Being blocked from doing your own Irish research and forced to pay a researcher?

[Marcella Paget]

I have heard from two different sources that people going to Ireland to research their family have been denied access to records (even churchyard headstones for example) by "the authorities" and forced to hire an (expensive) "researcher" to do it all for them. Does anybody know what this is about? Is it all over Ireland or only in certain counties? The National Library of Ireland seems to welcome family historians, according to their website.

[myluck!]

I have never come across anyone being "blocked" from doing Irish research at Irish research locations.

I am Dublin based which gives me an advantage to accessing records and I have never had a problem at any research institution; in approaching cemeteries, churches, etc. the only problem I have encountered in is looking for a baptism record of a child that was adopted; I have always felt there was a notation that I was not given based on the conversation I had, I also needed a reference from another parish before I was given the record.

What may have happened is, that the people that you refer to, while on a short break in Ireland, were really being told "finding information in Irish Records is difficult and time consuming and may not happen in a short break, hiring someone to complete the task may be more beneficial and rewarding"

You can spend a day going through records and still not find what you are looking for or hit the jackpot and complete a branch of a family.  Irish records are scarce and mainly paper copies, although this is rapidily improving. To do research yourself you need time; you need to know names and variants of the name; dates of birth with bands of error and the parish a person came from when looking before 1900.
See in Ireland Resources : http://www.rootschat.com/links/0gas/

If you create a basic tree of your family, and fill in as much as you can from on-line records and family stories/history; use this to make a list of the parish locations you want to research and specfic names you will find your research will be easier and more productive.

I hope that this helps especially as most places here are welcoming and helpful, but they will be realistic if your search will take longer than your time available

[shanew147]

What records were these people blocked access to ?

The various records are held by different institutions and in different locations (e.g. National Library, National Archives, RCB Library etc), and some originals are not available to the public - but copies and microfilms are.

Whilst most graveyards are open to the public, a few require an appointment with a caretaker, and some older ones are now on private land so you permission from the owner to access them.


Shane

[Marcella Paget]

Thank you both for your replies. I'm relieved to hear that this isn't some widespread policy. I've done a lot of preparation for my visit to Ireland and most of the resources I need to consult in are held in Dublin. I won't be turning up in a village expecting major advances in my research, but like to think I'd be allowed to read churchyard memorials and parish registers if only held locally. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone else with some experience of local research in Ireland as it's a long way to go from Australia to find such prohibitions and as I say, I have heard of two different visitors being warned off doing their own research.

[shanew147]

If you want to post the names (and denomination) of the parishes you are researching we can check the references and availability for you if you wish


Shane

[Plummiegirl]

One thing that I would suggest it that once in Ireland and you know the names of the churches you wish to visit, do yourself a favour and give them a call beforehand. 

They may, time allowing, be able to give you access to the record books they have.  They will also be able to advise/guide to which part of the churchyard your Ancestors are buried and also if there is a headstone.  Nothing worse than spending hours looking for non-existant stones/memorials (been there, not seen it and left very frustrated).

Rather like a boy scout you must be prepared.

[maidmarianoops]

http://www.genuki.org.uk/

this should help


sylvia

[aghadowey]

http://www.genuki.org.uk/

this should help

sylvia

Actually, the above site may not be that much use- certainly for my area there are links to sources which no longer exist, much information that's not posted there, etc.

In over 30 years of Irish research I've never been refused information from church records in local custody (although one clergyman would only read out the details for the information I asked rather than letting me see the actual register- his successor on the other hand let me take the index home and then return to see any records I wanted).

[Pastmagic]

Totally agree with what you are being told here. I have never in 30+ years been refused access to records, and find  Irish archives very friendly. It is vital to contact clergymen well in advance as you may just be unlucky if you turn up and they are away on the day or have a busy schedule of funerals etc It is important to understand the parish and townland system, and the dates of available records, as it can be very time-consuming to establish this info, if you don't have it sorted before you come.

Could you let us know what records people were unable to accsss? I really would hate to think that people had a bad experience here. I have had relatives visit from various continents, and they never encountered a problem, - so I am wondering what experience your contacts had, and what problems arose.

If you would like to post your planned research here, I am sure you will get lots of help here.

PM