Walk in the Footsteps of Your Irish Ancestors
Meet a local IrelandXO volunteer who can help you explore the place your family came from, uncover local stories and make your visit more meaningful.
Request a Meet & GreetHow It Works
- 1
Tell Us About Your Trip
Share your family history research and travel plans.
- 2
We Review Your Request
A local volunteer reviews your request and ancestral connection.
- 3
We Make the Introduction
We connect you with a volunteer from the relevant area.
- 4
Explore Your Roots
Receive local insights and, where possible, meet in person.
Ready to plan your visit?
Success Stories
From Drom and Blarney to Australia and back again
Blarney (Cork)
Victoria travels in search of her ancestors, aided by Kieran and Sarah
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The OConnor family reunited with the townland of their ancestors
Clonea (Waterford)
Kieran Jordan (Fermoy) and Eddie Cantwell (Dungarvan) collaborated on this Meet and Greet. They met George, Linda and Cameron O’Connor at the Waterford County Museum in Dungarvan.
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From Virginia to Ballymacelligott in County Kerry
Ballymacelligott (Kerry)
We were quite moved at standing in the place where our ancestors lived
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From New South Wales, Australia to County Cork
Fermoy (Cork)
Deported to Australia for Stealing Geese
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9 years of research leads Shirley to her place of origin in County Armagh
Armagh
Finding the Trotter family in Mullyleggan, County Armagh
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Exploring their Curry ancestry in County Clare
Tulla (Clare)
Visitors meet the new owners of their great great grandfathers house!
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From Connecticut to Shanagolden, County Limerick
Shanagolden (Limerick)
I can’t thank you enough for such a meaningful day!
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From Pennsylvania to County Monaghan
Aghabog (Monaghan)
From Monaghan to Crocknaboghil to rediscover their Bowes ancestry
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The Sheerin Clan reunite in Rossinver, County Leitrim
Rossinver (Leitrim)
The family tree was updated, there was music, songs resitations and presentations.
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Lifelong connections made in Templemore, County Tipperary
Templemore (Tipperary)
Meeting cousins, celebrating ancestry and lots of research across three counties!
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Emotional Reunion in County Kerry
Castleisland (Kerry)
Larry was able to reconnect with a second cousin, visit the family homestead and stand with his ancestors in the local cemetry.
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From Pennsylvania to Limerick City!
Tournafulla (Limerick)
Local volunteers help with Wren roots in Tournafulla
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Not Travelling Yet?
Join your ancestral county to:
- Receive local stories
- Get heritage news
- Learn about events
- Connect with volunteers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free?
Yes. This service is completely free. However, we encourage visitors to make a donation to help cover costs such as insurance, administration and governance.
How much notice should I give?
We recommend submitting your request at least 6-8 weeks before your trip to allow sufficient time to identify the most suitable volunteer.
Can you help if I'm not sure where my ancestors came from?
Yes. Many of our volunteers can undertake preliminary research before your arrival and help identify likely ancestral locations.
Will someone meet me in person?
Where possible, yes. We always try to arrange an in-person welcome to help visitors reconnect with their ancestral town, village or county.
Can you help with genealogy research?
Yes. Our volunteers have extensive local knowledge and can often assist with family history research and local historical context.
Ready to plan your visit?
Our local volunteers are here to help make your journey to your Irish roots more meaningful.