Genealogy project attracts 50 tourists

TOURISM:AT LEAST 50 tourists who can trace their roots back to southeast Galway are coming to the inaugural Ireland Reaching Out event this month.

The event has been endorsed by the Government and Taoiseach Enda Kenny alluded to its aims in his speech introducing US President Barack Obama at College Green recently when he encouraged those of Irish descent to come “home” Ireland.

The project, first mooted at the Farmleigh Global Economic Forum in 2009 by Loughrea-based businessman Mick Feerick, is being supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

It is based on a simple premise: instead of waiting for those of Irish heritage to trace their roots, Ireland Reaching Out has identified those who left southeast Galway and has tracked their descendents. The pilot project has been running since November. Volunteers from 30 parishes in the area have identified those who left and have contacted their descendents through the internet.

To date visitors from the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand are coming for the week between June 26th and July 2nd. The week includes tours of the area, a mock wedding and céilí, hurling match and each visitor has the assistance of a locally trained genealogist to help them trace their ancestors. The cost of all excursions is €199 while visitors book their own flights and accommodation.

The pilot project is developing the technology for a Ireland Reaching Out national programme with each parish in Ireland holding their own gathering every year.

Dolores O’Shea, administrator for the South-East Galway Diaspora Pilot Project, said it had concentrated on those who had left the area in living memory, going back to the 1920s, but hoped to expand the project to trace the descendents of those who left during the Famine and the 19th century.