I'm having huge problems finding information about my grandfather Martin/Michael O'Reilly, born in Ireland about 1908. I have the exact birth date for his sister Mary Agnes from her death certificate in England, but when I tried to get her birth certificate so I could find out the name of her mother (I already know Mary and Martin's father was called Michael O'Reilly from both their marriage certificates in England) I was told I needed to know which county of Ireland they were born in. I'm in a bit of a catch 22 situation here! I think there may have been another brother/sister called P.J. O'Reilly - they were a witness at Mary's wedding. I don't even know my grandfather's correct first name - all I have is his marriage and death certificate and my mother's birth certificate and he used Michael O'Reilly and Martin O'Reilly. My grandparents divorced when my mother was very young and contact was lost with her father - she was actually raised by her mother's parents.

Does anyone know how I can get round needing to know the county of birth in Ireland in order to find any information about my Irish roots. I can't let myself believe the trail ends here when I even have my grandfather's sister's exact name and date of birth.