Oh hi, today I’m going to Ireland for five weeks to research my ancestry

I talked about my Irish family research process in a previous entry, but what I DIDN’T tell you is that I’ll soon be literally getting to the bottom of the mystery…in Ireland.

For five weeks.

Have I discovered my family origins? Sorta. By this point, my researcher Walter and I have spent an insane number of hours going through the Provincial Archives, the Maritime History Archives, wedding records, and “word of mouth.” We’ve called churches, talked to other researchers, and harassed clergy members to give up their information.

Walsh is the commonest Irish surname in Newfoundland. The records I need from the area I grew up in are missing. The birth record for Wilfred did not match the information I found, but there were two Wilfreds in the family and things might’ve been confused. What I DO know is that Wilfred is an extremely rare Irish name, and no other record was found in Burin.

I find the whole notion somewhat sad. With no records, there’s no proof these people existed. Their memories have been extinguished long ago. I might never know exactly who they are, or where I came from.

BUT my researcher and I did draw several conclusions. What we did next was go through EVERY SINGLE Walsh marriage record in Newfoundland around the time that the Walshs lived in Burin. We found that different Walsh families settled in different areas, and the majority of those in Burin were from County Waterford. This makes sense, since Newfoundland’s largest Irish Irish population came from Co. Waterford. (And, just a tip: Ancestry.ca is absolutely useless and researchers rarely use it.)

We then found a gravestone in Burin with three Walsh names: Michael, John, and Richard. While we can’t pin those names to my family with certainty, they’re all names that are dominant in my family tree. They were from Aglish, Waterford, while other Walshs/residents in the area were from Lismore…both towns that are within a few miles radius from one another.

My researcher notes: “The evidence indicates a very small area in Waterford as their place of origin. A connection with Walshs in Ireland will prove invaluable in confirming this.”

I can’t say anything with certainty, but at least I know there’s a connection between my family and this one. The Newfoundland connection in Waterford is strong. St. John’s is twinned with Waterford City. Even better, I was Googling similarities between the area and Newfoundland, and found this article…which made use of my video with Mark Critch. I was pretty stunned to see it.

So here’s the BIG FRIGGEN DEAL news: Today I take off for Ireland on behalf of Matador Network and Ireland Tourism. (That means I’m in Dublin for St. Paddy’s Day…but that’s a whole different story.) I’m travelling with the incredible filmmaker/photographer Scott Sporleder, and we’re headed to Waterford County and Lismore to try to find…well, something. Something that belongs to me. We’re not sure how to do it, to be honest. We’ll probably just show up at a pub and I’ll find a whole new family. But Scott will be shadowing me, camera in hand.

And I will not be doing this again.

Then, I’m staying on in Ireland for an extra FIVE WHOLE WEEKS. Let that sink in for a bit, because it’s been a bucket list item for me for years. When I travel, I travel with a purpose. And this is the biggest endeavor I’ve EVER taken on.

I have no real itinerary, but this is my “homecoming.” I find it fascinating that I grew up influenced so strongly by a culture from a country I hardly know. I want to explore the Newfoundland/Ireland relationship. And maybe find an Irish husband.

My plans are pretty loose. I’ll be sitting pretty in Galway for awhile, doing a homestay or a farmstay in Sligo, jaunting around Connemara, Limerick, the Ring of Kerry, Dingle…and then hopefully I’ll have time to head up to the North.

And drinking bucket loads of Guinness.

If you’re in Ireland, say “hi”!

  • March 14 2013

    Good luck, Candice! I’ve also spent the past few months researching my ancestry (similarly found Ancestry.com to be useless), and discovered my family is ACADIAN. Who knew?!
    Have a helluva trip! :)

  • March 14 2013

    Good luck, Candice! I’ve also spent the past few months researching my ancestry (similarly found Ancestry.com to be useless), and discovered my family is ACADIAN. Who knew?!
    Have a helluva trip! :)

  • March 14 2013

    Good luck, Candice! I’ve also spent the past few months researching my ancestry (similarly found Ancestry.com to be useless), and discovered my family is ACADIAN. Who knew?!
    Have a helluva trip! :)

  • March 14 2013

    Good luck, Candice! I’ve also spent the past few months researching my ancestry (similarly found Ancestry.com to be useless), and discovered my family is ACADIAN. Who knew?!
    Have a helluva trip! :)

  • March 14 2013

    Good luck, Candice! I’ve also spent the past few months researching my ancestry (similarly found Ancestry.com to be useless), and discovered my family is ACADIAN. Who knew?!
    Have a helluva trip! :)

  • March 14 2013

    Good luck, Candice! I’ve also spent the past few months researching my ancestry (similarly found Ancestry.com to be useless), and discovered my family is ACADIAN. Who knew?!
    Have a helluva trip! :)

    • March 23 2013

      Hahaha, part of my family is Acadian too! We could be related…

  • March 14 2013

    Have a blast!!!!

