Yesterday I spent a couple hours working the Irish Genealogical Society International (IGSI) booth at the Irish Fair in St Paul. A steady stream of friendly folks stopped to ask questions or tell stories about what they knew of their Irish ancestry. It was a bit like St Patrick's Day; everyone was celebrating their Irish connection with gusto. At the booth I picked up one of IGSI's free handouts titled "Discovering Your Irish Family History." I don't know the origin of the document, but it includes valuable advice. There are two parts: Getting Started and In Ireland. Today I'll post points for starting your Irish family research:

1. Start today! talk to your oldest relatives. They will be among your most valuable resources. Plus, you may make some dear friends.
2. Be systematic. Use standardized forms. Scraps of paper with bits of information are bound to lead to frustration. Get a notebook to keep all your materials organized. Use software (Family Tree Maker, for example) to document, store and organize your search results.
3. Try to involve cousins and other relatives. It will be a lot more fun. The more people involved the more success you will have.
4. Be flexible about the spelling of your surname. Spelling was variable well into the 19th century. Substantial spelling changes occurred depending upon the skills of the person doing the writing: the census taker, the rent collector, the tax collector, or the minister. (Example: McGee variations include Magee, McKie, McKee, McGhee, Machee, Macghie and Magius)
5. Records in the U.S. will prove vital to your success. Many state and county historical societies are no online. Most state and county archives are online. U.S. census records are online through 1940. Many passenger lists can be found online as well as Social Security Death records. Also check out commercial sites such as Ancestry.com or free sites such as Familysearch.org run by the LDS church.
6. Consider taking a DNA test. You may have amazing results and find relatives you had never heard of, some of whom may prove key to the success of your project.

Check back tomorrow for tips on conducting research in Ireland.