Begat Chat

The other night I was at a genealogy meeting and a woman asked me if I was Irish. I told her that I was and she said that I had a distinct Irish look about me. Unfortunately I don't know very much about my Irish ancestors. I have not been able to continue my Irish line. I know that my great-great-great grandfather, John Printy (or Prunty), was born in Ireland in June 1817. And his wife, Margaret, was born there as well around 1822. So perhaps I need Ancestry.com's Product Pick of the week.

Product Pick of the Week

Finding Your Irish Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide
by David Ouimette

"If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough." So says the Irish proverb. And with more people of Irish descent living outside of Ireland than on the island itself, you just might be that lucky. Ancestry is pleased to announce the publication of Finding Your Irish Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide, by David Ouimette It is the ultimate resource to help you trace your Irish roots back to the Emerald Isle.

Divided into four sections, the first helps you get started with basic principles, a timeline of Irish history, information on surnames and given names, place names and land divisions, and the Irish overseas. (An excerpt from the section on Irish surnames is available in the Ancestry.com Library).

The second section deals with major record groups like vital, church, census and land records. The third section takes a look at records like gravestone inscriptions, newspapers, commercial and social directories, wills and administrations, national school registers and occupational records.

The final section provides information on where to research, with sections on Internet sites, the Family History Library, Irish Heritage Centres, archives and libraries and on visiting Ireland.

The book includes an appendix with registration districts, a glossary, and a bibliography of recommended reading.

Normally Finding Your Irish Ancestors retails for $14.95, but today you can buy it in the Ancestry.com Store for $11.95.