Searching for marriage records in Ireland?

Question:I want to make my widowed Mum a personalised gift for Christmas but I don't know how to search online for the date of her marriage - and I can't ask her as I would give the game away, so please if anyone can help by giving me some pointers it would be very much appreciated.

My parents were married in Ireland.

Thanks in advance
Cozy xx

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I want to make my widowed Mum a personalised gift for Christmas but I don't know how to search online for the date of her marriage - and I can't ask her as I would give the game away, so please if anyone can help by giving me some pointers it would be very much appreciated.

My parents were married in Ireland.

Thanks in advance
Cozy xx

At lot will depend on when they got married. Most civil records were destroyed in a fire and there was no backup. Try here;
http://www.ancestry.co.uk/

They are offering a 14 day free trial so give it a go. You could try the Morman family history centre if you have one in your home town.

If you know where and approximately when (try asking other relatives) then you can contact the church or registry office directly.

You probaby have some idea how long your Mum is married, and when her anniversary falls due. The big thing is where. Can any family members or long-time family friends help?

Most but not all brides marry in their own home town parish church, and records there can be viewed (you will need to get permission from the parish priest or vicar). Census records are not made public for 100 years for privacy reasons, as the people named therein might still be alive.

from http://www.ballybegvillage.com/civil_cen...
Birth, Death and Marriage in Ireland

Marriage Records: As Catholic marriages almost always took place in a Catholic Church, the Church at which the marriage took place is recorded on the marriage register. Here you will also find the date, names of bride and groom, their ages, their marital status (single or widowed), occupation, place of residence, names of fathers, occupations of fathers, witnesses, priest's name. Quite a lot of information from one small entry in a book. If this is the first record you come across, you will now know mother's age, therefore her year of birth. Find her birth certificate and discover her mother's maiden name. Soon you'll be jumping from book to book, crosschecking, confirming, and making great discoveries. You might also make a mistake or two, but don't worry. Everyone makes mistakes!

In some counties, separate books must be consulted if researching Protestant marriages. These separate books are usually kept at the Registrar's office.

Dear Cozy. I might be able to help if you knew where she was married, North or south Ireland and nearest town if you know. SB