Burns or Byrnes

Hi Margaret, thanks for your message and interest in Ireland Reaching Out.

The irishtimes website is very useful as it gives a list of what sources are available pertaining to Civil Parishes and can give you some ideas of where to start your search. The link for Aghowle Civil Parish is here:

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/townlands/index.cfm?fuseaction…

Unfortunately the chances of finding any records prior to 1800 is very slim as in reality they simply did not exist. However here are a few pointers that may help:

What religion were the family?

If Roman Catholic some records may be available for any siblings that came after Hugh. Here is a link to what records are available in the Roman Catholic Parish of Clonmore (which is most likely the Catholic parish that Aghowle falls into) 

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/rcparishmaps/index.cfm?fuseact…

Sources for Church of Ireland can be found at http://ireland.anglican.org/about/42 and http://www.nationalarchives.ie/.

The the land records called the Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38) http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp  or the later Griffith's Valuation (1848-64) http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/ may have some information on any family that remained in Ireland.

FInally, for information on those that emigrated to Canada you can try The Library and Archives of Canada at  http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html

Remember to post as much information as you can with regard to the people you are researching. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.

Please be patient - as our programme has only begun to rollout across the island of Ireland and volunteers in some areas may not yet be organized.

Kind regards,                    

Genealogy Support