IRISH LINKS IN THE EMERALD ISLE

by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, C.G.

"Initiative is an important ingredient in finding Irish roots, particularly where family details are sparse," says James G. Ryan, Ph.D., an Irish research expert.

Ryan is currently head of BioResearch Ireland, Ireland's biotechnology development program, as well as the genealogy columnist for Irish America magazine and author of several books on Irish research. His latest work -- Irish Records: Sources for Family and Local History -- is a huge book (668 pages), with a comprehensive listing of the genealogical record sources for each county in Ireland.

"Once the normal land and church record sources have been consulted, imaginative use of local historical accounts can produce further information about the family and its circumstances," Ryan advises.

An example of a unique Irish record is one created during the late 18th century, when the linen board attempted to encourage the growth of flax in Ireland. One innovative mechanism was to offer a free spinning wheel for every acre of flax planted in the year 1796. The 1796 Spinning Wheel Premiums is a list of those who received spinning wheels, and gives the name and parish of residence of more than 52,000 persons. It is particularly useful for northern Irish counties, where the linen industry was strongest, but includes most counties.

For the period of greatest interest to American family historians researching their Irish roots, the late 18th and early- to middle- 19th centuries, Irish family records are sparse. During this period, most of the Irish population (and particularly those who emigrated) lived as small tenant farmers or laborers, and these activities required few written records. As a result, every shred of information can be valuable to a genealogist.

It is not uncommon for researchers tracing an Irish line to know the name of the place of origin of their ancestor and to be unable to find it listed in any guide. This may be because the name was written down incorrectly or remembered from the pronunciation used by an ancestor who may have been illiterate, Irish-speaking, or both. Some imagination is often necessary to translate these names so the localities can be identified. The majority of Irish place names, particularly town names, are derived from the Gaelic language. Among the most common components of these names are: Bally- (town), -more (big), or -beg (small).

Irish family names are mainly derived from Gaelic and Norman names, and while English and Scottish names are also common, particularly in the northern counties of Ireland, they also occur elsewhere in the country. Additionally, Huguenot, Palatine and Jewish surnames are found in Ireland, and to further complicate the situation, many English surnames were adopted by Irish families during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Irish Records explains, in depth, the types of records available, and under each Irish county is provided a history of that locality and information about its census and church records, commercial and social directories, gravestone inscriptions, newspapers, family histories, wills, administrations, marriage licenses, research sources and services, and miscellaneous sources. The book contains many illustrations and excellent maps of each county.

Anyone serious about searching their Irish families will want this outstanding reference. It is available ($54.95 postpaid) from Ancestry, P.O. Box 990, Orem, UT 84059; (800) ANCESTRY or on the Web at: http://www.ancestry.com

(c) 1997, Los Angeles Times Syndicate