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

An Irish Graveyard That Faces The Sea

Along Ireland’s west coast, small graveyards perch above beaches and headlands. Discover why so many Irish graveyards face the sea.

The Irish Man Who Named the United States

Meet the Irish man United States history forgot. Born in Cork, he was the first to write the nation’s name. Where were your ancestors in 1776?

The Weather Warning That Still Haunts Ireland

A simple weather alert can reveal a much deeper history. Learn how the potato blight shaped Ireland, family stories, and the Great Famine.

Who was the Hannie May in your family?

Who was the keeper of your family’s history? An Irish storyteller could be the key to uncover the memories, surnames, and townlands of your ancestors.

Why Was Your Irish Great-Grandmother Much Younger Than Her Husband?

Have you ever noticed a significant age gap between your married Irish ancestors? For many, Irish marriage wasn’t about romance, but an economic arrangement.

Irish Genealogy & Family History Podcasts

Join Us on a St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Story and Song (#811)

Join us on a Saint Patrick’s Day Parade of Story and Song. In this episode we share two stories – one all about the places in Ireland where Saint Patrick is said to have walked and the next looks at the Shamrock and the gorse, two plants associated with this time of year in Ireland.…

Join Us on This Trip from Cobh to Ellis Island (#810)

In this special episode of the Letter from Ireland show we start our journey in Cobh (Queenstown) in County Cork. We chat with the manager of the Cobh Heritage Centre who has his own immigration stories to tell. We then take the route across the Atlantic that our ancestors would have followed (just slightly upgraded!)…

Look Through This Window into a Celtic World (#809)

In this week’s episode we go back in time. First we go back to a time when the first Celtic peoples arrived in Ireland – we then go back even further to look at the period when the Celts appeared on the continent of Europe for the first time. Much of this “history” is relayed…

Do You Have These Saintly Names in Your Irish Family Tree? (#806)

In this week’s episode we look at the life times and legacy of three ancient Celtic saints – with lots of fine music in between. We start with a letter all about the Irish Saint Gobnait – but you may be surprised at how her name was anglicised into different versions that you may have…

The Irish Goddess and the Irish Saint (#805)

We look at the connections between the Irish name “Brigid/Bridget”, Saint Bridget of Kildare and the Irish Celtic Goddess Brigid. This is all very appropriate as we come up to the celtic festival of “Imbolc” – celebrating the start of a celtic spring as well as Saint Brigid’s day. We hope you enjoy! You can…