Researching your Ancestry and 2016

Researchers visiting Ireland in 2016 are coming at a very special time.

Ireland is celebrating the centenary of the Easter Rising of 1916. This is a huge date for the people of Ireland and will be marked throughout the country.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be adding  information and advice daily. Where to research, places of interest to visit, accommodation and where to socialise also. I will cover most counties. You can also email directly.

I can also recommend that from St. Patrick's Day - March 17th, a new movie is being released in Ireland & the USA. The film is centred on The Rising of 1916. An excellent cast and a must for all those with Irish connections.

Any researchers or visitors visiting Co. Cork, I strongly recommend a visit to Cork City Gaol. The museum is a 20-minute walk from the main thoroughfare in Cork City. The gaol has a long history which you can read at the link given. Out of personal interest, my children's great-grandfather was imprisoned there 1922-23. He was an anti-treaty supporter.
To mark the 1916-2016 centenary, through the good people at the museum, I am offering a free pass for a family of 2 adults and up to children. If you email me I will include you in the draw for this free pass. If anyone would like a discount voucher for two, email and I'll gladly pass on.
Please check this blog often for almost daily updates.

Travel between all towns and cities are possible and reliable. If you'd like to rent your own transport, I recommend Car Hire Click on link.

Visiting Ireland? Genealogy

Many thousands of Genealogists from all over the world are now visiting Ireland. 

I am often asked for information on transport, accommodation, parishes, counties and records etc.

For those of you who are planning to visit Ireland, it's more than helpful to have someone resident in Ireland to assist you.

If you would like to contact me EMAIL we can discuss your plans.

Though I am based in Co. Cork, I can give information covering the 32 counties.

Whether you are a researcher in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand or South Africa, I look forward to hearing from you. 

When is a Record not a Record?

We all come up against difficulties in our research. After many years, I thought I had seen it all.

Recently I was tracking a birth from 1879 in a rural parish of Co Cork.

I obtained the civil birth certificate. Name, dates, address etc. all correct. I was then curious enough to try to locate the baptism. One to five 5 days after the birth, I should find him easy enough. No sign of him!

I then thought to myself that perhaps the informant was confused. I checked further back,4 days prior to the birth I thought I had found him. Much to my amazement, instead of seeing a Michael, I saw Bridget! Same parents and  same address.  

I had a Michael with  a birth cert. but no baptism. I had a Bridget's baptism with no birth cert. What would you go for? They are both official records.

I had spent a number of days researching, I have now proved Michael in 1879 beyond doubt.

The Priest must have made a mistake. Most people think of a couple baptising their child one or two days after the birth in the local church.

1. The mother wouldn't be there, There was a tradition of the Mother not attending church for a month. The church gave the mother a "special blessing" after the month. Basically the church thought her as "unclean",

2. Many children were baptised at home. If the child was weak, and there was a chance the baby wouldn't make it, it was common that the woman delivering the baby could baptise the child. 

The notes of the baptims of those baptised at home might have been kept and then added into the register at a later stage. I believe this is where the mistake was made.

I did think of different scenarios, including twins. One registered and one not, also one baptised the other not. That was too unlikely.

I'm happy enough now that I have found Michael. Michael appears with family members in the 1901 census, I obtained all details from his marriage certificate and I know where he was buried.

The only reference to a Bridget is the baptism, which I now know  is incorrect.

All of the above goes to show that more than the one record is needed if possible. No matter how unlikely the scenario. 

 Email me! click here 

Cork Parish Records

St Mary's & St Anne's RC Cathedral (The North Cathedral) is situated on the northside of Cork City.

The records available are from the 1700's to c1900 - baptisms & marriages. These records amount to hundreds of thousands in number.

These records are not available online. 

If anyone would like me to search these records I will gladly do so. I would only ask for a small amount to cover travel costs.

The link to email me is below.



Email me! click here

Death Records in Irish Parish Registers.

I am listing Irish Parish Registers that contain death records. I will also add same for confirmations.

