Griffith's Valuation is the only census-substitute available for mid-19th century Ireland. You can research it to your heart's content - for free - at www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/. In his last two weekly blog postings, John Grenham has reported on enhancements being made to the site. First, various revisions of Valuation Office maps are being layered onto each other. (Grenham's article, "Floundering with valuation maps," reassures us that the work is not done.)  And today Grenham writes about John Donovan's topographical letters with their "superb summaries of local place-name lore...a magnificent treasure trove." If you haven't visited askaboutireland.ie for a while, it's time to check in. You will also want to read the complete text of Grenham's November 30th and December 7th postings: www.irishtimes.com/blogs/irishroots/. For now, research is a bit frustrating. Blank spots occasionally occur in the map layers, and I find myself wishing I could simply read page after page of Donovan's narrative without having to query by place name. Nonetheless, terrific improvements are in progress!