Hi,
Thank you very much for your message. I hope that someone with information makes a connection with you and helps you to further your research.
It may be difficult to find more information without knowing exactly where the family were based. Most Irish record sources- church records, land records, census records- are based on specific locations. Until you know a specific location within Ireland, preferably a parish or placename, it may be difficult to do anything more with these records.
There are some places where you can search online, however these websites do not have complete collections.
www.familysearch.org has a huge database of genealogical records including some church records for Ireland.
www.rootsireland.ie have a large collection of Irish Church records, however you have to pay to use this site.
As you have Carrick on Suir as a possible place of origin for Richard, it may be an idea to look into church records there to see if you can find any more information. Most Catholic records are held locally so you may need to write to the local parish priest for possible assistance. One website that you may find useful is the Irish Times where they give an overview of what records are available in specific parishes. It also shows you where copies of the records are available. For Carrick on Suir parish, follow this link:
http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/rcparishmaps/index.cfm?fuseaction=showidrecords&CityCounty=Tipperary%20South&parish=Carrick-on-Suir&churchid=1101
I did a quick search for Handrahan (which is not as common as its variation Hanrahan) in the land records pertaining to Ireland in the 19th century:
Here are the Handrahans recorded in the Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38), note one record in Co. Clare:
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?surname=handrahan&firstname=&county=&parish=&townland=&search=Search
In the later Griffith?s Valuation (1848-64), here are the Handrahans that were recorded:
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=doNameSearch&Submit.x=1&Submit.y=11&Submit=Submit&familyname=handrahan&firstname=&baronyname=&countyname=&unionname=&parishname=
Here are some other websites that you may find useful:
The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/
The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx
The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/
The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm
Irish Genealogy Tool kit: http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/
Genealogy links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/index.html
From Ireland: www.from-ireland.net
Clare Library: http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/genealog.htm
IGP: www.igp-web.com/tipperary/index.htm
Remember to post any new information that you find here. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.
Kind regards,
Genealogy Support
