I originally started to do mine by myself about 10 years ago when I could still get some information from my grandmother while she was alive. While doing research at various cemetaries in New England I was surprised to find the number of babies and infants who had died and the current family never knew about them. It was sad but enlightening. These were mostly first generation Irish in the states who seemed to have 10 or 11 kids but only 7 would survive to adulthood. Then there was the shock that my saintly grandmother was born less than 8 months after her parents got married but that's a whole other can of worms.

I've still only found reliable info back to the 1750's but I haven't even tried to contact any authority in Ireland yet. It's about time to start up again.