DIGGING DEEPER

LIFE IN LIMERICK

This month, Gill Shaw is turning her attention to trade directories, news reports... and random internet hits. Let’s see how she gets on...

With some earlier ancestors – especially pre-census and civil registration – you count yourself lucky to find their name and the odd baptism or burial. But when they’re tradespeople, there’s a decent chance you’ll unearth something more, like a directory listing or a mention in the local paper.

So that’s my plan of action for today – trade directories, news reports and random internet hits. Let’s see if my 3x great-grandfather Joseph Riboldi puts in an appearance anywhere…

Now, Limerick archives has four directory listings for a Joseph Riboldi in the city between 1812 and 1840. But they only give his name, address and the nature of the business – looking glass maker, then carver and gilder – and I’m not totally sure whether they all relate to Joseph from Italy, or if the later ones are his son, Joseph junior. They can’t tell us any more, so let’s move on to some random Googling.

Now I’m quite partial to a bit of this – sometimes it works, sometimes not, but ooh, various combinations of ‘Riboldi Ireland Limerick history’ and so on turn up a couple of tasty titbits.