A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Irish Ancestors: How to Find and Record Your Unique Heritage (Paperback)

~ (Author), Kyle J. Betit (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this expansion of their 1998 collaboration, Ireland: A Genealogical Guide, the authors begin with a recap of basic search strategies, such as understanding given names and surnames and options in research depending on whether or not an ancestor's place in Ireland is known. Several chapters are then devoted to resources for locating Irish immigrants in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and the British West Indies a vital approach, as many beginners want to "jump the pond" straight to Ireland while ignoring non-Irish sources that can provide valuable data. Coverage of Irish sources such as civil registrations, emigration lists, tax, estate and land records, military records, and cemetery, census, and church data includes the historical significance of the record types and what sort of information can be found within. Other topics covered are Irish place names and administrative divisions, heritage centers, Internet resources, inventories and catalogs, research guides, and society records. Each chapter refers the reader to numerous print sources, web sites, addresses of societies, and repositories and concludes with a suggested reading list. Copious icons and illustrations point out tips and techniques to make one's research more fruitful. An appendix of archives and libraries is also included. Where John Grenham's Tracing Your Irish Ancestors (LJ 5/15/00. 2d ed.) focuses more on identifying specific Irish records by location than general search strategies, this book puts more emphasis on introducing beginners to successful research methods as well as Irish and non-Irish sources. Highly recommended for public libraries; those with the means might purchase extra copies for circulation. The authors are the former publishers of the journal, The Irish at Home and Abroad. Elaine M. Kuhn, Allen Cty. P.L., Ft. Wayne, IN
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Family genealogists will find easy step-by-step suggestions for determining an Irish ancestor's place of origin, and advice for researching Irish records in America and on the Emerald Isle itself.

Readers will find a wealth of information, such as:
* the basic strategies of Irish research
* working with home sources
* accessing, making sense of and working with Irish records inside and outside of Ireland
* making the most of Internet resources
* using cemetery records, church records, estate records, military records and more!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Betterway Books; illustrated edition edition (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558705775
• ISBN-13: 978-1558705777
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #685,383 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Specifically written for the aspiring genealogist, May 20, 2001

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

A Genealogist's Guide To Discovering Your Irish Ancestors was specifically designed and written for the aspiring genealogist seeking guidelines for determining an Irish ancestor's place of origin. Dwight Radford and Kyle Betit effectively collaborate to present sound advice for researching Irish records both domestically and overseas; basic strategies essential to successful Irish research; special advice about tracing Scots-Irish ancestors; practical advice for accessing Irish cemeteries, land, church, estate, census, and military records; how to access civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths, as well as emigration lists; sources and strategies for researching Irish ancestors who settled in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Wales, and the Caribbean, as well as timely information on Internet resources and favorite sites on the World Wide Web. Highly recommended for personal and community library genealogical research reference collections, A Genealogist's Guide To Discovering Your Irish Ancestors offers both the novice and the experienced genealogist with everything necessary to trace and record their family's Irish history.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Irish Strategies to the Point, March 28, 2001

By	Pat Wood (Fircrest, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This is an excellent resource for both advanced beginners and experienced reseachers. Well organized, conversational, and very factual. Specific strategies for solving a variety of research challenges are developed and illustrated. The authors want the researcher to be able to locate the specific piece of Irish soil where the ancestor lived.

Betit and Radford do not attempt to address every record type or resource, nor does this work replace the standard reference works of Mitchell, Ryan, etc. It is not Irish county specific, nor is Argentine emigration addressed. What they have done very well is present the material in such a way that can enable the serious researcher, whatever the experience level, to get arms around a complex subject.

As you may surmise, I definitely recommend this book. Good luck and have fun.