How can I trace my family tree, they are from Ireland?

Question

Family from Co Galway and Sligo in Ireland. Mothers name was Maughan, father's is Cruise

Answer 1

Start with talking to your family, parents and elderly relatives, write it all down memories, place names etc. But don't take it all as gospel truth, every family develops their own myths and everything needs to be checked. Starting with yourself you should be able to create a 3 (4 if you have kids, or your siblings have) generation tree before you need to consult records. And while many records were destroyed in The Four Courts during the Irish Civil War there are still plenty of copies and other records out there. Genes Reunited and Ancestry.com are useful. If you have any relatives living in Ireland,get in touch and develop them. They are usually a mine of information about family members, especially the older ones (comes from folk memory of the old clan structure). Finally if you have loads of money and no patience hire a genealogist, but that takes the fun out of it, Ive been doing it for 25 years!

Answer 2

Join Genes reunited It is on the web. My daughter has traced some of my family back as far as 1778 and she is still finding more. It is very exciting learning who and from where they come. We have found relatives as far away as New Zealand and also a cousin of my husband who is quite a well known man in the U.K. We have also had a few surprises about some of our distant relatives. It is very interesting. Hope you join up and have success in finding your ancestors. It is well worthwhile doing.

Answer 3

You may have a problem there, as a large proprtion of Irish records were destroyed by fire many years ago, but you could try Ancestry.co.uk

Answer 4

Look in the Irish ancestry register