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

[hallmark]

Pity they won't let a parishioner put them on a database/spreadsheet.....

[annclare]

The church records of most of the parishes in South Tipperary are not available in the National Library, and are not available on www.rootsireland.ie .
The only way to access these records seems to be by getting the South Tipperary Family History Centre to conduct very expensive searches of their archives.
In the National Library, I was told that I should write to the appropriate diocese to get permission to view the records, but when I did this they responded by saying that I should re-direct my enquiries to the South Tipperary Family History Centre.
.

If you are refering to the parish records of the dioces of Cashel and Emly - they are now available on microfil in the National Library - up to about 2/3 yrs ago they were unavailable.

Annclare

[Pastmagic]

Just thinking back on thirty years of libraries, archives, and records and graveyards and buildings and landscapes in Ireland, France, England and Argentina. I never actually met an unhelpful person. Says something about the territory!
PM

[jud72]

The church records of most of the parishes in South Tipperary are not available in the National Library, and are not available on www.rootsireland.ie .
The only way to access these records seems to be by getting the South Tipperary Family History Centre to conduct very expensive searches of their archives.
In the National Library, I was told that I should write to the appropriate diocese to get permission to view the records, but when I did this they responded by saying that I should re-direct my enquiries to the South Tipperary Family History Centre.
.

If you are refering to the parish records of the dioces of Cashel and Emly - they are now available on microfil in the National Library - up to about 2/3 yrs ago they were unavailable.

Annclare

That is excellent news! Thank you very much for the information.

[corisande]

The only way to access these records seems to be by getting the South Tipperary Family History Centre to conduct very expensive searches of their archives. 

I have had the problem at both North and South Tipperary Family History Centres. I really do not like that organisation

Basically these so called family history centres do block you from doing your own research and wish to sell you expensive researchers, and I would think that is where the original story arose. I have seen the books I want on their shelves and they refused to let me look at them

As long as you avoid these places, then you should be able to access most records (as long as you can find who has them, or as long as they exist).

It would probably save you a lot of leg work if you started with the fiches at the Nat Library of Ireland.
http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx
will get you started. They have a desk there specially to help you.

Get a parish map and make a list of the parishes you are interested in, then research online what years are available and where to read them.

Quite honestly it is no good turning up at a parish, as the records may not be there, or difficult to access as you have to track down whoever has them.

Having said all that, you will find most people very welcoming. I can recommend the Local History Centres in the Country Libraries - again research online to find where they are and when they are open. They do not have parish records but are excellent sources of books and papers and information at a local level

[Marcella Paget]

Thanks  corisande,  That sounds just like the experiences that were described to me by two different friends who went to Ireland and I wanted to be forearmed as it were. I'm planning to do most of my research in Dublin, and already have books from the NLI ordered to be ready for me when I get there. I'm very impressed with the helpfulness of the NLI people. I've had overnight responses to three emails I've sent to different sections there. I'll also be consulting material held at the National Archives and the Cancelled Land Books held at the Valuation Office. I don't think I've quite got to grips with the whereabouts of the parish records I'll need. It's hard to tell exactly what parish (COI) and what is and isn't available via Ancestry etc., but I have a couple of days to work that out before I leave.
I might go to take photos of a couple of memorials and ancestral homes in Crossmolina and Enniscrone, but as you say, I'm not expecting to learn much locally as my family left Ireland nearly 150 years ago.

[shanew147]

.......
 I don't think I've quite got to grips with the whereabouts of the parish records I'll need. It's hard to tell exactly what parish (COI) and what is and isn't available via Ancestry etc., but I have a couple of days to work that out before I leave.
..

I dont believe you will find that many CofI parish records in the  the National Archives. They do have a few, but most are held in the Representative Church Body Library in Rathfarnham.



Shane

[Marcella Paget]

Gosh that was quick shanew147! Thanks for putting that library on my radar. I've just located it in google maps and will work the parish records issue through over the next day or two.

[shanew147]

If you post the names of the CofI parishes you are interested in I can probably figure out where any historic records are held - if they survive. i.e. Representative Church Body Library, National Archives, or Local Custody.

To work out the Civil parishes for towns and townland see the database at www.thecore.com/seanruad    (Church of Ireland parishes are usually the same as the civil parish)
 


Shane