Revisiting Your Family’s Past

May 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Genealogy of Charles V. 

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Many people know less about their heritage and the culture that comes with it than they could. In fact, every heritage has a fascinating amount of cultural mores than one might think about on a regular basis. Just taking a little time to discover that heritage could lead to a lot of interesting ideas, reading, and even adventures.

Having a genealogy done can be very helpful in gathering information on your family’s history. There are many places on the Internet that can teach you more about making your own genealogy, or you can have a professional company find the information for you. This can save you a lot of time and effort, but many people also wish to save the money or simply like to find the information on their own.

If the option is available, you should also ask older relatives what they know about your heritage. Many parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even distant relatives would be eager to talk with you about how your family came to be who they are. In some cases, your relatives might even have “trophies” from older relatives, such as a diary from a distant relative that left Ireland during the potato famine, or a Knight’s Templar ring from an ancestor from long ago.

Learning about your family and your genealogy can be a great way to learn about the culture your family has behind them. You might even decide to bring some of that culture into your life to show a connection between you and your ancestors.

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New Certificate Grants Irish-Americans Greater Claim to Their Roots

January 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The Irish government’s Department of Foreign Affairs is getting ready to launch a new document in early 2011 that will help Irish-Americans reclaim their Irish heritage. The new document is called the “Certificate of Irish Heritage.” Irish-Americans who can prove their ancestry reaches back further than their grandparents are eligible to receive the new document. While these people are not eligible for Irish citizenship, this document will prove their Irish ancestry. Benefits of the Certificate of Irish Heritage will probably include discount travel programs to Ireland. Michael Martin, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the document will allow Irish-Americans to assert their “Irishness and their heritage.” More than 70 million people around the world can claim Irish ancestry.

Martin also insists that the program will be of no cost whatsoever to Irish taxpayers. The certificate will not cost money for applying Americans, either. He reported that the certificate is not intended to bring money into the Irish government, saying it’s “not a revenue generating mechanism at all.” Instead, Martin argues, it’s a self-financing endeavor. The Irish government’s Department of Foreign Affairs is drafting a contract with Fexco, a company in Kerry that will carry out the program for the government.

The concept for this program arose when Irish Ambassador to the United States, Michael Collins, did a review of relations between the United States and Ireland. This program will not fixate solely on the United States, however. Rather, the Certificate of Irish Heritage will eventually be for everyone around the world. While none of the estimated eighty million people in the world with Irish family ties can apply for Irish citizenship, they can still receive the Certificate of Irish Heritage. Estimated figures for people planning on applying for the certificate and expected benefits besides discounted travel are unknown at this time.

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How to Research Your Irish Roots

September 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Mexican Ambassador To The United States, Artur...
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Your last name is definitely Irish, and you want to research your family back in the Old Country. What are your origins? And what should you do first to get started?

If you know from where and when your ancestors came over, that is a great place to start. If not, check death records of the ancestor who came to the United States. Try church records and cemetery records, wills and don’t forget to check obituaries.

You may glean important information from these sources, including any property the immigrant owned, birthplace, parents, even relatives.

Another great source of information is the U.S. Census, which always asked for a person’s birthplace, and parent’s birthplace as well. Voter registrations are another good avenue to explore. You can find a name, address, birthday and birthplace, among other helpful items.

You could even try to find out where your ancestor worked and check the employer’s records if possible. Often overlooked sources are passport records and organizations that help immigrants. Manifestos from ships can be helpful, as can newspapers from the harbor where your ancestor landed. Newspapers often list incoming and outgoing vessels and feature lists of passengers and their families.

The Irish emigrated to the United States in the last half of the 17th century because various exports to England were prohibited, including cattle. The English government also prohibited exporting woolen items, which killed Ireland’s wool industry and caused a mass emigration to the United States.

More people are aware of the influx of the Irish caused by the potato famine in the country. The famine occurred in 1845, and the Irish emigrated to the United States as food became more and more scarce, and landlords kicked tenants off the farms.

So pick up those old photo albums and read any old materials you have. Then get to work on your family tree! It will help you discover who you are.

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The Internet: Great Way to Shop With Gap Coupon Codes and to Trace Family Genealogy!

August 10, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Ahnenblatt Family Tree Example
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Have you ever sat at the kitchen table with your extended family and listened to them talk? You hear stories about your grandfather coming home from the war; the days when your great uncle was a young boy in Ireland; or how your great grandparents met in one of those great love stories you can tell people for years. You hear stories about how your ancestors were migrant farmers or heads of the state in your native country, and you wonder to yourself, “How far back does my ancestry go?”

In today’s cyber world there is serious genealogy work that can be done online. No longer is the Internet just for Gap coupon codes. As a matter of fact, the Internet is now the place where you can find your family history without ever leaving the comfort of your own home.

If you are willing to pay the money for a service, then you can retrieve your family history in no time. By heading over to the right site and spending some time giving them all the information you know, like your last name, date of birth, grandparent’s name, mother’s maiden name, area you were born in, and all the other stuff they ask for, you can trace back your family tree and find out exactly who you are and where you come from. It’s a neat concept in today’s world where there seems to be an ever dwindling importance on where you came from.

If you are unwilling to get yourself a service to trace your genealogy, then you can do a lot of the research yourself. With so many records online, it’s a great time to rediscover and trace the stories of your past. You can even add your own stories for future generations to discover.

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