ancestors from St Brigid's OLDCASTLE

Hi there,

There are Roman Catholic church records available for Oldcastle. These date from 1789 for baptismal, marriage and burial records. You can find these at the National Library of Ireland, Pos. 4188, or the Church of Latter Day Saints, film 0926180. If you have any difficulty, you could try writing to the parish priest for more assistance.

There is a Freeholders list from 1770. This is at the National Library of Ireland Ms. 787-8, also the Church of Latter Day Saints, film 100181.

1781 Voters list. National Archives of Ireland, M.4910-12.

1792 and 1793 Hearth tax collectors account and collction books. National Library of Ireland, Ms. 26735 and 26738.

1796: Spinning Wheel Premium Entitlement Lists This was part of a government scheme to encourage the linen trade, free spinning wheels or looms were granted to individuals planting a certain area of land with flax. The lists of those entitled to the awards, covering almost 60,000 individuals, were published in 1796, and record only the names of the individuals and the civil parish in which they lived. The majority, were in Ulster, but some names appear from every county except Dublin and Wicklow. A microfiche index to the lists is available in the National Archives, and in PRONI. 1,450 names for Co. Meath.

There are many other more specific documents connected to specific areas of Meath. None of these mention Oldcastle however.

You can check for information about the frequency of the name in the mid-19th century and any other variant spellings of the name here: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/surname/

You could also try checking the land records called the Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38) or the later Griffith's Valuation (1848-64). Griffith's is freely available here: www.askaboutireland.com or here: www.failteromhat.com Failte Romhat has lots of other useful links you could try looking at.Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38). Microfilm copies of the books for all of Ireland are available at the National Archives of Ireland (NAI) http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/tithe-applotment-books-and-the-primary-griffith-valuation/ or the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS).

There is a book by Noel French you could take a look at called 'Meath ancestors, a guide to sources for tracing your ancestors in Co. Meath', 1990.

Please make sure you link anyone else in your family who is interested in their Irish heritage to our site - and indeed anyone else you know of Irish heritage.

Kind regards,

Sinead Cooney

Genealogist (Ireland XO)

Sinead, you're the best.  I know you have helped many people with what you posted.  Thanks.

Rose Mary Victor

Great stuff Sinead!  I just returned from Oldcastle and had the fortune of looking at the orginal books. Had a great time visiting the cousins and old family homes!