News from Ireland

Irish Naming Conventions and Baptism Traditions

When: Tuesday, 1 November, 2022

This handy insight will show you how to work out Irish family patterns (a) in the early 1800s and (b) after the Great Famine when these traditions changed drastically.  Remember, you can always post a query on this subject to our IrelandXO Message Board anytime you need guidance. To join up a

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IrelandXO Insight - Irish Naming and Baptism Traditions

Old Irish (Gaelic) Girl Names & Nicknames

When: Tuesday, 1 November, 2022

Introduction When Christianity was introduced to Ireland, some old Gaelic names became more popular because they sounded similar to saints' names e.g. Treasa > Teresa | Máiréad > Margaret | Áine > Anna.

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Old Irish Names for Girls & their aliases

County Kerry in Focus

When: Tuesday, 18 October, 2022

The Kingdom as it's often referred to has some of the most spectacular sights on the island from the Ring of Kerry, Skellig Islands to the Dingle Peninsula it's no wonder over 1 million tourists stopped off there last year. 

Kerry
County Kerry in Focus

How to research ancestors who immigrated during the Irish Famine

When: Friday, 30 September, 2022

The initial cause of the Irish Famine was the failure of the potato crop, due to a disease called Blight. However, it was a combination of disastrous political actions and poor social structures that turned the crisis into a tragedy of un-precedented proportions.

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Irish Famine family history resources outside of Ireland

The most common Irish last names per county

When: Saturday, 24 September, 2022

Having evolved over the centuries to be the surnames we recognise today, Irish last names have a rich and vibrant history. In early times, when Ireland had a much smaller population and mass movement of people was uncommon, it was not unusual for people to be known by only one name. However, as t

Ireland XO
The most popular last names for every county of Ireland