Did you know that only 3.9 million people live in Ireland itself but 34 million U.S. residents claim Irish roots? (source U.S. Census Bureau)
In Indiana, some the first settlers in the central part of the state were Irish. Many of these individuals originally came to work on the National Road in the 1830′s. Many Irish immigrants worked on canal projects along the Wabash and Erie rivers. The Irish played an important role in religion, politics and the social fabric of Indiana.
The Irish potato famine of 1845 caused an emigration of one million people from Ireland to the United States. Most were poor, uneducated and held Catholic beliefs. Unfotunately, just as many other immigrant groups before and after, these newcomers were met with widespread racism and resistance.
Selected Bibliography from the Local History & Genealogy Center
Tracing your Irish Ancestors by John Grenham. Third edition Genealogical Publishing Co. 2006. Ref LHG 929.1 Gren
Peopling Indiana: The Irish by William W. Giffin. Indiana Historical Society Press 2006. Ref LHG 977.200491 Grif
A Student’s Guide to Irish American Genealogy by Erin McKenna. Oryx American Family Tree Series 1996. Ref LHG 929.1 Mcke
A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland by Brian Mitchell. 2nd edition. Genealogical Publishing Co. 2002. Ref LHG 911.415 Mitc
Clans and Families of Ireland and Scotland An Ethnography of the Gael AD 500-1750 by C. Thomas Cairney. McFarland & Company Inc. 1989. Ref LHG 929.2 Cair
Finding Your Irish Ancestors Unique Aspects of Irish Genealogy by Brian Mitchell. Clearfield Publishing 2001. Ref LHG 929.1 Mitc
The Celtic Book of Names Traditional Names from Ireland, Scotland and Wales by D.J. Conway. Carol Publishing Group 1999. Ref LHG 929.4 Conw
Irish Records Sources for Family and Local History by James G. Ryan. Ancestry 1997 . Ref LHG 016.9415 Ryan
Fairbairn’s Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland by James Fairbairn. Bonanza Books 1986
Looking for Irish Genealogy websites? Go to:
http://www.cyndislist.com/ireland.htm
Image of Irish map courtesy of:
