A few months ago I stumbled across something very interesting on this website. In fact I was so intrigued by it, I made it the focus of my regular column in Family Tree Magazine in the June issue, which has not yet reached the bookshelves.

The collections page, which can be found HERE is interesting with the various elements, but what caught my eye was about half way down the page – Irish Soldiers’ Records.

The search feature of this record set enables you to search the more than 11,000 soldiers who served in The Connaught Rangers, the Leinster Regiment, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Regiment and the Royal Munster Fusiliers. These regiments of course were disbanded in 1922 when the Independent Irish Free State was established.  Searching for a surname like Butcher produces 94 results, all of whom record that as an occupation. This is a fascinating data set and well worth checking out.