New Monaghan records on RootsIreland

The RootsIreland website (www.rootsireland.ie) has added new Presbyterian and Church of Ireland records for County Monaghan. The list of new records available is at http://monaghan.rootsireland.ie/generic.php?filename=sources.tpl&selectedMenu=sources&eno=2005#ChurchOfIreland

I haven't used the main site in a while, but despite recent changes my account did continue to allow me access to free searches for some time after the new subscription service was introduced. Those free credits, whilst still on my account, are now no longer usable, meaning I can't do any meaningful test searches up front before deciding whether to purchase a record - instead, I now need to subscribe at least £18 for a month's access. It is still quite extraordinary that a site with so much potential, going for as long as it has, can still continue to get it so wrong for so long.

On July 8th free access to Roman Catholic records will be made available by the National Library of Ireland, which will make a significant impact on RootsIreland's business. Unfortunately those of us with Presbyterian and Anglican connections (not to mention Methodist, Baptist etc) will still have to endure this current set up, though do bear in mind that the surviving records can be accessed at many repositories in Ireland. In Northern Ireland, for example, a useful guide is available at http://www.proni.gov.uk/guide_to_church_records.pdf, detailing holdings for the north (not just the Northern Irish counties), including those that can be accessed freely on microfilm at PRONI. For counties Antrim and Down do also check out www.ancestryireland.com, where the search interface is much better, and where many parish records (including most Roman Catholic) can be obtained on an individual pay-per-view basis at £4 each.

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.