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How to Prepare for Your Ancestral Visit to Ireland: What You Need to Know

Planning an ancestral visit to Ireland can be an exciting and transformative experience, especially for those tracing their roots. Ireland is a land steeped in rich history and cultural heritage, with about 70 million people worldwide claiming Irish ancestry. This journey offers not just a chance to explore beautiful landscapes but also the opportunity to connect with your family’s history. Here are essential tips to ensure you get the most out of your trip.

Understand Your Family History

Before you travel, spend some time researching your family history. Gather as much information as possible about your ancestors, including names, dates, and locations. This foundational knowledge will help you focus your Irish ancestry research and inform your itinerary. If you’re interested in specific regions, such as County Meath or County Galway, be sure to note these areas for your visit.

Choose the Right Time to Visit

Ireland’s weather can be unpredictable, so plan your heritage trip accordingly. The summer months (June to August) offer the best weather, but they are also the busiest for tourism. If you prefer a quieter experience, consider visiting in the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) or autumn (September to October). These times typically provide a good balance between pleasant weather and fewer crowds, making your genealogy trips to Ireland more enjoyable.

A colourful street in Dublin

Create a Detailed Itinerary

Once you know your family history and travel dates, create a detailed itinerary that includes significant places connected to your ancestry. Be sure to include:

Townlands

The smallest administrative division in Ireland, often representing the area where your ancestors lived.

Historical sites

Include locations that reflect your family’s heritage, such as the original Irish homestead or any notable landmarks in the area.

Local archives

Identify where you can conduct further genealogy research in Ireland, such as libraries or heritage centres. Consider scheduling a guided Irish genealogical tour to help uncover specific family stories. These tours can provide expert insights and access to the best genealogy sites in Ireland.

Connect with Local Experts

Local experts can significantly enhance your ancestral journey. At My Ireland Family Heritage, we specialize in Irish ancestry & genealogy tours and can help you connect with qualified genealogists.

Prepare for Cultural Experiences

While your trip may centre around tracing your roots, don’t forget to immerse yourself in the local culture. Attend traditional Irish music sessions, savour authentic cuisine, and engage with locals. These experiences not only enrich your visit but also provide a deeper understanding of your family’s heritage.

Plan for Documentation

Remember to document your findings during your visit. Keep a travel journal, take photographs, and collect brochures from places you visit. This documentation will be invaluable for future generations and can become a part of your family’s legacy.

Discover Your Roots: Plan Your Ancestral Visit to Ireland Today!

At My Ireland Family Heritage, we are here to guide you through every step of your journey. We offer personalized genealogy tours and family history tours that help you connect with your roots and explore your Irish heritage.

Whether you seek a one-day family heritage tour or an immersive genealogy tour, we can customize your experience to fit your needs. Don’t miss this chance to discover the stories that shaped your family. Contact us today to start planning your unforgettable journey back to your roots!

 

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Review of My Ireland Heritage Tours Presented on Trip adviser Oct 2024 By • Family TomBarron2013 New York City, NY2

Once in a lifetime experience

Oct 2024 • Family

We highly recommend My Ireland Heritage for anyone who wants to learn and be guided to their Irish “roots” and much, much more. Sean Quinn and Ian Darragh of My Ireland Family Heritage have deep knowledge or the areas we wanted to visit in Meath, Sligo and Kilkenny. While we knew about one side of the family history back to 1690, there was nothing known about the other that arrived in the US in the 1870s.

Ian, Sean, and Nicola did thorough research on our localities and locations from which our ancestors left for America in 1849 and later. In addition, Ian and Sean did separate day-long “recons” in advance of our time with them, seeking out local people and the specific properties with maps and whatever records still available. Their results were absolutely outstanding! In both our cases, they found and took us to our still-existing cottages and shops from the early 1820s.

It was so enjoyable to be with Ian for three days and for a special day with Sean. Whether it was the Newgrange World Heritage sites 5,500 years old , the Battle of the Boyne 1690 , or the local cemeteries and churches of our ancestors. Ian was especially attentive to my wife throughout the travels after she twisted her ankle in a rain-soaked old cemetery.

Throughout the process of trip preparation over months to giving us the final, wonderful books of Meath and Sligo, Aisling was highly professional and responsive with all the many details. The bound books she prepared are treasures! Thanks to all for truly exceptional experiences.

Newgrange World Unesco Site 5500 years old
Battle of the Boyne 1690 AD
Customised Historical Tours Trim Castle
Entrance stone at Newgrange

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Review of My Ireland Heritage Tours Presented on Trip adviser by Shelley L @ sjlively

Exceptional in every way!

Over the last few months of preparing for our trip, every single detail was meticulously attended, not only professionally, but helpfully, and in such a friendly manner, that I felt as if I knew Sean, Aisling and Ian before I even stepped off the plane.

The amount of work these wonderful people put into our personal history is mindboggling. My mother was an avid amateur genealogist, and had worked for decades to bring to light the trail our family took, but our resources are limited.

Sean knows exactly where to look, and was able to fill in so many gaps that had eluded us for generations. Some of the information he found, unbeknownst even to him, actually solidified the findings we had amassed over the years. Ours was a family in coal mining – I only found on our tour that they had originated from a mining area, and their arrival on the  border coincided exactly with the decline in the mining industry in County Wicklow.

I would have been overjoyed simply with the knowledge of why they left when they did, about 12 years before the famine. Breaking through our brick wall of great grandparents even farther back on the family tree was a dream come true, but to be able to set foot on not only the area they lived, and find that the house is still there was overwhelming. Seeing the family church and cemetery where our ancestors and extended family still rest is a truly moving experience.

The care taken by this company in each and every aspect of the journey cannot be overstated. Only about 2 weeks prior to my trip, Sean contacted me to let me know that he had also stumbled across some of my husband’s family name in the process and included them as well in his research. How often can anyone say that they not only got what they paid for, but more than they ever imagined? I can say that. They were even kind enough to answer a few follow-up questions after my return home, as I was so stunned on my tour with Ian that I didn’t think ask at the time.If you have the opportunity to make the trip to Ireland, contact My Ireland Family Heritage before you go.

If your family was there, Sean will go above and beyond to find them. Even without family, contact them anyway. Ian is a walking encyclopedia of history, and so fun to talk to. Aisling will make sure every “I” is dotted, and every “T” is crossed.  Thank you so much for the trip of a lifetime, and the opportunity to pass on everything we have discovered to future generations

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