I wanted to add a positive review about the genealogy services and to counter some of the negative... read more
I wanted to add a positive review about the genealogy services and to counter some of the negative... read more
My mom and I had an amazing and insightful session with Patrick at the Irish Family History Centre... read more
I have been doing family research for many years, but I had hit a wall with my Irish ancestors. After spending time with the experts at the Irish Family History Centre, I was able to discover two more generations of my family history. They even pointed me to the buildings in Dublin where I could get copies of their records. It was amazing! I feel like a family detective now.
Really cool experience if you have any Irish ancestry and everyone was very nice. Patrick was so helpful and continued to do research even after we left!
i thoroughly recommend visiting the centre if you wish to research your Irish ancestors. Patrick the genealogist was so enthusiastic and helpful. He found information for us while we were there and has sent us e-mail updates since we returned home to England
Mgt/Roger
This has been the highlight if my trip to Ireland, so far. Patrick was wonderful in researching my Irish heritage. Beyond knowing my grandfather's name and that he was born in Dublin, I knew absolutely nothing else. Patrick assiduously discovered so much more and I now have a strong desire to follow up with the free access to the two databases that comes with the Heritage Centre fee. It was money very well spent from my point of view.
Deckland spent some time with us and really gave us some great insight on things to look for and where to find helpful information.
In a post-election night dystopian haze, I visited Epic Ireland and the Irish Family History Centre. As a first generation Irish American whose mother always spoke of separation from her family and beloved country with such sadness, I expected to be informed and moved by being immersed in the diaspora. I wasn't disappointed as I was moved to tears within minutes of my arrival by the audio and video of Irish people leaving. Truth be told, I ugly sobbed and was hugged by a kindly staffer. 😥🍀. The Epic Ireland experience was well worth the price of admission. However, what I did not anticipate was how AMAZING the Family History Center would be.
I approached with a degree of skepticism anticipating a kindly lad shoving a list of useful sites at me and sending me on my way. Instead, I was warmly greeted, and introduced to Patrick Roycroft, henceforth, the Irish Genealogy Wizard. Patrick spent an inordinate amount of time with me and followed up by email. He began by orienting me to the available online resources, and inquiring about my Irish relations. I decided to focus on my paternal family whom I know less about. I knew my grandfather's name and that he was "probably" born in the late 19th century near Bantry. Within seconds, the Wizard had the 1930 US census information, finding my grandparents. There in front of me was their dates of birth, entry into the US, date of naturalization, and marriage. I wondered aloud how my grandfather managed to miss being drafted in the Great War, and just like that the Wizard had his WW1 draft record. It was very moving to see his handwriting and address, and his country of origin as the Irish Free State.
From there the Wizard took me back to Ireland, finding my grandfather's birth certificate (I'll now remember him on January 23rd, thank you Wizard) I now know who my great grandparents were, and that my great grandfather was an illiterate farmer. The Wizard is also very conversant in Irish history and helped me to understand that my great grandfather was not a slacker, rather the penal laws and poverty likely prevented him from attending school as a Catholic.
The Wizard then gave guidance on how to get copies of actual documents (including a map to the appropriate government agency) that I will need to obtain my Irish passport. He then emailed me copies of all of the documents we found on-line, with links to sites on which we found the information.
I am now ablaze with the desire to learn more, and thanks to Patrick and the Irish Family History Center, I have the tools to begin my journey. No doubt, my beloved Irish mother and a chorus of Sullivan's, Daly's, O'Neills and Harringtons are shining down on me.
If you have a scintilla of desire to learn more about your Irish roots, don't miss a visit to Patrick the Genealogy Wizard at the Irish Family History Center.