In the summer of 1922, Robert Shannon, a Marine chaplain and a young American hero of the Great War, lands in Ireland. He still suffers from shell shock, and his mentor hopes that a journey Robert had always wanted to make—to find his family roots along the banks of the River Shannon—will restore his equilibrium and his vocation. But there is more to the story: On his return from the war, Robert had witnessed startling corruption in the Archdiocese of Boston. He has been sent to Ireland to secure his silence—permanently. As Robert faces the dangers of a strife-torn Ireland roiling in civil war, the nation’s myths and people, its beliefs and traditions, unfurl healingly before him. And the River Shannon gives comfort to the young man who is inspired by the words of his mentor: “Find your soul and you’ll live.”
All are welcome to come share their ideas, show genealogy treasures or tell us about a brick wall that they have encountered. We all have a lot of experience to share with each other!
Let the wonderful songs of Ireland take you across the Atlantic, through the voice of Irish singer and songwriter Enda Reilly. Enjoy some well known Irish songs, the sound of the Irish language, learn about Irish culture, hear the bodhrán (Irish drum) and Celtic guitar.
Following the introduction of the Poor Law in Ireland in 1838, workhouses were built throughout Ireland and then in 1845, the Great Famine struck.
We will look at the brutal regime in the workhouses and why going into them was a last resort.
Eventually outdoor relief, building works and emigration schemes were introduced to reduce the burden on the overcrowded workhouses. Of course, the workhouses had to be staffed by masters, nurses, porters, cooks, etc. and they were managed by Boards of Guardians.
The Irish Workhouse was a hated and feared institution and following the partition of Ireland in1921 the newly formed Free State closed them down although they remained in existence in Northern Ireland until the 1940’s.
The webinar will cover the range of records that were produced by the workhouses - they include inmates and staff.
We will also cover the Poverty Relief Loans that were in existence in the 19th century. They name both the lender and the guarantor and often provide additional information about the fate of the lender.
Speaker bio
Natalie is a full-time professional genealogist, educator and author who undertakes ancestral research throughout the UK and Ireland, specializing in Irish and Scots-Irish genealogy research.
She has a Post Graduate Certificate in Genealogical Studies from the University of Strathclyde having built upon many years of family history research experience and is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG).
She is a frequent speaker on the local, national and international circuits on Irish genealogy topics and delivers regular genealogy courses with a focus on Irish records.
A native of County Antrim, her company Roots Revealed is based in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Her first book Tracing Your Family History Using Irish Newspapers and Other Printed Material was published by Pen and Sword in Feb 2024.
More information about Natalie and Roots Revealed may be found at www.rootsrevealed.co.uk
John Grenham's website, Irish Ancestors, is a comprehensive resource for individuals researching their Irish genealogy. As a leading Irish genealogist and author of Tracing Your Irish Ancestors, Grenham has developed this platform to assist users in navigating the complexities of Irish ancestral records.
You can search by:
Surname
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Irish Ancestors stands as a vital tool for anyone delving into Irish genealogy, combining expert insights with practical resources to facilitate the discovery of Irish ancestral roots.