Family History Library
35 North West Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3400
USA

• Family History Centers. Copies of most of the microform records at the Family History Library can be loaned to more than eighteen hundred Family History Centers worldwide. Small duplication and postage fees are charged for this service. The library cannot lend its books to the centers, but copies of many books not protected by copyright are available on microfilm or microfiche.
  

To get a list of the Family History Centers near you, write to the Family History Library.

• Archives and churches. Archives hold many original documents, such as land and estate records. Archives also hold copies of many parish records. Original parish records, however, are usually in the custody of local ministers. For more information on repositories, see the “Archives and Libraries” section of this outline.
  
• Libraries and interlibrary loan. Public, academic, and other research libraries may have sources for Irish research. Many of these libraries provide interlibrary loan services. The Family History Library, however, does not participate in the interlibrary loan system.
  
• Professional researchers. You may employ a professional researcher to search for information on your ancestors. Some researchers specialize in Irish records. Lists of qualified, professional researchers are available from the Family History Library. In addition, a list of members of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI) can be requested from:

Honorary Secretary of APGI
c/o The Genealogical Office
2 Kildare Street
Dublin 2
IRELAND (EIRE)

Irish archives (see the “Archives and Libraries” section of this outline) may also provide names of individuals who can search the archive's records for you.

For more information on employing a professional researcher, see the Family History Library handout Hiring a Professional Genealogist.

• Photocopies. The Family History Library and some other libraries offer limited photoduplication services for a small fee. You must specify the source and the exact pages you need. Books protected by copyright cannot be copied in their entirety. However, a few pages can usually be copied for personal research. The library does not copy large portions of a microfilm. To obtain a copy of a large portion of a microfilmed record, write to the archive where the original record is stored.
  

When requesting services from libraries or professional researchers, you will be more successful if your letter is as concise as possible and makes a specific request. Include a self-addressed, stamped, long envelope when writing within your own country. When you write to a foreign country for information, enclose three international reply coupons (available from your post office).

Know the fees that will be charged for any service by agents or archives before authorizing them to perform the service. You will usually need to send money before you receive photocopy or search services. Use international money orders rather than personal checks to send payments to another country.

Finally, request a complete copy, whether handwritten or photocopied, of the record you need.

Suggestions for Searching the Records. Follow these principles as you search the records for your ancestor:

• Search for one generation at a time. Search backward from your chosen ancestor one generation at a time, proving parentage. Do not skip back a generation or more and assume that a person is related to your ancestor just because they share the same surname. It is much easier to prove parentage than it is to prove descent.
• Search for the ancestor's entire family. Look for clues that hint of other family members. For example, in most families children were born at regular intervals. Therefore, if you note a long period between two children's birth dates, reexamine the records to search for a child you may have overlooked. Also, consider looking at other records and in other localities to find missing family members.
• Search each source thoroughly. A small piece of information in a record may be the clue you need to find a person or to trace a family line farther, so thoroughly examine each record you search. Note, for example, the occupation and address of your ancestor. Also note the names and any other information given about witnesses, sponsors, neighbors, relatives, guardians, and others.
• Examine a copy of the original record. In some cases, transcripts of the original records are available. While transcripts may be easier to read, they may be less accurate than the original records.
• Search a broad time period. Dates found in some sources may be inaccurate. Look several years before and after the date you think an event occurred. A christening or baptism could have taken place anytime during a person's life.
• Look for indexes. Look for an index that covers the record type, time period, and place you need. Surname indexes exist for many records, including civil registration, probate, and land records. Make sure you check the original records after consulting an index. The original may contain additional information.
• Watch for name variations. The history of Ireland contributed to many variations in Irish names. Consequently, names are often recorded differently than you might expect. Be flexible when searching for your names of interest. For more information on name variations, see the “Names, Personal” section of this outline.
  

Step 5. Use the Information

Evaluate the Information You Find. Carefully evaluate whether the information you find is complete and accurate. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Did the person who provided the information witness the event?
• Was the information recorded near the time of the event?
• Is the information logical and consistent with the information in other sources?