| It seems as if everyone today has become | | | | word of caution would be to realize that |
| interested in researching his or her ancestry. | | | | sometimes the date of arrival in this country was |
| Perhaps uncertain times at present drive folks to | | | | used instead of original birth date. And always |
| some security in knowing their roots. For those of | | | | remember that no date is guaranteed until it is |
| you with Irish Ancestry, looking backwards can | | | | verified. Best recollections can be sincere, but |
| become a fascinating adventure, but before you | | | | sincerely wrong. Once you gather as much |
| book a flight to Ireland, there is much you can do | | | | information on your Irish Ancestry as you can |
| here to trace Irish ancestors. The very first place | | | | from family sources, start organizing the material |
| to start is with yourself. What do you already | | | | onto separate family group sheets. There are also |
| know about your immediate family, your parents, | | | | software programs available for this purpose. |
| and grandparents? | | | | The key to understanding Irish ancestry records |
| It seems it has always been customary to record | | | | is to realize that you must make your way back |
| births, deaths, and marriages in family Bibles, | | | | to the townland from which your family came. If |
| which would be treasured and passed down to | | | | you do not know the exact parish or this |
| succeeding generations. This way a family could | | | | townland, you will need to try other approaches |
| preserve its own personal record of significant | | | | to get there. Can you find out when your |
| dates and events. Important newspaper clippings | | | | relatives emigrated from Ireland? What religion |
| were also often protected within the pages. If | | | | were they? Did any of your ancestors stay |
| you can find any of these older Bibles stored in a | | | | behind in Ireland and what was their social status? |
| relative's trunk or on a dusty bookshelf, you may | | | | Another starting place in tracing your Irish |
| uncover a great amount of information that will | | | | Ancestry would be to look at where they settled |
| be critical to setting up an accurate family tree of | | | | here in America. Usually The Irish migrated in |
| Irish Ancestry. You might also share your interest | | | | groups and tended to stay together once they |
| with other family members in the hope that they | | | | arrived here. Spread your net of inquiry to these |
| could recall a diary or clipping that would be | | | | larger groups and you may be surprised at the |
| beneficial as you continue your Irish ancestry | | | | treasures of memories and documents that come |
| search. | | | | forth. This will complete the first step of your |
| Other sources might include visits to local | | | | journey. |
| cemeteries to check tombstone inscriptions. A | | | | |