Irish America

Irish America

Genealogy

Barry Manilow is a Limerick Man

By Megan Smolenyak
IA Newsletter October 16, 2021

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How Name Changing Hid a HeritageBarry Manilow. Yes, I know, most think of him as a Jewish fellow from Brooklyn – and he is. But he’s also a quarter Irish, and due to certain circumstances in his family, that Irish share has had a disproportionate influence on his family tree.Name ChangingThough he wouldn’t have known it, when Barry changed surnames, he was the third generation … [Read more...] about Barry Manilow is a Limerick Man

New York’s Catholic Heritage Archive Launched Online

By Mary Gallagher, Editorial Assistant
June / July 2018

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Genealogy database Findmypast joined with the Archdiocese of New York to collate a comprehensive digital record of Roman Catholics in New York, the first portion of which was uploaded in early March. The Archdiocese retains a massive collection of sacramental documents dating back as early as 1785, establishing a crucial link to the history of Catholics in the United States. … [Read more...] about New York’s Catholic Heritage Archive Launched Online

Discover Your Ancestors on this Interactive Map of Irish Surnames

By Dave Lewis, Editorial Assistant
April 6, 2018

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Have you ever wondered where your Irish family name is most common or originates from in Ireland? If you’re like most Irish Americans in the weeks following St. Patrick’s Day, the answer is almost certainly yes. And to get the answers, cartographer Kenneth Field and the American Geographical Society have shared an interactive map of Ireland based on the 1890 census that … [Read more...] about Discover Your Ancestors on this Interactive Map of Irish Surnames

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Discover Your Ancestors on this Interactive Map of Irish Surnames

By Dave Lewis, Editorial Assistant
April 6, 2018

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Have you ever wondered where your Irish family name is most common or originates from in Ireland? If you’re like most Irish Americans in the weeks following St. Patrick’s Day, the answer is almost certainly yes. And to get the answers, cartographer Kenneth Field and the American Geographical Society have shared an interactive map of Ireland based on the 1890 census that … [Read more...] about Weekly Comment:
Discover Your Ancestors on this Interactive Map of Irish Surnames

Gold Fever: The Shiny, Shady Past of Katy Perry’s Irish Great-Great-Grandmother

By Megan Smolenyak, Contributor
August / September 2017

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She came from a gold-obsessed family, so perhaps it wasn’t so surprising when the treasure bag was found in Hannah’s water closet. But what was this Galway girl even doing in San Francisco?  ℘℘℘ Anyone who’s ever dabbled in genealogy knows that certain forebears call louder than others – even when they’re not your own. While researching Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson – better known … [Read more...] about Gold Fever: The Shiny, Shady Past of Katy Perry’s Irish Great-Great-Grandmother