Since I started welcoming visitors to the Ards Peninsula area I have helped a number of visitors trace their ancestral connections in the area. This has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my work as a guide and storyteller. It is really special to connect people with significant people, places, land or buildings and to witness how emotional that experience can be for the person. I will share some examples of memorable experiences I have played a part in creating.
Connecting a Nebraska Visitor with Her Husband’s Ancestral Home
A few years ago I was contacted by a lady from Nebraska who wanted to research her husband’s ancestor who had emigrated to the US from the Ards Peninsula. Before her arrival in Ireland, she sent me some names and dates relating to the emigrant and the townland they came from. From that, I was able to find the grave in the cemetery that belonged to the family. Then she was able to send me the name of the road that the person had lived on and after some detective work, I identified the location of the house the man had lived in.
It then turned out I knew the current occupant of the house. When the lady came to the Ards Peninsula she was able to have a walk through of the house and the land the ancestors had farmed. The owner was a sociable musician and he played a few tunes on his guitar to entertain the lady. She was so delighted with the whole experience that she asked me to extend the half-day tour to a full-day tour. A memorable day for her and for me!
An Australian Visitor’s Journey to Her Ancestral Roots
On another occasion, I was contacted by an Australian lady whose ancestors had emigrated from Portaferry to western Australia. She was coming to Ireland and wanted a tour of Portaferry. I suggested that I might be able to find out some further information of interest to her and again she sent me names and dates of her relatives. From that information, I was able to source a copy of the marriage certificate for her ancestors who were married in Portaferry Presbyterian church in 1845. I brought her to the church and it was very special for her to sit in the church where the family wedding had taken place.
My husband knew where the family farm was located and the people currently farming the land were related to this woman. We contacted them and they were happy to meet this lady. She was really appreciative of the whole experience and it made her visit deeply meaningful.
Helping People Connect with Their Ulster Roots
Between 1680 and 1820, 210,000 people emigrated from the nine counties of Ulster to America. Then in the period 1820-1890, 1.3 million emigrated from Ulster. There are many people around the world with Irish ancestry. If your ancestors were from the Ards Peninsula area in County Down, then I may be able to help you find out more.
