1. Overcoming your brick walls in Irish family research
Lorna Moloney

2. A problem that is difficult to solve
What is a brick wall?
A problem that is difficult to solve

3. Lack of survival of census records
The vast majority of Ireland's 19th century census records were destroyed in a fire at the Public Records Office of Ireland in Only fragments survive. So, unlike in the UK or USA, you can't keep track of your 19th century Irish ancestors every ten years in census records.

4. Answer – Using Census substitutes
Ireland policed so records are high due to the need to secure the country
High level mapping in Ireland
Most policed country in the world
Using land records
Identifying documents of control

5. Civil registration challenge
When compared to England and Wales, civil registration began relatively late in Ireland. Births and marriages were registered from Non- Catholic marriages were registered from with Catholic marriages also beginning in Obviously, this means there are no birth, marriage and death records for any event before those dates.

6. Answers to this challenge
For Catholics - Use parish registers – now freely available on line
Use records in UK as many emigrated because of famine and some came back to Ireland

7. Understanding Place & space
Understanding land boundaries in Ireland and how the country is divided up administratively
Baronies, townlands, parishes, counties, Poor law unions, Registration districts

9. Solution Background research – geography Historical sources
Reference material

10. Clans and Surnames Understanding the nuances of your name
Finding sources for your surname – entry and exit in Ireland
Cross referencing and collating surnames to further your research