The Murphy family business, which originated in 1939 with Margaret Murphy of Ballybofey, Co. Donegal, selling hand-embroidered linen, is now a major retailer on the world-wide web with over 50 items ranging from hand-knit Aran sweaters to a baby's Irish rugby jersey on offer. Margaret's two grandsons, Paul (42) and Conor (32) Murphy, have brought the company into the 21st … [Read more...] about A Family Tradition
Family
Christina Aguilera’s Irish Roots
"A lot of people get all in a fuss about Christina wanting to explore her Latin side and not mentioning her Irish side much, but that's only logical," explains Christina Aguilera's mother, Shelly Kearns. "She has no need to go exploring her Irish heritage because she has always known it." The blonde singing star, who has scored two #1 smash hit singles, watched sales of her … [Read more...] about Christina Aguilera’s Irish Roots
Photo Album: Gracie’s Crossing
Grace Boner was born December 10, 1904 in Altmore near Burtonport in the Rosses, County Donegal, Ireland. She married John Conaghan from nearby Crickamore. John went to America looking for work, leaving Gracie with two children, John and Celia, and a child on the way. Gracie, left to raise her family in a small one-room freestone house, thought she would never see her … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Gracie’s Crossing
Roots: Duffy, Duhig, Dowey and Doohey
The surname Duffy, the anglicized form of O'Dubhthaigh, is a personal name derived from the Gaelic word dubh, meaning black or swarthy. While the name is widespread throughout Ireland in different forms, the original homeland of the Duffy clan was Monaghan. Duffy appears most often in the 18th century list of clergy compiled for that county in accordance with the Penal … [Read more...] about Roots: Duffy, Duhig, Dowey and Doohey
Roots: Using Church Records
To do successful family history research you must know where to look. Knowing the sources and what they can tell you is vital to success. Irish church records are probably the best place to start. They are among the earliest and undoubtedly the most comprehensive sources of personal information available to family researchers. They are often the only evidence of the … [Read more...] about Roots: Using Church Records