Contagious Genealogy: A Pandemic

The days since my research trip to Dublin, Ireland have quickly slipped away, but in addition to the travel log that I already blogged about, it's important to expand upon the most exceptional discovery I made. What better time to reflect on that find than on St. Patrick's Day? For a full look at how the discovery came about, click here for Day 3 of my Dublin adventures last year in 2023. Kira D. Foltz at the National Library of Ireland, October 2023 It was my very first day of doing research in a foreign country. I was in the Manuscripts Reading Room of the National Library of Ireland, and I was digging through the estate papers of the Cole-Bowen family in hopes of finding any mention of my Keeffe/O'Keeffe ancestors of County Cork. But more importantly, I was hoping to find a map of the local area in which they lived during the famine years.  National Library of Ireland Manuscripts Room, October 2023 The smallest unit of land is called a "townland" in Ireland, b...

I can't begin to explain how much this tour helped grow my research skills! It was a great opportunity to learn how different repositories operate and proper etiquette to use in each. Plus, I had the chance to meet plenty of other family history buffs, and every day I learned something new from our courageous leader, Donna Moughty. Buswells Hotel, Dublin, Ireland DAY 8 Since we had no formal plans as a research group for our final official day in Dublin, one of the last times to mingle with everyone at once was downstairs in Buswell's restaurant for breakfast, and then everyone would be off in their own directions around the city until dinner time. Donna was there, along with Drew, Janet, and Anne while I dined on some eggs and hot chocolate. We all sat in the back cove at a long table where everyone could come and go as they please. We chatted about our finds throughout the week, updates in the world of online genealogy software, and bits about our lives outside of our family ...

They say it's lucky for rain to fall on your wedding day. Well, I count myself lucky that rain finally fell on my fifth day in Dublin, and it did seem to bring with it some good finds! On Wednesday, October 11th, I was free to go out on my own and research wherever I saw fit. I had my eyes set on a repository outside the realm of where our group was headed, but physically just steps away from us -- the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland Library! It was located just opposite our hotel, in fact. Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland Library, Museum, & Archives. DAY 5 But first, breakfast! I took a table with my fellow researchers, Pat and Bill, in the lobby of our hotel, where I delighted in a wonderful cup of hot cocoa. Then, my adventures lay literally just a hop, skip, and a jump away from our front doorstep -- at the Grand Lodge at 17 Molesworth Street. I walked past the pillars and into the lobby, greeted by some very interesting tile work on the floor. Grand Lodge of Freem...