From 1845 (about the time of the Potato Famine) to 1864 there was official registration only of non-Catholic marriages in Ireland - apparently this was because the Catholic clergy did not want registration because there were still in existence laws which prevented them marrying couples of which one member was non-Catholic. Since1864 there has been official registration of all Irish births, marriages and deaths.For further info see http://media5.fastclick.net/w/safepop.cgi?mid=2398 9&sid=5573&id=106273&len=552&c=53&nfcp=1