Emigration Records, Ships Lists

Useful tool for checking your Ancesors if they have emigrated through Ellis Island

This is a free search (just requires registration), you can verify it is your relative as the townland is usually listed.  You may also note that a few from the same townland travel together.
This also shows the address that your Ancestor travelled to the States, so you can check the US Census for further information
Ellis Island  Emigration Records

Welcome to My Blog

Thanks to my Lovely daughter Lisa,  :)  I have been able to start this blog today.

I promise to add some Cemetery Photos for Mayo area, and also add some links for those interested in research. (feel free to contact me if you require advice or look-ups for your family from Mayo/Ireland)

General Tips for Research   just to get started -(will come back and add details later)

• Start backwards e.g. search 1911 Census, then 1901, and then Griffiths Valuation (circa 1850's)
• Try to write down the "stories" you have heard from your own parent/elders, it will help fill some "blanks" in your family tree.
• You need to know Townlands, Parishes, etc while doing the search, it is easier when a family have always lived in the same townland.
• Headstones are a very good research, though many Old Irish Graveyards may be overgrown.   Nevertheless, it is worthwhile trying to see if there is a Cemetery in the townland your Ancestors came from.

Some Research Facilities I have Used

National Library
Many records before 1850's were destroyed in the various buildings during the Rising, but some Parish Records remain and can be viewed in the National Library.  Personally this requires great patience as some are almost illegible and books are not in good condition. You would need to spend a day here as you have to research records on Microfilm.

Cancelled Valuations
This was one of the pleasant surprises I got when I started research.  The staff in the Cancelled Valuation Offices are extremely helpful.  Here you can look up the townland, and see how the "plot" has changed ownership over the years since circa mid 1800's, either passing from Father to Son/wife or to another landowner.  I have found this most helpful in my research, also been able to find other family members living nearby, which was the norm in Irish Families in the past.

 GRO - General Registrations Records
The cheapest way to do research here is to spend a day.  There is a daily search fee where you can browse all books.  Otherwise you pay a fee for 5 consecutive years (books).  A seperate fee then is paid for each Certificate you order and a minimum of 5 certs per day.  You can place an order for others. 
It is "touch and go", I have ordered quite a few Certificates but unfortunately these were not useful to me, if it is a common name e.g. Michael Joyce it can be very risky.

National Archives
Lots of records here, what I found the most interesting was the Wills Index.  I was pleasantly suprised to find some wills of my families here.