Researching McGrath Family

[caromac]

Hi,
I need advice on how to research my McGrath family in Offaly.

Can you please recommend sites I can use and how do I look up BDM for this county?


Carolyn
Tasmania

[Elwyn Soutter]

Carolyn,

Statutory records for births, deaths & Catholic marriages in Ireland started in 1864. (Protestant and non conformist marriages started in 1845). Prior to that you are reliant on church records, where they survive. There are very few RC records before 1820. Ideally you need to know the person's religion, parish or townland within the county. You can search on the LDS Irish sites:

http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=allCollections&r=1

Not all records are there. Some are still held by churches.

There are also some pay to view sites.

Elwyn

[caromac]

Thanks again Elwyn,
What a godsend you are!