Research Me, I'm Irish: Five Tips for Tracing Irish Ancestry

In her article, "Research Me, I'm Irish: Five Tips for Tracing Irish Ancestry," Rita Marshall gives some sound and practical advice for researching your Irish ancestors. Chief among her advice is, "Don't go to Ireland. . . . At least not yet." Like any other research, it's very hard to jump in the middle of something until you have found sufficient leads indicating you are researching in the right place. Ireland is especially difficult given the lack of early records. My own family has a line going back to Northern Ireland in the early 1700s. While the chances of documenting this immigrant ancestor in Ireland at that time period looks quite bleak, the article does give some tips on ways to narrow the field.

New "Sources" on Irish Reserach

Here is some great insight to a source we might not all be perusing in our online travels.  Leland Meitzler, on his GenealogyBlog, highlights "The New 'Sources' Database for Irish Research." Described as "A new database of source materials for Irish research, entitled simply 'Sources,'has been  launched by the National Library of Ireland."

New resource for Irish research

A new data strategy to develop an online archive of Irish records has been launched, according to an article on QAS.ie, "Irish family history archive data strategy." An initiative of www.familyrelatives.com, the project will involve the uploading of Irish Wills 1536-1857 and the Irish Genealogical Guide as well as Land Records Ireland among other sources. The website's 10 million records will be online by the end of the year and quotes the Irish Genealogical Guide to emphasise the significance of the project:

"Wills being of paramount importance for the study of family and social history… the buildings of the Four Courts, Dublin, were destroyed on the 30th June, 1922… [Which] proved to be a serious set-back to genealogical research, as all the original wills deposited therein at the time were burned."

However, the records had not been lost forever as genealogists had duplicated the records, in a poignant data strategy that reinforces the importance of secure data management.

Irish Case Study: Putting the Pieces Together

In his third and final article on the quest for a grandmother's maiden name, "Irish Case Study: Putting the Pieces Together," Kevin Cassidy illustrates the challenge of pulling together pieces of information from disparate sources.

Irish Case Study: Irish Records

In the U.S., we lean heavily on the U.S. Federal Census for locating ancestors and establishing relationships. In researching Irish records, one finds most of nineteenth century Irish censuses do not exist today. In his article, "Irish Study: Irish Records," Kevin Cassidy continues his quest for maiden name of an Irish grandmother, and along the way explores three important census substitutes.

Irish Research: A Case Study

Journey through one researcher's quest for his Irish grandmother's maiden name. In a series of three articles, Kevin Cassidy details his search and, along the way, suggests useful avenues of research and resources that may apply to other research problems. For example, using the New York City Police Census as an substitute for the lost 1890 U.S. Federal Census. The Police Census was taken in the fall of 1890 because New York was unhappy with the federal census count. Available through the Family History Library, only records for Manhattan and the Bronx survive from this second count. The first article in the series, Irish Case Study: U.S. Resources, may also be helpful in showing how deductions were made, perhaps allowing you to take a second look at your own research.

Irish roots in East Tennessee

If you are looking for your Irish ancestry, maybe you haven't thought to check East Tennessee. But an article at Tricities.com, "Ireland Minister Hopes To Build Tourism Link With East Tennessee," reports North Ireland hopes to take advantage of a growing interest in genealogy to promote a cultural and tourism exchange between that region and East Tennessee. Many of the whites who settled in East Tennessee in the 18th century where Scots-Irish who left Ulster for the Appalachian frontier. Northern Ireland Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Edwin Poots, was in Tennessee last week and says he sees a "significant opportunity" for tourism and exchanges between the two regions.

Jews from Ireland added to FHL collection

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, FamilySearch has added over 1,000 names of Jews from Ireland to its growing Knowles Collection genealogy database, according to a press release Friday. The Knowles Collection contains information for over 15,000 of Jews from the British Isles. Building on the work of the late Isobel Mordy, the collection links individuals into family groups with more names added continuously. The collection is freely available as a file that can be viewed and edited through most genealogy software programs. Genealogy software is also available as a free download. Those wishing to donate information to the Knowles Collection may contact Todd Knowles at knowleswt@familysearch.org. The Knowles Collection and other helpful resources are available for free online on the Jewish Family History Resources page at FamilySearch.org.

FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization that maintains the world's largest repository of genealogical resources. Patrons may access resources online at FamilySearch.org or through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and over 4,500 family history centers in 70 countries. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. and is registered in the United States of America and other countries.

Family History Library offers classes on Irish research

If you happen to be in the Salt Lake Area later this month, the LDS Family History Library, just west of Temple Square, will offer an all-day series of classes on Irish research from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 29. To view the complete schedule and a series poster online, go to www.familysearch.org. To register for these free classes, send an e-mail to FHLClassReg@ldschurch.org or call 801-240-4950.

Go Green and Discover your Irish side

St. Patrick's Day celebrated down under. According to an article this week on etravelblackboard.com, Aussies and Kiwis are being urged to uncover their “Irish side” by going green this month when Tourism Ireland unveils its latest marketing initiative today. The “Go Green” campaign is set to put straight Aussies and Kiwis about their Irish Genealogy, which one in three claims to have. Tourism Ireland CEO Paul O’Toole visiting Australia this week said the promotion was to tie in with St Patrick’s Day celebrations across the nation.

Tips and hints for identifying Irish place of origin

While knowing the country of origin for an ancestor is certainly better than not knowing, narrowing down the locality is even better. In his article, "Identifying Irish Place of Origin," Kevin Cassidy provides tips and hints for narrowing down the place of origin for Irish ancestors, which can be challenging if not downright frustrating at times. A great many resources -- a number of them online -- are available. As with any research, the author suggests, persistence is key.

Who Are the Scotch-Irish?

While we've all heard the term "Scotch-Irish" or "Scots-Irish," we may not know exactly what it means or to whom it refers. In her article, "Who are the Scotch-Irish," Melissa Slate revisits the history of the Northern Ireland and explains events prompting immigrations to the U. S. in the early 1700s.

Index to Irish Marriages, 1771-1812 online

The Index to Irish Marriages, 1771-1812, has been added to the Ancestry.com database. According to Ancestry, this database was originally published in London in 1897 and contains the names and marriage dates of Irish and English marriages. The information in this database was abridged from the pages of “Walker’s Hibernian Magazine,” from its first issue in 1771 until its discontinuance in July, 1812.

Resource for Irish Genealogy

Before we leave the month of March behind, this article from the Cincinnati Post, "Directory of Irish Genealogy," suggests those who are researching their Irish ancestry or seeking to learn more about the island nation's culture and history might find the Centre for Irish Genealogical and Historical Studies' web site to be a useful resource. According to the article, this free online site is a non-commercial entity based in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. Sean J. Murphy, the director of the site, is also the editor of the "Directory of Irish Genealogy." Though Ireland has typically been somewhat behind on digitization efforts, researchers may access 1901 census record images for Counties Clare, Leitrim and Roscommon. While these records are often too late to be of assistance to genealogists whose ancestors emigrated before the late 19th century, they often contain valuable details on family members who remained in Ireland.

Vital records in Northern Ireland

Speaking of things Irish, the Omagh branch of the Northern Ireland Family History Society has announced the release of, "Hatches, Matches and Dispatches,"recording the notices of births, marriages, and deaths of people in Omagh and surrounding districts in the 19th century. The record includes some 2,000 notices, with births from 1827-1873; marriages 1815-1873 and deaths from 1820-1873, plus . . . a number of notices from the late 16th century.

Irish Roots event to be held in London

History notwithstanding, a special Irish genealogy day is being arranged for March 10 in London with expert advice on tracing your Irish family history. The day features talks by experts from the National Records Office in Kew, Britain's Family Records Centre as well as a host of others. To find out more about the event, see http://gentod.com/calendar.mv?id=1490. Organizers are advising people to book as early as possible.