Ireland, 20 July 2021

It’s estimated that as many as 80 million Irish descendants live outside of Ireland, making the Irish diaspora one of the largest of any nation. Now, with the help of a free course published exclusively for Alison by the non-profit organisation Ireland Reaching Out (IrelandXO), those with Irish roots can learn the basics of conducting family history research to find their ancestors’ origins. 

The free Introduction to Irish Family History course enables Irish descendants to delve deeper into their heritage by teaching them how to understand various factors that play a role in genealogy. These include baptism traditions, the importance of and difference between a Civil and Church Parish, and the different geographical boundaries across Counties, Parishes and Townlands.  

Drawing up a family tree to trace ancestral heritage is one thing, but to delve deep into the history of forbears and access the rich seam of resources available to the dedicated genealogist, is quite another. The course explores valuable resources to assist with family research such as historical church records, civil records, the 1901 and 1911 censuses, The Griffith’s Valuation, The Bureau of Military Archives, to name a few. Learners will also learn how and where to access records, interpret information and understand the significance of each document on their family’s genealogy. 

Not only does the course teach the basics of understanding Irish family history, but it also allows curious students to create and share profiles of their ancestors online and provides them with a completely free forum for asking questions of the IrelandXO community. 

About Ireland Reaching Out

Ireland Reaching Out is an award-winning Irish charity and genealogical website, which shows people of Irish descent how to research their family tree heritage. It also connects members of the vast Irish diaspora and people living in their place of origin today. With volunteers in each of the 32 counties, global members have access to an unparalleled level of local information regarding history and heritage. Ireland Reaching Out has a wealth of resources regarding the heritage and culture of local Irish communities.

Irish Genealogy Hub

The Irish Genealogy Hub is new to the Alison offering and provides Learners with the resources they need to trace their family tree and heritage. You can view the Irish Genealogy Hub here. 

For more information

Contact the Alison PR Team for more information via email: [email protected].