Many of our readers are surprised (and disappointed) when they make the leap back to the Irish records – but then come across more than one family in an area of Ireland that might be their ancestral family. How do you choose between them? Have you had a similar experience? I received the following from…

Letter from Ireland Magazine (December, 2018)

Welcome to the Letter from Ireland Magazine for December, 2018. In this issue you will find features on: Christmas in Ireland, Irish Placenames, an Interview with John Grenham (Ireland’s foremost genealogist) and our favourite parts of 2018.

Irish Sayings, Two Paddys and One Yank

It’s been a very interesting week in this part of the world – the Easter 1916 Rising commemoration has been taking place right through the week, with some great events around the country. Although 100 years does seem like a long time, admittedly – more than a lifetime for most of us – it’s not…

The Yew Tree of Ireland

Do you have a favourite tree? Maybe the majestic oak, or graceful willow? In Ireland, the most ancient and revered is the mighty Yew tree, used to guard entrances to homes and cemeteries. In this letter we talk about how a tree came to name both the sons and townlands of Ireland.

The Hedge School Teachers of Ireland

Do you have any school teachers in your family tree? Perhaps they have fond memories of the hallowed halls in which they taught, the ordered classrooms, fully stocked with the supplies of a good education. In this letter, we will visit a humbler school setting, that was the only option for many Irish schoolteachers during lean times.