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Finding Irish Origins 2022

Thank you for registering for the online conference, Finding Irish Origins: A County is Not Enough!

When it comes to Irish research, knowing the county your ancestor came from is not enough! To succeed in Irish research and work in Irish records, you need to know the townland and parish. Discovering that information, however, is at times the biggest challenge in Irish family history research. Join Irish experts at American Ancestors for an online seminar that will help you navigate the basics of Irish migrations to America and Canada, lead you to key records, provide strategies for finding origins when records fall short, and demonstrate how DNA can help. Finally, we’ll talk about next steps in making the leap across the pond.

Through your participation in this online conference, you will be able to:

  • Access 5+ hours of pre-recorded presentations 
  • Hear from renowned speakers, authors, and professional genealogists
  • Interact with the instructors and fellow attendees 
  • Take advantage of special offers and virtual “door prizes” 
  • Download and/or print handouts, worksheets, and other resources
  • Access recordings and materials for the foreseeable future
     

SESSION TOPICS

Class 1: Irish Migrations to America and Canada: From the 18th to the 20th Centuries, Presented by Ann G. Lawthers  

Class 2: Before You Leap: Searching American and Canadian Records for Irish Origins, Presented by Eileen Pironti

Class 3: Strategies for Determining Origins, Presented by Melanie McComb  

Class 4: Using DNA to Determine Irish Origins, Presented by Melanie McComb

Class 5: Making the Leap: Organizing Your Irish Record Research, Presented by Judy Lucey

Q&A with Instructors
Originally Broadcast: Saturday, March 19
 

COURSE HANDOUTS

Class 1 Handout

Class 1 Slides Worksheet

Class 1 Slides (large)

Class 2 Handout

Class 2 Slides Worksheet

Class 2 Slides (large)

Class 3 Handout

Class 3 Slides Worksheet

Class 3 Slides (large)

Class 4 Handout

Class 4 Slides Worksheet

Class 4 Slides (large)

Class 5 Handout

Class 5 Slides Worksheet

Class 5 Slides (large)

Additional Resources
 

SUGGESTED RESOURCES

Archived Webinar: Understanding Irish Land Divisions

Subject Guide: Irish Genealogy

Reference: Genealogist's Handbook for Irish Research

 

RECORDED PRESENTATIONS

Class 1: Irish Migrations to America and Canada: From the 18th to the 20th Centuries

Presented by: Ann G. Lawthers

Running Time: 48:25

 

Class 2: Before You Leap: Searching American and Canadian Records for Irish Origins

Presented by: Eileen Pironti

Running Time: 1:22:55

 

Class 3: Strategies for Determining Origins

Presented by: Melanie McComb

Running Time: 49:17

 

Class 4: Using DNA to Determine Irish Origins

Presented by: Melanie McComb

Running Time: 43:33
 

 

Class 5: Making the Leap: Organizing Your Irish Record Research

Presented by: Judy Lucey

Running Time: 55:56

 

Live Q&A

 

 

Presented by: Ann Lawthers, Judy Lucey, Melanie McComb, and Eileen Pironti

Running Time: 1:36:27

 

INSTRUCTOR BIOS

Ann G. Lawthers, Sc.D., Genealogist lectures regularly on behalf of American Ancestors at conferences, workshops, and meetings. At American Ancestors she collaborates with other expert staff to develop multi-week online and in-person seminars and lectures. Ann focuses on New England and Mid-Atlantic research, and migration patterns. Secondary interests include the Southern Colonies and Atlantic Canada. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Harvard School of Public Health with degrees in Health Policy.

Judy Lucey, Senior Archivist oversees the management and preservation of the American Ancestors Special Collections. She received a B.S. in Education from Northeastern University and an M.S. in Library Science from Simmons College. She is co-author of the Genealogist's Handbook for Irish Research and frequently contributes to American Ancestors magazine. Areas of expertise: Irish genealogy, the Atlantic Canadian Provinces of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, and New England.

Melanie McComb, Genealogist assists library visitors, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She is an international lecturer who teaches on a variety of topics. Melanie holds a B.S. degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. She previously served as the social media coordinator for the NextGen Genealogy Network, a non-profit that creates a community for younger genealogists, where she managed the Facebook and Twitter accounts. She continues her interest in helping younger genealogists get involved at American Ancestors by assisting with educational programs from local schools, scout groups, and universities. Areas of expertise: Irish genealogy, DNA, Atlantic Canada, Jewish genealogy, and military records.

Eileen Pironti, Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press graduated with a B.A. from Saint Anselm College, and received an M.S. from American University. She wrote about her ancestors’ participation in the colonization of Nobles County, Minnesota in “‘An Invitation to the Land’: Reconstructing James and Eliza Conlon’s Migration to Minnesota,” which was published in the Summer 2011 issue of American Ancestors magazine. She lectures frequently about Irish research in particular and co-led research tours to Dublin and Belfast for American Ancestors. Eileen's areas of expertise include Irish, Scottish, and 19th century New England research.