Tips from a pro
McDonnell has some advice for those curious about their past — whether they're from Ireland or any other country. "There's a lot of free resources to find out about your family," he said.
• Start your research in the United States, he advised. "See what you can find in the United States first and then look at the Irish records."
All kinds of records offer glimpses into a family's past: U.S. census, naturalization applications, records from ships and churches. Newspapers have obituaries and death notices, wedding announcements and other announcements.
• Look for church records. It helps if you know a birth date, wedding or death date. All these events are documented.
"The later the person left Ireland the better," he said. Very few records for emigrants who left Ireland in the 1700s or early 1800s have survived.
Church records are all some families have to go on but they aren't always complete. Some are illegible. Some have been lost or damaged. There are gaps in files. So McDonnell said he's looking forward to the National Library in Dublin's new effort to digitize Catholic parish registers for posting online. "It's a game changer," he said. "It puts thousands of parishes on line."
• Ask your relatives what they remember.
"While they have a chance, [researchers should] talk to family members," McDonnell said.