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. This online seminar will cover both Ireland and Northern Ireland.
This course includes five 90-minute classes and exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation. These recordings and all course materials will be available for the foreseeable future.
CLASS TOPICS
Class 1: Irish Migrations to America and Canada: From the 18th to the 20th Centuries, Rhonda R. McClure
The Irish have been immigrating to America for more than 300 years. By understanding this history of movement and migration, you may be able to discern the motivations of your own ancestors. Learn about the many waves of immigration to the east coast and Atlantic provinces: where they came from, where they settled, and where they migrated to.
Class 2: Before You Leap: Searching American and Canadian Records for Irish Origins, Eileen Pironti
Before you can cross the pond and do research in Ireland, it’s imperative that you exhaust records created on this side of the Atlantic. Many times, these records provide the information you need to pinpoint a specific location of origin. Learn what resources exist, what information they provide, and how to access them.
Class 3: Strategies for Determining Origins, Melanie McComb
Sometimes records of your ancestor fall short and only reference “Ireland,” “Northern Ireland,” or the “Irish Free State”—or, if you’re somewhat luckier, a county in Ireland. You will need more to explore records in Ireland. Using case studies, this lecture introduces the cluster approach and FAN (family-associates-neighbors) club to broaden your search and uncover origins.
Class 4: Using DNA to Determine Irish Origins, Melanie McComb
DNA is another tool to help triangulate more specific Irish origins. This session will cover the basics of using DNA in Irish research, which testing companies to use, how to interpret ethnicity estimates, and finally how to understand and leverage your list of matches. We will end with a case study using DNA.
Class 5: Making the Leap: Organizing Your Irish Record Research, Eileen Pironti
You’ve learned where in Ireland your family is from, you’ve exhausted the resources online, and now you’re ready to travel to your ancestral homeland. Learn how to plan for your journey and research in Ireland—from visiting repositories to meeting with distant relatives—and making your visit the experience of a lifetime.
COURSE HANDOUTS
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
Class 1: Irish Migrations to America and Canada: From the 18th to the 20th Centuries
Live Broadcast: February 25, 2025
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure
Running Time: 01:42:41
Class 2: Before You Leap: Searching American and Canadian Records for Irish Origins
Live Broadcast: March 4, 2025
Presented by: Eileen Pironti
Running Time: 01:54:21
Class 3: Strategies for Determining Origins
Live Broadcast: March 11, 2025
Presented by: Melanie McComb
Running Time: 01:30:44
Class 4: Using DNA to Determine Irish Origins
Live Broadcast: March 18, 2025
Presented by: Melanie McComb
Running Time: 01:23:26
Class 5: Making the Leap: Organizing Your Irish Record Research
Live Broadcast: March 25, 2025
Presented by: Eileen Pironti
Running Time: 01:14:26
OTHER RESOURCES
Fan Club Spreadsheet Template (.xlsx)
Archived Webinar: Researching Famine Irish Ancestors in Ireland's Poor Law Unions
Archived Webinar: The Scots-Irish in American: Origins and Migrations
Archived Webinar: Anniversary of the Four Courts Fire in Dublin
Archived Webinar: Understanding Irish Land Divisions
Research Guide: Irish Genealogy
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer. Before joining American Ancestors in 2006, she ran her own genealogical business for 18 years. She was a contributing editor for Heritage Quest Magazine, Biography magazine, and was a contributor to The History Channel Magazine and American History Magazine. In addition to numerous articles, she is the author of twelve books including the award-winning The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Online Genealogy, Finding your Famous and Infamous Ancestors, and Digitizing Your Family History. She is the editor of the 6th edition of the Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research. Her areas of expertise include, immigration and naturalization, late 19th- and early 20th-century urban research, missionaries, State Department Federal records, New England, Mid-West, Southern, German, Italian, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and New Brunswick research as well as Internet research, genealogical software and online trees.
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.