New to Genealogy? Here’s All You Need to Know

Genealogy is a fascinating field of study that allows you to learn about your family’s ancestral lines. It’s something that will help you, your children, and all the generations to come. Searching for your family history is an eye-opening and emotional process. You learn who your ancestors were, what they did, their strengths, hardships, and their medical history and inheritable diseases.

If you’re new to ancestry research or genealogy, here’s all you need to know.

Genealogy Research 

Genealogy research includes searching for your ancestral history using the available information such as birth certificates, death certificates, photographs, adoption records, newspaper notices, city directories, and other historical records.

The process starts by hiring experienced and reliable genealogists; they ask for all the information and documents that are available to you. They also interview you and your known family members to gain a good understanding of your kinship. After gathering all the information, they start personalised genealogy research that includes searching local archives, libraries, churches, and many databases.

Due to their extensive experience in the industry, they have access to many databases that you can’t find with a simple Google search. This allows them to offer much better results that are precise, organised, and easy to comprehend.

Genealogy Tours

Genealogy research also tells you about your ancestor’s hometown and where they lived hundreds of years ago. Although these locations are significantly changed today, many people prefer physical exploration to enjoy an enhanced experience.

During genealogy trips, you can talk to the locals and hear more stories about your ancestors; find distant relatives and understand the history of a new country. Traveling to a stranger town can bring many challenges such as language barriers, finding hidden locations, accommodation, etc. Therefore, it’s best to have experienced local tour guides who help you during your trip.

Important Steps to Start Your Ancestry Research

Ancestry research is a rewarding yet complicated process. Follow these steps to avoid any issues:

1. Set Your Expectations

Before starting your research, make sure you know what you want to achieve, and your goals and expectations. Whoever you hire will ask you about your goals to create a personalised plan. After setting your goals, stick with them to keep the whole process smooth because it can quickly get complex.

2. Organise All the Data

During this research, you’ll come across a plethora of data consisting of records, photographs, documents, reports, digital files, etc. Organise everything and create their digital backup on cloud storage. This will ensure that all your important documents are safely stored so you can easily find anything in the future.

3. Hire a Reliable Company

Due to the recent hype about ancestry and genealogy, many online companies are offering genealogy services but not all of them are legit. To avoid fraud, data breaches, or receiving inaccurate information, hire only experienced and reliable companies like My Ireland Family Heritage.
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We have been offering genealogy research and heritage tours in Ireland for over 20 years. Our experience and expertise in the field allow us to offer accurate information, timely updates, and multiple services under one roof. Reach out to us and trace your Irish roots.

 

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Customised Genealogy & Historical Tour

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

Self Drive Product

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

The Consultation at Hotel / Office or by Phone opens all doors
Genealogy gets you off the Beaten Track to see the Real Ireland

Unique to Every Address with My Ireland Family Research