Prior to my curiosity trip in 2019, I was lucky to arrange a meet up with family Historian Seamus Fox as recommended by the National Library. Having done some research on my grandfather’s birth, I provided this information to Seamus of Irish Family Search who responded with a amazing list of my ancestral tribe on the border of Limerick and Tipperary. He suggested a nostalgic tour of the area showing their life events, native pastimes of hurling, road bowling, skittles, marbles, hopscotch, stone throwing, hunting, faction fights.
On a planned excursion we traveled to the vicinity where my grandfather was born and stayed at a popular B&B, where we experienced awesome story telling. The morning after our arrival, Seamus brought us on a driving tour of various townlands, parishes , counties where families with my grandfather’s surname had or were living. We were able to visit the actual property where he had lived, but sadly it laid in ruins since famine days. We did however walk in the footsteps of our cousins. Although the weather was less than ideal, the wonderful people with whom we met made it a truly memorable day. As a novel gift Seamus provided me with a family tree wall chart and family crest of my ancestors. After our return home to Virginia, I identified several DNA matches who were descendants of the specific branch , that Seamus had forensically researched. Several families traced their origins to siblings of my own great grandfather and his cousins.
I would strongly recommend Irish Family Search to anyone who wished to learn more about their Gaelic roots, filing citizenship, reclaiming assets from relatives who died intestate. Seamus is an amazing repository and a fun character from whom we soaked so much lore and stories on that incredible tour.
On a planned excursion we traveled to the vicinity where my grandfather was born and stayed at a popular B&B, where we experienced awesome story telling. The morning after our arrival, Seamus brought us on a driving tour of various townlands, parishes , counties where families with my grandfather’s surname had or were living. We were able to visit the actual property where he had lived, but sadly it laid in ruins since famine days. We did however walk in the footsteps of our cousins. Although the weather was less than ideal, the wonderful people with whom we met made it a truly memorable day. As a novel gift Seamus provided me with a family tree wall chart and family crest of my ancestors. After our return home to Virginia, I identified several DNA matches who were descendants of the specific branch , that Seamus had forensically researched. Several families traced their origins to siblings of my own great grandfather and his cousins.
I would strongly recommend Irish Family Search to anyone who wished to learn more about their Gaelic roots, filing citizenship, reclaiming assets from relatives who died intestate. Seamus is an amazing repository and a fun character from whom we soaked so much lore and stories on that incredible tour.
Seeing is Believing.