The same name – everywhere in Ireland. Sifting and separating family groups
Date: June 28, 2025
Time: 12:00 AM
Location: Minnesota Genealogy Center, 1385 Mendota Hts Rd, Mendota Heights

The same name – everywhere in Ireland. Sifting and separating family groups

10:30 AM - Noon CDT (UTC-5)
Presented by Chelley Brekke McClear
$15 for IGSI members (with Discount Code); $20 for non-members
 
If any of your family names are common, you have likely faced a blizzard of source records that MIGHT be your ancestor. How to sift, sort, analyze, and make some sense of what you have found?? Chelley will give examples using Irish records to illustrate her process to "separate the wheat from the chaff."
 
You can enjoy this presentation at the live event in Minnesota or as part of our virtual audience. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A and discussion until the scheduled broadcast end time. Those at the live event can linger for social time following the broadcast, with the option of ordering a box lunch in advance.
 
The live event is limited to 40 people. Tours of the Research Library and Irish Collection will be offered following the program, and the Library is open for research until 4pm. The hybrid program will allow virtual attendees to unmute their microphone and camera for questions or discussion with the speaker following their presentation.
 
 
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
Ever found a source record that appeared to be your ancestor… only to discover four other men with the same name in the same place at the same time? Chelley will take you through a process she devised using spreadsheets to untangle a Northern Irish case using 19th century records... and how this helped to advance her 'What are the Odds?' (WATO) hypothesis.
 
Chelley grew up in England & lived In N. Ireland for 25 years and is a research specialist for these areas. She regularly presents at the MGS DNA Interest Group and coordinates the MGS Writing Interest Group. The North Star Award winner for 2024, Chelley can be found at FamilyTreeTrails.com
Chelley has lived and worked in Britain and Northern Ireland for several decades. Now in Minnesota, she is keen to share her love genealogy and of all things European with her new neighbors.