The journal
Irish roots,
written plainly.
What we learn tracing families back to Ireland — how the records actually work, where the walls really are, and what it takes to stand on the ground your people left. No shortcuts, no fluff.
Irish roots
How to Trace Your Irish Ancestors: Where to Actually Begin
Most Irish family searches stall in the same place. Here is the order the records were meant to be read in — and why the wall usually isn't where you think.
How the records work
What Is a Townland? The Key to Irish Ancestry
You can't stand on a county. The townland is the smallest piece of Ireland — and the unit nearly every real family discovery is measured in.
Honest answers
DNA Test vs. Documentary Research: What Actually Finds Your Family
A DNA kit hands you percentages and distant cousins. It rarely hands you a townland. Here's what each one really does — and where they meet.
Wondering about your own family?
The reading is one thing. Your family is another. Tell us the name and the question that matters most.