Description

Tracing Your Cork Ancestors by Tony McCarthy and Tim Cadogan is an authoritative genealogy guide published by Flyleaf Press as part of its acclaimed Tracing Your Ancestors series. First published in 1998 and thoroughly revised in later editions, the expanded third edition reflects the latest developments in Irish genealogical research while maintaining its clear, practical approach.

County Cork is Ireland’s largest county and has a rich and varied history shaped by Gaelic clans, Norman settlers, maritime trade, agriculture, and large-scale emigration. The authors explain how this diverse history has influenced the survival and organisation of historical records, helping researchers understand where to look for family information and how to interpret the records they find.

The guide provides detailed coverage of the principal genealogical sources, including:

• Parish baptism, marriage, and burial registers
• Civil birth, marriage, and death records
• The 1901 and 1911 Irish census returns
• Griffith’s Valuation and Tithe Applotment Books
• Estate papers and land records
• Wills, probate, and testamentary records
• Newspapers, commercial directories, and electoral registers
• Gravestone inscriptions and cemetery records
• Libraries, archives, and online genealogy resources

Particular attention is given to the unique aspects of Cork genealogy. The book explains the county’s administrative divisions, including baronies, parishes, Poor Law Unions, and townlands, and discusses many of Cork’s well-known surnames, including Barry, Buckley, Casey, Collins, Crowley, Fitzgerald, O’Callaghan, O’Donovan, O’Driscoll, O’Keeffe, O’Leary, O’Mahony, O’Riordan, and Sheehan. It also offers practical advice for tracing families affected by emigration and changing record-keeping practices.

Clear explanations, maps, illustrations, and extensive references make the book suitable for both beginners and experienced researchers. Whether investigating rural communities, urban Cork City families, or emigrant ancestors who settled overseas, readers will find practical guidance for navigating the county’s rich genealogical resources.

Ideal for genealogists, local historians, and members of the Irish diaspora, Tracing Your Cork Ancestors is an indispensable reference for discovering family connections and exploring the history of County Cork.