  • March 14 2013
    Dave

    My wife and her sisters will be there (and Scotland) for 8 days in August…too bad your trips don’t overlap; I would have tried to connect y’all. Have a great trip and I hope you find what you’re looking for.

  • March 14 2013
    Kate

    The coast north and south of my favorite lil city Galway is pretty gnarly and I had a great time walking around Kildare, where the National Irish Stud Farm is about an hour outside of Dublin. Have fun in our Motherland!

  • March 14 2013

    Awe, this is so great!! I was in Ireland in December and had a chance to explore my Grandfather’s home town – such a meaningful journey. Have the most fun with the most charming humans!

  • March 14 2013

    Kudos, lady! You have a hell of an adventure in store for you :)

  • March 14 2013

    Wow! What a great trip this is going to be for you. Good Luck. Hope you find something :)

    Waiting for Ireland posts!

    Priyanka

  • March 14 2013

    The Newfoundland ties are indeed strong. The shopkeeper at the James Joyce Tower thought my dad’s accent was “Waterford gone wrong”. We were also hanging out at a pub in Kilkenny and the band started playing Sonny’s Dream. Dad started singing along and after they finished the lead guy yelled out “Where are you from?” to which Dad replied “The tropical island of Newfoundland”. “You’re not from Bay Bulls are you?” Turns out this musician had played at a festival here and knew one of my former design clients. Small world! Have fun in Ireland – I bet you’ll wind up with a lot of cool ‘small world’ stories.

    • March 23 2013

      Hahaha, AMAZING. Everyone here in Waterford knows where Newfoundland is. Haven’t heard much Irish trad though since I’ve been here :-/

  • March 14 2013
    Dalene

    This is the coolest. Can’t wait to read about what you find! Enjoy the Emerald Isle – we loved it there so much!

    • March 23 2013

      You guys were a big source of inspiration when it came to trip planning. Ahh! Thanks!

  • March 14 2013
    Caroline Eubanks

    Can’t wait to hear all about it!

  • March 14 2013
    Caroline Eubanks

    Can’t wait to hear all about it!

  • March 14 2013

    Your travel dreams all seem to come true. This sounds like a fascinating project and interested to hear how it all came about.
    I

    • March 23 2013

      Thank you, Leigh! Next up, I’ll have to cruise the Greek isles.

  • March 14 2013
    apple

    This is amazing! I wish i could travel like this.. This is my dream..

  • March 15 2013

    So awesome that you have been able to trace your ancestry back so far, even if you will never know for sure. I’d love to do the same in Russia though I’m fairly certain all research will lead to vodka. Have an amazing time and good luck finding some attractive, Irish suitors.

    • March 23 2013

      Hahaha, there has been a LOT of Guinness flowing these past couple of days…

  • March 16 2013

    How exciting. I hope you get a little closer to finding some answers about your ancestry, and if not I’m sure the journey will be well worth it.

  • March 16 2013

    How exciting. I hope you get a little closer to finding some answers about your ancestry, and if not I’m sure the journey will be well worth it.

  • March 16 2013

    How exciting. I hope you get a little closer to finding some answers about your ancestry, and if not I’m sure the journey will be well worth it.

  • March 16 2013

    How exciting. I hope you get a little closer to finding some answers about your ancestry, and if not I’m sure the journey will be well worth it.

    • March 23 2013

      I learned a few things, but never quite discovered my roots. :) Still, amazing to be here.

  • March 17 2013

    What an undertaking! I wish you the best of luck on your mission.

  • March 17 2013

    What an undertaking! I wish you the best of luck on your mission.

  • March 17 2013

    Have a great time! Sounds like a great adventure you’re taking!

  • March 17 2013

    Have a great time! Sounds like a great adventure you’re taking!

  • March 17 2013

    Have a great time! Sounds like a great adventure you’re taking!

  • March 17 2013

    Have a great time! Sounds like a great adventure you’re taking!

  • March 17 2013
    Harry

    Ahhh I miss Europe, take me home (away from the rain YES RAIN in Australia, totes not what I signed up for) http://tengrandtan.blogspot.com.au/

    • March 23 2013

      Oh trust me, Ireland is in no better shape at the moment, haha.

