Does anyone know where to get information about Irish ancestors?

Question:

Does anyone know where to get information about Irish ancestors?

birth certificates, wedding certificates etc

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: There is a ton of information on the Irish. I have connections with the Irish-American community (Scots have some commonality here). One of the best resources that I have found has been through Ancestory.com. You can get a free 30 day trial, or go to your public library to access the site, you can get this free if they subscribe. Also check with local Irish heritage clubs-often they have geneologists that are willing to help steer you in the right direction. One other resource is Clan Cian-this is an Irish Clan and they have geneological assistance. This is also true of the O'Neils and the O'Brians. If you are looking in Antrium County-then you can go to Clan Donald, USA and access geneological assistance from there. There is also the Geneological repository at the Moultrie, Georgia Public Library. Many clans and other Celtic people have put their geneologies there for safekeeping. Contrary to popular belief, fairly accurate census records were kept in Ireland since about 1760 by the English-they would list religion as a means of tracking the Catholics and Protestants in that country. One other factor that you probably don't know, is that if your family is from Northern Ireland, then you are probably Ulster Scots and the family orginated in Scotland and was forced to move to Ireland to force the native Irish from their lands in that region. Immigration records for Canada and the United States are in existance, but you have to be able to read between the lines. It was not uncommon for an Irish person with a surname of Conner to be listed as Smith or Jones once they entered the country. Also many Irish immigrants would not list their country of orign as being Ireland due to the degree of hostility experienced both there and here. Probate records are good sources as they are kept in government offices and list everyone no matter what their religion was.