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Megan Smolenyak

Famous Genealogist Solves Her Own Family’s Mystery

May 15, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Solving a long-held family history mystery leads to an enigmatic playwright By Megan Smolenyak I couldn’t understand it. My nana had an amazing memory. As a professional genealogist, I’m more aware than most that we should take our family lore with a grain of salt. Whether deliberately or accidentally, it’s distorted as it travels through the generations, but … [Read more...] about Famous Genealogist Solves Her Own Family’s Mystery

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

By Megan Smolenyak, Contributor
August / September 2017

August 1, 2017 by 4 Comments

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

Tim Kaine's Irish Roots

By Megan Smolenyak, Contributor
October / November 2016

October 1, 2016 by 2 Comments

Just how Irish is the Democratic vice-presidential nominee? And what does Tim Kaine's family tree have in common with Downtown Abbey? ℘℘℘ No sooner had Hillary Clinton announced Tim Kaine as her running mate than articles on his roots began to appear – mostly about his inherent Irishness. There’s good reason for this, as he is of mostly Irish heritage – about 80 percent, with … [Read more...] about Tim Kaine's Irish Roots

Roots: Melissa McCarthy

By Megan Smolenyak, Contributor
August / September 2016

August 10, 2016 by 6 Comments

Five Things You Didn’t Know About Melissa McCarthy’s Family Tree. Easily one of the most popular and reliable box office performers today, actress, comedian, producer, and now fashion designer Melissa McCarthy has a lot to be proud of. With a string of hits (Bridesmaids, Identity Thief, The Heat, Spy!, The Boss, etc.) that consistently deliver an enviable ROI, it’s a … [Read more...] about Roots: Melissa McCarthy

Annie Moore’s Long Lost Irish Cousins

By Megan Smolenyak, Contributor
April / May 2016, republished in Winter 2024

March 25, 2016 by 6 Comments

Megan Smolenyak writes about a decade-long search that finally turned up the Irish cousins of Annie Moore of Ellis Island fame. Thanks to improved access to a variety of resources, Irish genealogy is gradually becoming easier, but challenges remain, and one of the most daunting is finding living relatives. When Annie Moore, the Irish teenager who was the first immigrant to … [Read more...] about Annie Moore’s Long Lost Irish Cousins

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July 28, 1769

Sir Hudson Lowe, an Anglo-Irish soldier, was born on this day in his mother’s native city of Galway in 1769. Hudson’s father, John Lowe, was an army surgeon, so much of his childhood was spent in various garrison towns; particularly in the West Indies. In 1787, he entered his father’s regiment. Lowe is best known for his time as Governor of the colony of St. Helena and as the “gaoler” for Napoleon Bonaparte.

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