Three months ago I wrote about the National Library of Ireland's actions to remove access restrictions to its microfilm copies of Catholic parish registers. These restrictions had applied only to records from three dioceses - Cashel & Emly, Cloyne and Kerry - while those of all 23 other dioceses had been on unrestricted access for several years. You can read my earlier article at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/05/church-records.html.
Genealogists cheered when the restrictions were removed.
The reopening of Cashel & Emly records is of major importance to those trying to trace their ancestry in an area covering almost half of Co. Tipperary as well as a large part of East Limerick. However, two Catholic bishops are angry that the National Library is giving unrestricted access to historical parish registers and are contemplating what action they should take.
Paul Gorry, president of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland, has written an excellent explanation of both sides of this issue. You can read his article in the Irish Times at http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2008/0828/1219873097684.html.
