If anyone else is having trouble tracing relatives who were in residential institutions this website should be a great help. It covers CORK, DUBLIN, GALWAY, and WEXFORD.
http://www.barnardos.ie/origins-service.htm
They do have a long backlog but they are helpful
I may be mistaken but the way I read this
"Origins, supported by the Department of Education and Science, is specifically for people who spent part of their childhood in residential institutions. The Origins Service consists of a team of Information Counsellors and Administrative staff based in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Wexford" makes me think that whilst the Counsellors and Admin Staff of Origins are based in the towns named they'll assist people who spent part of their childhood in any part of Ireland. That's probably only the Irish Republic as there are similar organisations in Northern Ireland.
The Salvation Army have a tracing service too. Their office is located at the Dublin Central Mission, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin.
