Everything You Need to Know About the Claddagh Ring
12 May 2022The Irish culture touches everything from our way of life right down to the jewellery we wear. But no piece encapsulates Irish tradition more than the Claddagh ring. This distinctive Irish ring has centuries of history, and men and women all over the world wear it today as a symbol...
Irish Names & Surnames
08 April 2022Origins of the Most Common Irish Surnames and First Names Irish names and surnames are steeped in our country’s rich tradition and centuries of history. In fact, many of today’s common Irish names have origins in Gaelic, Celtic, or Norse languages. More than a sense of pride, our names give...
The Difference Between Irish Shamrocks and Four-Leaf Clovers
08 April 2022Even if you’ve never stepped foot on the Emerald Isle, you probably know the shamrock as a famous symbol of Ireland. For centuries, this herbaceous plant has been woven through stories about Saint Patrick, leprechauns, and other Irish tales. However, you may not know the differences between shamrocks and four-leaf...
A Brief History of Dublin’s Mysterious Molly Malone
08 April 2022Many have heard the name Molly Malone or seen her bronze statue on Grafton Street in Dublin. She represents an old, mysterious story set in Dublin, Ireland, that has firmly cemented itself within the Irish culture. The legend goes that Molly was a beautiful young girl who worked as a...
Map of Northern Ireland
08 April 2022Northern Ireland (NI) is a relatively small place, but it’s packed with history, culture, and impressive attractions. If you’re planning to travel to NI, or curious about the country and its geography, it’s worth taking a deeper look at the map of Northern Ireland and its sites. This article will...
Family Tree Explained – Family Relationship Chart
07 March 2022Uncovering relationships with different ancestors is an exciting process for family history researchers. But, when you take a look at the big picture of your family tree, you may be unsure how some of the connections work. For example, which common ancestor do you and your fourth cousin share? How...
A Guide To Church Records in Ireland
07 March 2022Church records are among the best resources to explore for Irish family history research. They can help Irish families fill in gaps in their lineage, with marriage, burial, and baptism records that date back further than other documents. Before the civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths began in 1864,...
A Guide To Understanding Irish Placenames and Townlands
07 March 2022In researching your Irish family history, you’ve likely come across a few interesting placenames for Irish townlands. These are essential for identifying locations in Ireland, a necessary yet sometimes challenging part of tracing your Irish roots. Placenames and townlands are unique to Ireland and Northern Ireland, so learning about them...
Access Irish Catholic Parish Records Online For Free
07 March 2022Imagine finding one record that took your family tree all the way back to the 1600s. For many families, this can happen with the help of Irish parish records. Long before Ireland mandated the civil registration of births, deaths, and marriages, parishes recorded these and other important events in their...
How To Search For Irish Birth, Death & Marriage Records
07 March 2022You’ve traced your ancestry through the generations, and now you’re excited to learn about your Irish heritage. This process is full of fascinating discoveries, but many families encounter roadblocks during the research process. If you’re unsure how to proceed, finding a new source for Irish birth, death, and marriage records...
Irish Lives Remembered Issue 55 (Winter 2021)
22 December 2021Issue 55 of Irish Lives Remembered (Winter 2021) is now available. This issue offers a wealth of articles on Irish lives, recent and distant, and a trove of genealogy tips to help you with your research. Articles: Fiona Fitzsimons – Jennifer Lawrence is a Galway Girl! Patrick Roycroft – A Blue Plaque for...
A Special Thanks from Fiona Fitzsimons
22 December 2020I’d like to thank everyone that wrote, and emailed, this last week their thanks for the Genealogy Q&A sessions on Facebook Live. I really appreciated that you all took the time to write, and to acknowledge what we’ve done this year. The Q&A started out in March, because we all suddenly had...
