Hi Judith
The destroyed Irish records were, for the most part, the Irish censuses taken before 1901. The civil registrations of births, marriages, and deaths, since they began in 1864, still survive. And the parish records, some going back to the 1600s, also still exist.
You should begin by acquiring a copy of your grandfather's birth record. That willl give you both the name of his parents and where in Wexford he was born. From there, you can then order a copy of his parents marriage record which will give you both their ages and their fathers' names.
I don't, however, have any experience in ordering certificates from Ireland. So you would have to leave a message on one of the Irish boards to learn the correct procedure in obtaining Irish birth and marriage records.
Hope this helps
Mike
