The National Archives of Ireland

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity of visiting The National Archives of Ireland in Dublin. As I didn’t know my way around Dublin, Shirley, one of the members of the tour group that I was with, came with me. She also had planned to do some research there and wanted to consult with the professional genealogist.

The professional genealogist that we met was a very helpful lady. Shirley had met with her on another trip and had consequently recognized her when she saw her on an episode of “Who Do You Think You Are?” I can’t remember what her name was but she was a soft spoken professional who knew her stuff.

This kind lady was friendly and was able to give me direction on two different matters within half an hour. The first was for a friend in Pembroke who wanted to know where to look for a marriage. The second was for me in locating exactly where my third great-grandfather came from in Wexford County. She suggested that I use the Tithe Applotment Books and Griffiths Evaluation to determine the parishes most likely to be his home parish before he sailed to Canada in 1820. I am able to do this as I know what his mother’s name was along with her maiden name and also his father’s name.

After determining which parishes would be the most likely, I met with this lady again and asked about my third great-grandparents who settled in Huron County in Ontario. There is a connection with Galway, but after meeting with her, I believe that this connection may just be the port that they sailed from in 1831 or 1832. This lady suggested that I do the same thing for this couple as I did for my other third great-grandfather, only, if I did not find anything in County Galway, I should expand the search to County Cavan as my third great-grandmother’s headstone says that she was from County Cavan.

Before going to Ireland, I thought that maybe she was from County Cavan and her family had moved to County Galway and that she had married there. I could find no record of there marriage there and very few records of either of the family names.

I then started to look at Griffith’s Evaluation and the Tithe Applotment Books for County Cavan. I found a number of parishes that the family names appear in, both together and by themselves. I think that I may have found where my third great-grandparents came from.

I now need to follow through with this work and take it to its conclusion.

I am so thankful that I decided to spend time at the National Archives of Ireland and consult with their genealogist. I know that I will gain more information about my family from this experience. I thank my Father in Heaven for sending the guidance to me so that I will find the correct information.