  • March 18 2013
    JustChuckinIt

    Candice, you are living the dream! (And my dream…) Ireland has always had a an intense calling for me and this sounds like an amazing trip of radical self (and ancestry) discovery. I also love how Sherlock Holmes-esqu your adventure is with all the clues you are discovering and the research you are doing. So gnarly =)

  • March 18 2013
    JustChuckinIt

    Candice, you are living the dream! (And my dream…) Ireland has always had a an intense calling for me and this sounds like an amazing trip of radical self (and ancestry) discovery. I also love how Sherlock Holmes-esqu your adventure is with all the clues you are discovering and the research you are doing. So gnarly =)

  • March 18 2013
    JustChuckinIt

    Candice, you are living the dream! (And my dream…) Ireland has always had a an intense calling for me and this sounds like an amazing trip of radical self (and ancestry) discovery. I also love how Sherlock Holmes-esqu your adventure is with all the clues you are discovering and the research you are doing. So gnarly =)

  • March 18 2013
    JustChuckinIt

    Candice, you are living the dream! (And my dream…) Ireland has always had a an intense calling for me and this sounds like an amazing trip of radical self (and ancestry) discovery. I also love how Sherlock Holmes-esqu your adventure is with all the clues you are discovering and the research you are doing. So gnarly =)

  • March 18 2013
    JustChuckinIt

    Candice, you are living the dream! (And my dream…) Ireland has always had a an intense calling for me and this sounds like an amazing trip of radical self (and ancestry) discovery. I also love how Sherlock Holmes-esqu your adventure is with all the clues you are discovering and the research you are doing. So gnarly =)

  • March 18 2013
    JustChuckinIt

    Candice, you are living the dream! (And my dream…) Ireland has always had a an intense calling for me and this sounds like an amazing trip of radical self (and ancestry) discovery. I also love how Sherlock Holmes-esqu your adventure is with all the clues you are discovering and the research you are doing. So gnarly =)

  • March 18 2013
    JustChuckinIt

    Candice, you are living the dream! (And my dream…) Ireland has always had a an intense calling for me and this sounds like an amazing trip of radical self (and ancestry) discovery. I also love how Sherlock Holmes-esqu your adventure is with all the clues you are discovering and the research you are doing. So gnarly =)

    • March 23 2013

      Ditto! I’ve always been so pulled to this place. Didn’t have much luck with the research, but at least I’m here.

  • March 19 2013
    Tarah S.

    This sounds so much like the plot in the first book of the Fever Series by Karen Moning! Well not really, because there are otherworldly beings introduced all throughout the books but still, the main character heads off to Ireland to figure out why her sister was mysteriously murdered and also to find out about her family.

  • March 19 2013
    Tarah S.

    This sounds so much like the plot in the first book of the Fever Series by Karen Moning! Well not really, because there are otherworldly beings introduced all throughout the books but still, the main character heads off to Ireland to figure out why her sister was mysteriously murdered and also to find out about her family.

  • March 19 2013
    Tarah S.

    This sounds so much like the plot in the first book of the Fever Series by Karen Moning! Well not really, because there are otherworldly beings introduced all throughout the books but still, the main character heads off to Ireland to figure out why her sister was mysteriously murdered and also to find out about her family.

  • March 19 2013
    Tarah S.

    This sounds so much like the plot in the first book of the Fever Series by Karen Moning! Well not really, because there are otherworldly beings introduced all throughout the books but still, the main character heads off to Ireland to figure out why her sister was mysteriously murdered and also to find out about her family.

  • March 19 2013
    Tarah S.

    This sounds so much like the plot in the first book of the Fever Series by Karen Moning! Well not really, because there are otherworldly beings introduced all throughout the books but still, the main character heads off to Ireland to figure out why her sister was mysteriously murdered and also to find out about her family.

  • March 19 2013
    Tarah S.

    This sounds so much like the plot in the first book of the Fever Series by Karen Moning! Well not really, because there are otherworldly beings introduced all throughout the books but still, the main character heads off to Ireland to figure out why her sister was mysteriously murdered and also to find out about her family.

  • March 30 2013

    Good luck babe! It’s one of the things I want to do to, go to where my great-grandparents are from!

  • March 30 2013

    Good luck babe! It’s one of the things I want to do to, go to where my great-grandparents are from!

  • March 30 2013

    Good luck babe! It’s one of the things I want to do to, go to where my great-grandparents are from!

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