How many of you have been successful?

[legaleagle]

I have for many years contacted researchers and institutions in Ireland to no avail, I have been told that they would not assist with English surnames and I have spent a lot of money trying to get the documents (I have provided the reference numbers ) out.

An American cousin also had the same problem he went armed with the reference numbers and was told he was too late in the day to get the copies.  It was not too late in the day.

The problem was and is that our ancestors owned estates there.

[Jillie42]

I did consider if I do ever go again booking in under the name "Harrington" (my grandmother'ssurname) and seeing how much help I get.

The irony of it is that so many of us have Irish ancestors who left as a result of the famine. I understand why there would be a degree of lingering anger against the English but I have Irish in my blood from several sides and would like to see the best of where my ancestors come from - not the worst.

[legaleagle]

But the Potato Famine affected all Europe, England, Wales, Scotland and even North America.

http://www.from-ireland.net/history/potatoebogbutter.htm

[Jillie42]

Thing I can't get my head around was that the Great Hunger was in 1846 - 1850 ish - it's now 2007 and I am in way responsible for the treatment of the Irish 160 years ago.

And I was pretty pi**ed off by all the snide comments of how much money the English had - but that the Irish in Tullamore were more than happy to relieve me of my apparently ill-gotten gains.

Sorry to all the Irish reading this. I'm certain most of you are lovely it's just that first impressions stick - and the ones we got have stuck pretty solidly

[aghadowey]

Jillie, I've had English people sniff when I mention being from Ireland, someone from the British Tourist Authority telling me 'you don't want to go there' and even English people being surprised we have washing machines, microwave ovens, computers & have shops where we can buy lovely outfits for weddings here in Ireland!

[SheilaM]

Jillie, I too find this a very sad thread.  My hubby and I have just returned from our second 2 week tour of Ireland.  First time visting Wicklow, Wexford & Waterford.  This time Clare, Kerry and Galway and we have had the warmest of welcomes in all areas we visited.

On this visit we were looking at gravestones in a cemetery and got into a conversation with a local lady who asked what I was looking for.  I gave her all my info and she asked for my phone number and offered to search the local registers and let me know what she finds.  I don't think you can get any more friendly and helpful than that.

The potato blight was introduced to Ireland by imports from America.  The problem was that potatoes were the main crop as they offered all the nutrients needed in one vegetable so when the blight hit there was no alternative food.  England and other countries, especially India sent copius amounts of foodstuffs but the distribution of this to remote parts of the country was a huge problem as Poorhouses were only built in towns.  Having read several books on this subject I have never come across blame being laid at England's door entirely.

It would be a shame to let one bad experience deny you experiencing the many charms Ireland and her people have to offer.

The National Library in Dublin is a minefield of information for the genealogist http://www.nli.ie/new_what_res.htm  Many of the parish records are held on film there.  On each visit I spend a day there whilst hubby walks his socks off in Dublin and have found loads of info, you just have to trawl the films of any parish you think may be useful to you.

Sorry you feel you had a bad time Jillie but I can assure you it is not the norm.

Can't wait for next year, Donegal here we come.

Sheila

[legaleagle]

There was a big problem regarding the type of potato that the Irish people wanted to grow.  It was called the "Lump" potato and it was favoured because it had in good time a heavier crop.   Unfortunately this potato was more prone to the blight and the authorities could not get people to plant alternative types.

Beside that, there is in the American Records of Rt Rev. John Lancaster Spalding, Bishop of Peoria, President of The Irish Catholic Colonisation Association, information that from 1851 to 1887 the sum of $30,000.000 (thirty million dollars)  donated to Ireland in the New York area, donated chiefly by servant girls who incidentally were those who contributed most to the building of the churches, hospitals and schools in USA. that was not counting the donation from Boston which had an even higher population of Irish Immigrants.

In the Chicago Daily Jounre 21 April 1852 it says  The United sons of Erin sent all funds that they had to Parnell to be used by him wherever it would do the most good.

Now I haven't done a conversion to present day money but that was an enormous amount.  why did the people starve?

Where did it go?

[patrexjax]

Hello all, I know how frustrating Irish research can be. My husband's people were Potato Famine Irish who came to the USA via Canada. Our experience has been that virtually everyone of his Ireland-born ancestors has placed on their tombstones, very prominently, their home county, and in some cases, even the parish! The cemetery in which virtually all are buried indicates that this was very common and the counties in that cemetery are wide-ranging from all parts of Ireland.  So, there is lots of pride and it may be worth your while to try to find those MIs (tombstones as we call them). Many answers are there for all to see. I hope this helps in your quest. Pat

[Taidquest]

hi jillie42,what a horrible experience for you,sounds like
you strayed into a(pub) den of real 'dinosaurs'.
having said that these types can be found on both sides
 of the irish sea,seems like they would be just as ignorant to anyone
even if they were not english.what somebody should enlighten them
about is that most irish people have ancestors who were from england
wales scotland not to mention other nationalities as well, this includes
my own family.I love to see people coming to ireland to trace their families.
I hope that at some stage in the future  you will return and have a more
 positive experience.
                                            regards.anne