This book is written by Noreen Higgins-McHugh, a local historian and Tipperary native. It sets out the records available for family history research, where they can be accessed, and how they can be used to best effect. Tipperary is one of the larger Irish counties, and has historically been prosperous in both agriculture and also some industry in the larger towns. Nevertheless, it suffered significantly from the Great Famine and resulting economic depression. The population dropped from 435,000 in 1841 to 173,000 by 1981. The major Gaelic families include (O') Fogarty, O'Brien, Kennedy, Ryan, Moloney, Meagher/Maher, Hayes, Hourigan, and Gleeson, while common Norman names include Prendergast, Burke, Purcell, Fitzgerald, Everard and Grace.