| Genealogy is basically the study of your family's | | | | connection, in fact, did you know that all of John |
| descent and history. With the popularity of the | | | | F. Kennedy's eight great grandparents were born |
| internet, genealogy has now become a major | | | | in Ireland! |
| pastime for people the world over. It's about | | | | If you have the urge to find out about your |
| satisfying curiosity but it's also a way to preserve | | | | ancestors, then there's plenty you can do to |
| family cultures and traditions, to educate kids | | | | piece together the jigsaw. It may take |
| about their family tree, or maybe to compile a | | | | considerable time, but most people find |
| medical history. | | | | researching their family history very interesting, |
| As a small nation, Ireland has laid down roots all | | | | enjoyable and rewarding. |
| over the world, which can be attributed to a long | | | | If you would like to do a little bit of your own |
| and eventful history that reaches back as far as | | | | family research and trace your Irish roots, then |
| the 7th century, when Irish monks set out to | | | | the most important thing to remember is that |
| spread Christianity to Europe. But the biggest | | | | you begin your research on your own immediate |
| mass exodus of immigrants from Ireland | | | | family tree in your home country and then work |
| happened in the 19th century when the country | | | | backwards i.e do not start by tracing your roots |
| was gripped by the Great Famine. The famine | | | | in Ireland first. |
| was brought about by a potato blight (crop | | | | Once you have connected your family to Ireland |
| failure), which destroyed this main source of food | | | | (with the basic information) you can continue your |
| at the time. | | | | research in a number of ways. The main sources |
| During this dreadful period, 1 million Irish people | | | | for Irish family history are : |
| died and 2 million emigrated to countries such as | | | | · General Registers Office (records of |
| England, Scotland, Canada and Australia. But by | | | | births, marriages and deaths from 1864) |
| far, the biggest exodus was to America, where | | | | · Church registers |
| many immigrants hoped for a better life - that | | | | · Census |
| was, if they did not die on the coffin ships while | | | | · Griffiths Valuation (a record of property |
| on voyage. | | | | owners in Ireland from 1848- 1864 -found in |
| This massive emigration from Ireland in the 19th | | | | major libraries and records offices) |
| century helps to explain why today, according to | | | | You can also seek professional help and |
| the US Census of 2003, 12% of the American | | | | assistance from a number of Irish Genealogy |
| population (about 34 million people!) claim to have | | | | sites who will help trace your ancestors for you. |
| Irish ancestors! It's even said that a third of | | | | How about taking a trip to Ireland to retrace the |
| American presidents have had some Irish | | | | steps of your forefathers, see where they lived. |