It's all a case of Caveat Emptor, eh
Just a word on Irish rip-offs - or not!!
I think that our expectations of Ireland are often perhaps unfairly coloured by what we know is available in our home countries and/or England and Scotland. And also by our misunderstanding of the nature of family history in Ireland (so often oral rather than written).
A long time ago I was really peeved (I now realize quite unfairly) by what I got from the official Co Mayo (South Mayo) family history centre at very significant cost - especially as I'd provided virtually all the factual information myself from the very informative certs of, and newspaper extracts in, Victoria, Australia in the mid-1800s.
And yes, I think they'd geared their charges to the US market at the time (we do live in a market-driven world).
Some time later I ordered in all the relevant Mayo films to my local LDS FHC. There was nothing more to be found! And what was there was virtually unreadable. A little later again, for various reasons, I realized that the people at the centre had done everything they possibly could do (probably quite time-consuming as they'd also told me that a particular Henry BURKE was not mine and had provided townland maps) and that they were really heavily involved in the family history of the region, that they wanted to help and to find out as much as they could, and that it was costly to run their operation. And that they didn't understand our expectations (and didn't even begin to understand our suspicions).
If there's nothing to be found, search as they will (and for as much time as they will) they won't be able to find it ....
As for the good news!
Well, Irish individuals re Co Donegal (amateurs and professionals) have been wonderfully helpful at no cost. Yes, I ended up buying a book on Glencolmcille written by one but the return to him would have been minuscule.
And a professional Irish researcher, well-known on the Internet, gave far more than I expected (or was good for his business) re my query; yes, he no doubt hoped I'd employ him though I haven't yet but the preliminary information he provided was fantastic and far beyond what he needed to have done.
And for some years I was helped by a chap in England who has worked wonders for so many people here in Adelaide and elsewhere in Australia - one posted off AUS$s on trust and waited for the outcome. Always brilliant! He charged only for the certificate which he sent but inevitably came up with all sorts of peripheral wonderful information all written out in the most beautiful copperplate.
Like everthing, it's up to the buyer to be discerning ....
JAP
