Hi Tony,
If he was born in Rathdrum the chances are he was baptised in Parish of St Mary & Michael, Rathdrum Co Wicklow. You could try for a baptismal certificate.
Don’t give up hope just yet. At present I have only bad news for you. I undertook research some years ago for a friend, whose mother had been born in Rathdrum, and found it very difficult. With the help of the then Archivist in Wicklow County Council, I had access to these books (1928-1940) with some success. Unfortunately the County Wicklow Board of Health Minute Books, are in the Wicklow County Council Archives, in Wicklow Town, but they have not had an Archivist for nearly two years now, so the books cannot now be inspected. They give ‘Admitted to’ and ‘Discharged from’ Rathdrum, of Mother, and baby. Being adopted this child kept her mother’s surname.
Also in these Archives are, Reports of Sup. Assistance Officer. I know they give details of adoptions or ‘fostering out’ of children, sometimes referred to as a ‘nurse child’. They give details of schooling in the early years. I came across a case where the child had been absent from school and a visit to the adopted parents was called for. A Doctor’s certificate proved the child had measles and that was why she had not been to school.
If I can get any more details I will post them on to you.
Julia