Starting, or continuing, your family tree research can be daunting.  While the power of the Internet has allowed us to have instant access to a plethora of genealogical records, the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming. Conventional wisdom reminds us that this process is a marathon, not a sprint.  

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O Mahony Society Council Member (and genealogist in her own right) Nora Hickey has given us some helpful guidelines for conventional genealogy:

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     1.  Start with your FAMILY.  Talk to ALL relatives, young or old; check and cross-check the stories you are told(rarely will you get the same information from everyone).  Are there any memories of visitors from Ireland?  Any letters from Ireland?

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     2.  SEARCH through all available photographs and family papers, including documents, wills, leases, and/or a family Bible.  There may be surprising clues to location through items like family poems, songs, or stories. Photos may reveal styles of dress that can identify a region.

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     3.  IDENTIFY any of your emigrant's siblings who may have been in religious life.  Check the archives of the order (or the diocese) to see if the baptismal certificate has survived.  

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     4.  If you are consulting a genealogist, show exact copies of your documents rather than your analysis of your research.  There could be clues therein that you have not seen/realized the significance. 

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     5.  THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.  "If it seems easy, it probably ain't!"

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Please refer to the "Roots" sub page under the Research tab for Nora's full article regarding finding the O Mahonys of the diaspora.  It is an easy-to-read PDF and well worth your time!

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