Genealogy Chat

I was wanting to know if there is a records centre of any type in the Cork area. I have relatives from the area and am unsure of how to start tracing them. The only records I have are census records from when they were in Birmingham and I have just received a marriage certificate of my great grandparents. thanks, Louisa

Louisa, If you go to the Dorgan website (I know this is for a specific family) there is quite a comprehensive list of web pages to look up for various bits of info regarding County Cork. Good luck is needed. Rod

thanks Rod, I'll try that, can I assume I justa add (.)com, ta Louisa

Sorry google Dorgan family registry. And go to irish records. Rod

hi Rod, thanks heaps for your help, ta Louisa

Assuming that they were Catholic, your ability to trace ancestors in Cork depends a great deal on where they lived, and which diocese that fell in. I believe that it may be easier to find Protestant - at least Church of Ireland - records, although I've never tried. If your ancestors were from North Cork (Cloyne diocese, I think), there is the Mallow Heritage Centre, which is supposed to have a good collection of records. I'm not sure if any of them are available online or not. They should have a Web site - try Googling on the name. Unfortunately for me, mine were from Southwest Cork, specifically the diocese of Kerry. From what I understand, the bishop there has been more restrictive on releasing data than some of his colleagues. You might want to take a look at http://www(.)corkancestors(.)com, which has all sorts of interesting tidbits. There is also a book called 'Tracing Your Cork Ancestors' which is supposed to be quite good, although it's not available in my local library. Other than that, most Irish genealogical sources (online and otherwise) will have information about Cork. Unless you hire a local researcher though, you'll probably have to go to Dublin to see many of the records. Good luck - Tim

For Kerry you only have to write to the Bishop of Kerry to obtain permission to view the records at the Dublin National Library and for Cloyne just phone/fax the Mallow Heritage Centre for permission to view the records, also at the Dublin National Library. However, for Cloyne I found the records incomplete when I was researching in Dublin recently. If you go through Mallow Heritage Centre then be prepared to pay up to £250. You will need to google search your place of interest in Cork to see which diocese your place of interest comes under. Also just google search Cork + Genealogy for many Cork sites. There is a Cork Record Office which apparently last year was fully booked until 2007, so if you intend going, you need to book now for about 2 years hence. There are also good libraries around Cork, which will give you much of the info you want. You can join the Cork Genealogical Society which I find quite useful. google search CGS for more help as to what they offer. Cost is about £12. I have written about Cork and given some other ideas on my thread of ' First Steps in Researching Irish Family History'. Janet

thanks for your replies janet and Tim, unfortunately I live in Australia so a visit in person is out of the question. I am not sure which part of Cork they are from to tell the truth, by the way nan said 'county Cork' I assumed it to be a small area to search. it looks like this part of the family may have to wait a little longer. Sorry about the delay in my reply, I got caught out with visitors today and have just come onto the computer, thanks again, Louisa

I think I read somewhere County Cork is the biggest county in Irleland. Rod

Cork County is a very big county! For those with County Cork and County Kerry Ancestors there is a 16 volume collection of books known as the Casey Collection, 'O'Kiefe, Coshe Mange, Slieve Lougher and Upper Blackwater'. This is another very good census substitute for these two counties only. These books are held in many libraries over the world and I suggest that you google 'Casey Bibliography' for the locations. You should have excellent facilities in Australia to be able to take advantage of your overseas ancestors.Have you joined an Australian FHS? We belong to a Queensland FHS which I know has wonderful facilities and we are always getting advice from them by E Mail every day about what is available to us here in the UK. They have very good libraries attached to all their Family History societies with wonderful 'on air' facilities for those in the outback as Australia knows how to get to its population. We visited the one in Townsville which impressed me greatly. I am sure that there will be access to Irish Newspapers and BMD in Australia and your various FHS will help you on this. Just google Cork +Genealogy for a wealth of info available on the internet. My favourite Cork site and one that I have used for many years is cited below. It is led by a person who is a prominent member of the Cork Genealogical Society. http(://)www(.)corkancestors(.)com/ For Irish research knowing the county is a good start but to proced further you really need to know the Townland and if you do not know what a townland is please refer to my other thread as stated above or google search Townland +Ireland. Janet

thanks Janet, I will try what you have suggested. I haven't joined the FHS of NSW as all of my research has been for England so far so I have always looked towards UK sites. I have narrowed down a death cert. which may be great grandads, hopefully it will have a birth town on it to narrow down the search. In the mean time I will get aquainted with the sites, many thanks again for everyones help, Louisa