Will be arriving by ferry from Holyhead in early May. Will have no car, nor necessarily want one. Would like smallish hotel (the type Rick recommends) in walkable area and central to sites.
Any tips on the best genealogical libraries/resources? Other things to see in the area in a few days (probably evenings)?
Any safety concerns?
Posted by
San Jose, CA
1994 posts
If you know the area your ancestors were from, there's a fair amount of information available in the records of local parish churches. I was also surprised about the amount of information my brother was able to get from ancestry.com before we get our trip.
I felt very safe in Ireland, although we were mostly in rural areas
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Thanks, Sherry. No idea yet where the ancestors lived. Working on Ancestry.com now. Just have gotten them to Ireland so far, so I am hoping for a central repository.
Posted by
Land of La
9225 posts
Not in the city center but a short bus ride away, Tinode House on Upper Drumcondra Road. Great host. Tiny but comfortable rooms. As far as ancestry research options have contacted the National Archives of Ireland? Good place to start and to arrange a visit while in Dublin.
Posted by
Eugene, Oregon...Formerly Ventura, CA
2262 posts
+1 for Tinode House. PJ is a wonderful host and a master of transport, too. Several bus lines pass by his place, easy to get the mile or so to the city center. Our room was a pretty good size, I have heard that one or two rooms there are small though. Excellent breakfasts.
Posted by
Regina, SK
6 posts
I don't know if your budget allows it, but I hired a genealogist in Belfast who worked with me at the Public Records Office and saved me loads of time, gave me an excellent overview of resources, and provided invaluable context for my research. Six hours of his time saved me days of figuring everything out.
If that interests you, I'd start with the Association of Professional Genealogists website. Good luck with your research!
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Thanks, Jill. Good idea. I have read somewhere that there are professionals in the couple genalogical libraries/museums in Dublin also who will spend an hour or so gratis. Not sure if this is true. I will definitely keep your suggestions in mind.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
I was scanning down to add what Jill had. If you are not a skilled genealogist, then you need to hire someone. First, you have to have worked to a conclusion the European section of ancestry.com. The more information you have prior to arrival the better. You hire the genealogist before your arrival and send all of your information with documentation. That will give him/her a starting point so that when you arrival in Dublin you will be off and running with good information. The value of the genealogist is that he knows the dark corners of old records and where to look especially since not everything has been digitized.
If you are truly interested in family history don't bulk at the cost. Say it costs you $500. Compare that to the total cost of the trip.
If you don't have the skill, all the library volunteers will do is point you in the direct of records. Then you sit thumb through hundreds of pages of records with little idea of what you are looking for. And the records you need might not even be at that library. Without professional help you might not even recognize information records.
Good luck.
Posted by
Regina, SK
6 posts
To add to what Frank said, my genealogist had full subscriptions to all the Irish sites which charge per record view....it can add up quickly if you're looking yourself. I paid 110 UK pounds and it was excellent value for money.
A note about safety: nothing to worry about. I'm 62 on a solo tour and having a fab time.