Searching for records

Afternoon

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

As you are still not sure where exactly in Co. Galway Peter came from it would be wiser (and cheaper!) for you to search familysearch.org for the time bein. There is a Peter born in 1814 in Kiltormer, Co. Galway for example:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGD4-Y41

Your other option is to buy credits for the subscription site Roots Ireland and search the parish records there: http://www.rootsireland.ie/

During the summer the National Library plan to make the parish records available for free, so keep an eye out for that too.

Something you must consider though, is that there will be no State/Civil birth or marriage record for Peter as he was born prior to 1864 when generally speaking, civil registration began in Ireland. The availability of a baptism cert will depend on the parish - some record sets start earlier than others; to give you an overview - Tuam Parish records start in 1790, Ahascragh start in 1840 and Killererin records don't start until 1870 - so every parish is different.

If you wanted to contact parishes at a later stage you can find the contact details at the links below:
Galway Diocese: http://www.galwaydiocese.ie/clergy
Tuam Archdiocese: http://www.tuamarchdiocese.org/parishes/
Elphin Diocese: http://www.elphindiocese.ie/personnel/priests

Did his son's marriage record provide any info as to parish of origin?

Best wishes
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support

Thank you very much Clare. I periodically check Family Search and will do so again. About the National Libary release -do you have an idea on the date and will the records be indexed in anyway? I realize that each parish is different. I thought I would get the parish of each Peter Curley I found in the Griffth's Valuation in 1857 and then write the parish priest for info on what records they have and how to get someone to check them for me.  I have sarted with two, one Galway and one Roscommon. William Curleys marriage paperwork did not have any info on  the home town of the familes of him or his Wife Mary Collins. Just gave fathers last name.Any ideas?

Hi again

Re the National Library, all we know for the time being is that the time frame for making the records available is the summer.

If you look at the Irish Times site, linked below, it will give you an indication of what parish records are available and the dates they start:

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/

You may find that as Parishes are busy it could take a while to receive a reply. You are going about things the right way in terms of cross-referencing and finding info. You will probably find you will have to undergo an information gathering exercise and perhaps a small piece of info will link things for you, a sponsor on a baptism or witness on a marriage cert. Keep searching!

Best wishes
Clare
Genealogy Support