Tracing your ancestry

Embark on a wonderful voyage of self-discovery by uncovering your Irish ancestors and visiting the land they left behind.

Irish the world over
Ireland may be a small country, but with over 200,000 Scots Irish settlers leaving the North of Ireland during the 18th century, and mass emigration following the Great Famine of 1845, the Irish have put down roots all over the world. Over 60 million people worldwide now claim Irish ancestry. Quite something, considering the total Irish population of today is just 5.6 million. ( The people of Ireland)

Getting to your root
If you’ve always been curious about your Irish ancestors, about why they left Ireland, about what kind of life they lived here, and about whether you have any remaining relations left in Ireland, then you can find the answers to your questions with the Irish Genealogical Project. 

How it works
With links to excellent genealogical research associations, the Irish Genealogical Project guarantees that the historical information you receive will be authentic and comprehensive, and will be derived from a massive 15 million records, some of which date back to the 17th century.  

Experience a journey of discovery
What better way of getting up close to your own personal history than to trace your ancestors. Maybe one day you can walk in their footsteps, learn more about the country they came from, embark on a personal and emotional journey and experience that unique sense of place, which comes with such a remarkable and unique journey of discovery.

Scots Irish Ancestry
During the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th century, land confiscated from the native Irish was divided among Scottish and English planters who were encouraged to settle there as part of King James 1st’s Plantation project.

Throughout the 18th century, faced with high rents, low wages and religious oppression, the Scots Irish, or Ulster Scots as they are also known, emigrated from Ulster and went in particularly high numbers to colonial America.  

The impact made by the Scots Irish immigrants upon their new homeland was great, with no less than 14 of the US Presidents of Scots Irish descent, as were many of the signatories on the American Declaration of Independence.

So take a step in your ancestor’s shoes and retrace the footsteps of your Scots/Irish ancestors – you won't be disappointed and you never know who you might meet!