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Original poster

Looking for someone in Ireland. Needle in a Haystack, any ideas where to start?

30 replies

FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:08

My dad died. He was estranged from his family, from us and from his brothers, sisters and irish relatives. He has no contact details with which to notify his family in ireland/usa that he has died.

As we had no contact with him, my sister and brothers also have no contact details of his family in Ireland. My mum had an address of one sister, but she got rid of it, relatively recently I think, before she died (she died in Jan, he died two weeks ago).

I have a full name of one sister, and a first name of the other sister. I know what town they used to live in, where he was born and grew up in Ireland, but his surname is a common irish surname, his sisters surname, the one I know, is also common. I do not know for sure if they live there any more, if she is still married, or has the surname (ie may have reverted back to nee).

Is there any chance I can find someone? I have absolutely no contact with my irish roots now, all because my dad became so self pitying he did not keep any records, and my mum so stubborn/unaware that she did not consider that one of us would want to get in touch with them one day.

I also would like them to know their brother/son/uncle/cousin/nephew has passed away and give them a chance to grieve/come to funeral.

Or am I just being optimistic?

All ideas gratefully received. I have little money so I am trying to avoid sites that charge.

OP posts:
tokentotty · 25/05/2007 18:09

Hey there Findingmyfamily. Quick question, was your father's family Catholic ?

Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:09

token - yes they were...

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tokentotty · 25/05/2007 18:13

Ok, this might sound strange but I think as long as you have a sister's name and the town then I think you should be able to trace them and at no cost. You do need a bit of luck as it depends how big the town is and how many churches there are, but, the best thing to do is contact the parish priest. Remember, they'll have all baptism and more importantly marriage certificates/details on record and therefore can look up the information you need, give you married names and often, addresses where families don't move around that much. what do you think ?

jampot · 25/05/2007 18:15

a lot of families tend to stay around the homestead and have been there for many generations. |what part of ireland are you talking about?

Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:16

fantastic token. I did not think of that! I will do it first thing on monday morning.
I really think it is important that his family have a chance to say goodbye to him.

My own personal issue (well non-issues, more, family issues) should have no bearing on whether his family know of his death.
I would be devestated if my sibling passed away and his children did not make efforts to let me know, even if estranged. I have to do what I can.

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Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:16

thank you!

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jampot · 25/05/2007 18:16

surely you have his birth certificate? or marriage certificate?

Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:17

jampot - limerick, or just outside. A place called Doon? Or something like that I beleive is where he grew up, but I dont think his sister lives there, but beleive it is Limerick still. I know the house/farm name!!! I had thought it might be easy to find, as I remember seeing the address once, and it was like, farm name, town. Thats it.

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Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:18

jampot - nothing. Not a jot. Well, according to my sister. An illegible letter with an american address on it, only surname is readable! I am not even going there with that!

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annh · 25/05/2007 18:19

Ireland is also very different to the UK in that, in more rural areas, everybody knows everybody - or their cousin, or their best friend. Would you mind saying what the name of the town is 'cos if it's anything other than the main cities, chances are that you will in fact be able to track down some relatives.

tokentotty · 25/05/2007 18:22

Well good luck, I hope my suggestion helps. Let me know how you get on and if I can help in anyway further. I'd definitely recommend starting with the parish priest for Doon as even if the Sister no longer lives there the chances are she would probably have married there (most weddings do happen in the brides home town/church don't they).
I've got everything crossed for you love and try and stay positive - you never know what positive and happy things might well come out of a sad situation. Well done for having the courage to make this effort.

Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:23

anh - Doon, limerick. 32 households of my father's surname living there, 23 of my aunt's surname there. Maybe I should write to them all?!

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Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:23

thanks token - I shall call them Monday.

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Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:24

oh apparantly Doon is tipperary, not limerick! Oh dear, its all v confusing!

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tokentotty · 25/05/2007 18:25

Surname doesn't begin 'Sp' does it...?

potoftea · 25/05/2007 18:33

maybe check out if there is a local newspaper, or radio station, and put in the details you have, see if anyone gets in touch.

Maybe this will seem odd, but sometimes in rural places the local postmaster/postmistress knows everyone and is often a great source of local information. Maybe worth a phone call or letter.

Good luck.

Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:36

Potoftea - thats also a good idea! Then if they have moved, someone might know, or other relatives whose name I dont know, they can get in touch...
I will do that too.
I shall do as many things as I can until I find someone.

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Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:36

token - no cos that would mean you could help me wouldn't it? and that would have been just too easy!

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tokentotty · 25/05/2007 18:41

Well quite frankly - yes !!! I'll try one more name though, jus in case. Beginning with 'Cor'

edam · 25/05/2007 18:43

Agree with potoftea, my friends' address is their names/their house name/the nearest small town (5 miles away)/county. So the postman HAS to know who everyone on their round is. My friend once got a letter that was addressed to her name/house and county alone! (And her name is not that uncommon in Ireland).

While we are on the subject, anyone know how to track down birth certs. in Ireland? My mother was adopted and her birth mother has no birth certificate in the UK so we think may have been Irish (her name is about as Irish as you can get). This would be pre-1924. Unfortunately we have no location for her in Ireland so haven't looked for information there yet.

Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:44

no . Alas you are not a long lost relative!
Begins with O, and D, my dad O, his sister married name D!

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Original poster
FindingMyFamily · 25/05/2007 18:45

Not yet Edam but I am sure I will know by the end of this!

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jampot · 25/05/2007 18:46

quite often the addresses can be townlands and lukcily the postman knows everyone

multitasker · 25/05/2007 18:55

If you are unsucessful with the parish priest/post option I listen to a Dublin based radio station and this guy frequently makes appeals to help trace relatives and sort family situations and you'd be surprised how successful he is!

I'm not sure what the phone no. is but you will get it at 2fm.ie and look for Gerry Ryan, Mon-Fri 9-12.

Good luck, keep us posted, genealogy is a hobby of mine but I'm in Northern Ireland and I know the records system here is different.

maggiems · 25/05/2007 19:04

This is the link to the Irish phone book in case you have not considered this. You can search by name and location

www.eircomphonebook.ie/