, the only thing I have is my gt grandmother was born >at Wicklow, and according to my late mother & grandmother the place she came >from was Bray. My gt grandmothers name was ELLEN BUCKLEY, born 1845-1850 her >father was JOHN BUCKLEY he was a builder by trade. They were Catholic's. >What I wanted to know is where is the best place to start, I know my chances >of finding anything out are slim, but I would still like to try. >I wonder if anyone knows what information there is for this time frame, and >any advice at all would be very much appreciated. >That,s to everyone in taking time to read my message. As you're only starting to research in Dublin and as your time is limited, the very first step you should take is to go to the Genealogy Service at the National Library in Kildare Street. This service is run by a National Library staff member and a rota of members of APGI (the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland). So you will get expert advice and it's absolutely FREE! Be sure to bring any relevant information you may have, including photocopies. You might ask the genealogist on duty to put you in contact with Mrs. Claire Crowther, who maintains the Bray Cualann Historical Society's index to the Bray parish registers. Though Mrs. Crowther doesn't do research on a professional basis she is extremely knowledgeable about sources and about Bray. So if you do contact her and ask for help you might consider giving a donation to her society in lieu of research fees. Paul Gorry What's What in Irish Genealogy http://indigo.ie/~gorry