Stamullen, Co Meath, deaths are available Jan. 1834 - June 1873.

Rathnure & Templeudigan, Co Wexford, deaths are available October 1846 - October 1880. They also have confirmations 1853 - 1875.

Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, Deaths - 1815 - 1880 name and age in early years, address is recorded much later. 

 Adamstown, Co Wexford, Deaths - Sept. 1823 - Jan. 1832. 

This is an ongoing project. Email me! click here

Teeling

I have begun to research the Teeling surname for Co's Meath & Dublin. Hopefully I will find a connection to the Teeling's of Co Dublin. Particularly the people at  Teeling Whiskey of Dublin. One of the world's greatest producers of Irish Whiskey.

I have begun a database of all Teeling baptisms and/or births from Meath and Dublin. Obviously this is a long term project. If anyone has any records of same, I would be delighted to hear from you.

A family headstone giving details of some of my Teeling's.

Here are two Teeling baptisms from Co. Meath.

Christopher Teeling bap. 2-5-1845 Parish of Curraha, Co. Meath. Parents James Teeling & Catherine Sherry. sponsors - Peter Mathews & Jane Sherry.

Peter Teeling bap. 29-6-1835 Parish of Bohermeen, Co Meath. Parents Edward Teeling & Judith Duffy. sponsors - Richard Clare & Anne Monaghan.

I will update in the future on my progress.

(c) Kevin McCormack.




Email me! click here

Researching your Irish Ancestry.

So many people believe their Irish research is a difficult task. Whilst it can be,  with a bit of help and local knowledge, it can be relatively easy. So long as you have the basic information.

If you need a little research carried out, and a lot of local knowledge, I can assist you.

Send me a short email with the basic information, I will do my very best to help you.

Teeling Family Headstone

All people recorded on this headstone are ancestors of mine. These Teeling's are from Co. Meath. All of my paternal ancestors are from Co's. Dublin, Meath & Louth.

Erected AD 1804 by ChristyTeeling of Bellewstown for him and his posterity. here lieth the body of his father John Teeling who departed this life the 29th of November 1789 aged 76 years. Here also lieth the body of Margaret Watters alias Teeling sister of the above Christy who departed this life 18December 1803 aged 34 years John Teeling 15th August1853 aged 50years.Christy Teeling died 6th July 1863. Aged 20years Anne Teeling died 25th January 1870 aged 20years Judith Teeling died 5th august rest in peace amen 1888 aged74 years.

John 1853 & Judith 1888 being my Gx3 grandparents.

(c) Kevin McCormack.

Reading a Parish Register 1841

The photograph below is one that I took of a Co. Cork Parish Baptismal register. The  entries are from 1841.

This register is in good condition and is relatively easy to read. If you aren't accustomed to Irish names, you might find it a bit difficult.

It's worth trying to transcribe the records for yourself to give you some practice. Images that will be coming on line soon may not be so clear.

(c) Kevin McCormack


Email me! click here

Irish Death Certificates

Obtaining death certs. of your ancestors can be more than interesting.

However, getting to transcribe them can be difficult.

I have added below the cause of death. It took me sometime to work it out.

Give it a go yourself. Good luck!

Some Irish in Toledo OH. 1843

Here are a few people from Ireland who emmigrated to Toledo, OH. pre 1843.

Patrick Casey Tipperary  -  James Convarne Kilkenny  -  Thomas Tyrell  Tipperary - Arthur Hughes Monaghan -  Thos Carr  Leitrim - Patrick Duffey Westmeath -  Michael Gaffney Roscommon  -  James Carr Leitrim - Bernard McMullen Antrim - Betsey McMullen Antrim - James Byrne Monaghan - Patrick McCarthy  Tipperary -  Fulton Henderson  Tyrone - George Fitzgerald  Meath - Cornelius O’Connell Cork - P. O’Connell Limerick - Joseph White Tipperary - Pat Correy Tipperary - Peter Gribban Derry -  James Carig Galway - John Gribban Derry. Email me! click here