In comparison with most other Irish counties, Mayo has fewer records of value to family historians. This makes it important to use the existing records to their best advantage. The main Mayo families include Walsh, Gallagher, Kelly, O'Malley, Moran, MacHale, Gibbons, Joyce, Connor, Conway, Higgins, Murphy, Burke, Bourke, Reilly or Riley, Durkan or Durkin, Doherty, McHugh, MacHugh, Sweeney, Sweeny and Lyons. This book sets out the records available, where they can be accessed, and how they can be used to best effect in tracing Mayo families.