The Hard Shoulder Looking up your family Tree
Aug 20, 2025
Marais O'Sullivan, a passionate genealogy enthusiast and Producer of Talking History on Newstalk, dives into the fascinating journey of tracing Irish ancestry. She shares personal anecdotes about connecting with her grandmother and utilizing tools like Ancestry.com. Marais discusses the excitement of discovering family dynamics through historical records and DNA testing. Additionally, she highlights the challenges of accessing Irish records while stressing the importance of preserving family histories and engaging with the community to keep ancestral stories alive.
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Family Tales Tested Against Census Records
- Jimmy told Marais about two sets of triplets and three sets of twins, which he then checked in the census.
- Looking at the 1901 and 1911 census helped separate family fact from family lore.
Census Records Reveal Lived Detail
- The surviving Irish censuses (1901, 1911) are rich with social detail that brings ancestors to life.
- Small records reveal literacy, occupations, language and household composition that shape family stories.
Read The Full Census Forms For Context
- Use the full census forms (A and B) to learn household structure and building details.
- Those returns can show windows, roof type, outbuildings and farm structures for economic context.