Fáilte! (Welcome!)
IGSI is a partner of the Minnesota Genealogical Society
IGSI Social Gaggle on Zoom
 Thursday, November 146:30 pm to 8:00 pm CST
Zoom meeting
Join a group of IGSI leaders to share ideas and challenges with family history research relating to Irish ancestors. Please share your questions, celebrations, favorite strategies or resources, and dead ends. The session will start with a round-robin of introductions (as you choose), followed by a short demonstration or the IGSI website by our Web Editor and tech guru Mary Wickersham, then open discussion time on Zoom.
Open to the public. No registration required. Please join in the fun and common purpose!
Meeting ID: 840 2700 5364
Passcode: 185342
The Connemara of County Galway: Despair in the American Heartland (Webinars)
Saturday, November 16
Virtual on Zoom
10:30 AM - Noon CDT (GMT-5)
Presented by Jane Kennedy, MA
$15 for IGSI members (with Discount Code); $20 for non-members
When Irish people living in the Connemara region of their Western coast were offered assistance in 1880 to escape the ravages of famine and disease, they knew little about their new destination. They hoped to find a new homeland in America. Frail and hungry, after 3,700 miles of travel, their destination in rural Western Minnesota was found to be a prairie that scarcely resembled the Irish coast. As they settled in and began earning a living, they soon encountered one of the worst Minnesota win-ters ever recorded.
The Connemaras’ story, similar to that of many other famine immigrants, is one of despair, struggle, yet ultimately perseverance. This fascinating account, and Jane's journey uncovering the story, will suggest to you new approaches for researching your Irish ancestors, no matter their County of origin.
The Discount Code will be sent to members via email and is posted on IGSI’s member-only webpage ( link). You can reach the IGSI Education team at Education@IrishGenealogical.org
October podcast available for viewing
In the October edition (Episode 4 of Season 3) of our podcast, “This month at the IGSI,” genealogist Dave Miller introduces the next hybrid webinar, scheduled for October 19th, featuring genealogist Jay Fonkert’s presentation, Genealogy Detective Skills: Following Clues from the Census. Jay will help you understand the value of census records in your research and will also help you make sense of pre-1850 census records. The event will be held at the Minnesota Genealogy Society at 1385 Mendota Heights Road, Suite 100, in Mendota Heights. Tours of the Research Library and Irish Collection will be offered during the lunch and social time following the program. Registration for the live event is limited to 40 people; there is no limit to the number of virtual attendees.
While we talk about Irish festivals that occur here in North America, we seldom talk about festivals that occur in Ireland. In this podcast, Dave highlights several interesting and fun Irish Halloween festivals that occur near the end of October. He talks with an expert on Irish culture who says Irish folklore suggests Halloween can be traced to the ancient Celtic tradition of Samhain. Learn how you can enjoy these festivals if you plan to visit Ireland this fall.
You won’t want to miss this! The podcast will also include the latest Irish History Minute. In this month’s segment, Janelle Asselin discusses Irish women whose lives were changed due to criminal transportation.
 You can visit IGSI's YouTube channel at any time by clicking the YouTube link above right or at the lower right side of our main page (below the upcoming activities).
Your Opportunity to Celebrate Irish Heritage and Culture
As we head into the end of 2024, the Irish Genealogical Society International (IGSI) needs your assistance to continue our important mission by reaching our fundraising goal of $10,000. Every donation, regardless of size, helps us reach our goals and enhance what IGSI can offer.
Your support will go towards exciting new and ongoing initiatives in the following areas:
- Educational webinars, classes, and hybrid events featuring renowned Irish genealogy, history, and culture experts
- Upgraded website with a responsive, mobile-friendly design
- Publications such as our award-winning research journal The Septs and eNewsletter Ginealas
- Maintaining and growing our library research collection at the Minnesota Genealogy Center’s Hoffman Research Library, which is already one of the largest Irish genealogical collections in the United States
- Expanded access for members to research materials both in person and online
- Connecting the Irish diaspora with their culture and heritage through social and cultural events like the Minnesota Irish Fair
- Growing IGSI membership and volunteers to increase bandwidth for additional programs and initiatives, through outreach on social media, advertising, our blog, and our YouTube channel.
Members know that we offer a range of services tied to Irish genealogy, culture, history, and heritage. But did you know that we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so when you donate to support these services, that donation is tax deductible?
To donate now or at any time please visit the Donate page on our website. You can donate via credit card, debit card, PayPal, or if you would prefer to send a check for your contribution, please send it to:
IGSI
1385 Mendota Heights Rd., Ste 100
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
For those of you eligible to make Qualified Charitable Distributions ("QCD"), we hope you consider making a gift to IGSI via that option.
Thank you for supporting the Irish Genealogical Society International. If you have already made a generous donation to IGSI or supported us in other ways this past year we are so very grateful.
IGSI blog is recognized
Have you checked out IGSI's blog?
IGSI's blog was recently recognized on a list of the " 20 Best Irish Genealogy/Blogs and Websites in 2024." The list includes other terrific Irish blogs. Gigi Hickey (a.k.a. IGSI Blogger) has posted for IGSI for almost 12 years; IGSI's blog currently has over 2000 searchable articles. See our blog to view the full list for best blogs.
Congratulations, Gigi, and thank you for all that you do!
IGSI is on Instagram!
I GSI now has an Instagram account for anyone who wants a new way to stay up to date on the latest happenings with our organization. In addition to regular posts with IGSI news and information, posts will also include tidbits about Irish places, news, and history and happenings in the genealogical community. If you're on Instagram, you can follow us at @IrishGenSI
Visit the Library in MN: the IGSI Irish collection
The 3000+ titles of the IGSI research collection are housed in the Hoffman Research Library (along with the collections of the Minn. Genealogical Society and affiliates) in Mendota Heights, MN near the MSP International Airport. Member or not, you can visit our library where you will find one of the finest collections of Irish genealogy and history books in North America. Everyone is welcome, but a $10 daily use fee is charged if you are not a member of IGSI, MGS or one of its affiliated societies.)
The Hoffman Research Library is normally open on the schedule below. Check the Minnesota Genealogical Society website before any visit in case of unscheduled closures: www.mngs.org
Library Hours
Mon 10am - 4pm
Wed 10am – 4pm
Thurs 10am – 8pm
Sat 10am – 4pm
Are you due for a visit to the library for some hands-on research?
The second Saturday each month is Irish Saturday with IGSI volunteers present to help you with your research and offer map/book sales to visitors.
Minnesota Genealogy Center
1385 Mendota Heights Rd, Suite 100
Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120
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November 9
Irish Saturday
Stop by the library for Irish research help. Check www.mngs.org on the day you plan to visit, to make sure the library is open. ...
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November 14
IGSI Social Gaggle on Zoom
6:30 - 8:00 PM CST Join a group of IGSI leaders to share ideas and challenges with family history research relating to Irish ancestors. ...
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November 16
The Connemara of County Galway: Despair in the American Heartland
10:30 AM - Noon CST (GMT-5) Presented by Jane Kennedy, MA $15 for IGSI members (with Discount Code); $20 for non-members When Irish ...
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December 14
Irish Saturday
Stop by the library for Irish research help. Check www.mngs.org on the day you plan to visit, to make sure the library is open. ...
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