| First things first, it is important to know that | | | | Why not take a trip to Ireland and retrace the |
| when starting to trace your family roots you | | | | steps of your forefathers, see where they lived |
| must start with your immediate family first, then | | | | and maybe meet some of your living relatives |
| work backwards from here. | | | | and perhaps receive further information on your |
| Check the correct names, dates of birth, | | | | family tree. |
| marriage and death of your parents and | | | | Finally always compare your findings before you |
| grandparents; ensure to make a record of this. | | | | take the next step and ensure to make note of |
| Make a list of brothers and sisters of each parent | | | | everything. |
| and grandparent, as far back as you can. This | | | | For such a small country, Ireland has a huge |
| information can be obtained by asking your family | | | | number of people dispersed in all corners of the |
| members: your parents, aunt, uncles, | | | | world, this is mainly due to the dreadful 'Great |
| grandparents and so on. | | | | Famine'. It was during the mid-19th Century when |
| Visit your local Public Library and check out the | | | | Ireland was brought to it knees by the famine, |
| library's 'Online Public Access Catalogue' or OPAC | | | | people witnessed poverty and hunger due to |
| for relevant material in Dublin City Public Libraries. | | | | potato blight which was at the time Irelands only |
| You should also seek help and advice from your | | | | source of food and survival. |
| local librarian. | | | | During these hard times over 1 million Irish people |
| Visit The General Registers Office at Dublin City | | | | died and 2 million emigrated looking for a better |
| Library - this office is responsible for the records | | | | life. Boarding ship with only the clothes on their |
| of births, marriages and deaths dating back as far | | | | back they headed to far away lands such as The |
| as 1864. Ensure to make copies of any | | | | UK, Australia, America and beyond. Many died |
| certificates that are relevant to your research. | | | | before they reached their destination on board |
| Check the local Church registers and Census | | | | the notorious 'coffin ships', others lived out their |
| Records. | | | | dream of a better life and set up home in foreign |
| Griffiths Valuation - this is a record of all the | | | | lands but always remained true to their |
| property owners in Ireland dating from 1848 to | | | | motherland and carried this on to the next |
| 1864. These records are on file in all major | | | | generation. |
| libraries and records offices throughout Ireland. | | | | Today millions of people from all over the world |
| Remember that your ancestors may have been | | | | call Ireland their home and are very patriotic and |
| born, married or may have died outside of Ireland. | | | | proud of their roots. Each year thousands and |
| You can also receive professional help and | | | | thousands of people seek out their ancestors in |
| assistance from a number of Irish Genealogy | | | | Ireland and if you are one of them I hope this |
| sites who will assist you to trace your ancestors | | | | article helps. |
| for a small fee. | | | | |