Irish Genealogy & Family History Resources

Are you interested in discovering more on your Irish family history? In this section, I have included letters (and podcasts) that include stories, explanations and approaches to help you investigate your own Irish family history. You may even receive a little inspiration to break down one or two family history brick walls!

 

Browse the features listed on this page and jump to one that interests you, or enter a placename, surname or other item in the search box below to see related letters and podcasts.

Irish Genealogy & Family History Letters

Genealogist jpg - Irish Genealogy - When to Hire a Genealogist

Irish Genealogy – When to Hire a Genealogist

So, I got in touch with Noreen Maher of Hibernia Roots and asked her some questions that we  frequently come across in our reader forum. The purpose of this interview was to: Look at Irish family history research from the perspective of an active Genealogist on the ground. Provide you with a means of deciding…

What do you love most jpg - The Irish Character – What Does it Mean to you to be Irish?

The Irish Character – What Does it Mean to you to be Irish?

Do you have Irish ancestors/an Irish surname in your family tree? What is the Irish character and what does it mean to you? Read on to find out various opinions on what it means to be Irish!

An example of old Irish names

6 Favourite Irish First Names

Do you have a favourite Irish name? Supposing you were looking for an Irish-related first name for your new baby (or wanted to gently hint about one for your grandchild)? What would it be? Seán? Kelly? Colleen? Conor? Patrick? Well, in Ireland we have experienced the highest birth rate of all the European countries over…

top100surnames jpg - 6 Favourite Online Irish Heritage Resources.

6 Favourite Online Irish Heritage Resources.

Here are just six of our favourite Irish Heritage resources, with an example of how we can use each one to help one of our readers.

Clonony Castle, County Offaly, Ireland

Did your Family Live in an Irish Castle?

Do you wonder if you have Irish Castles somewhere in your Irish Ancestry. I have put together a list of castle-owning names. Is your Irish surname here?

Irish Genealogy & Family History Podcasts

Irish Ancestral Homeland

Finding Your Irish Ancestral Homeland in Ireland (#838)

In this special Irish family history episode we take two letters from our Green Room members. We chat about the approach they should take to uncover more about their respective Irish ancestral homelands.

Irish genealogy trip- Cathy and Mike in County Cork

An Irish Genealogy Trip Back to County Cork (#837)

On our latest episode, join us on an Irish genealogy trip as we embark with Boston-native Cathy Abraham back to County Cork. Unraveling the romantic tale of her great-grandparents’ elopement to America, we uncover hidden truths and visit ancestral lands connected to the O’Callaghan and Richardson families. Prepare for some fascinating discoveries!

The Great Hunger - An old Irish ruin.

Living Conditions at the time of The Great Hunger (#836)

In this episode, we look at a very difficult time in Ireland – one that triggered a time of death across the population of the island as well as emigration for many generations afterwards.

Cup of tea stories - What Happens when an Irish Bard Reads Your Family History (#821)

What Happens when an Irish Bard Reads Your Family History (#821)

In this episode we look at two different styles of story-telling. First, Carina reads out “Which County did your Irish Ancestor Come from?”. In the second feature we ask an Irish Poet/Bard to look at the family history of one of our Green Room members and then to put the entire saga into verse.

blogcobh2 - 7 Irish Characters - 7 Tales of Emigration (#812)

7 Irish Characters – 7 Tales of Emigration (#812)

In a follow-up to our recent episode about traveling from Cobh to Ellis Island – we head back to the Cobh Heritage Centre in County Cork and hear 7 stories of emigration from this very spot to many places around the world. Many thanks to Jack Walsh and all the team at the Cobh Heritage…