Irish genealogical site unearths
Walt Disney's Irish roots
An Irish family history website have discovered records which reveal that Walt Disney's ancestors rented 33 acres of land in County Kilkenny.
Dublin based website findmypast.ie have uncovered documents clearly showing the family's links to the small parish of Rathbeagh.
The cartoonist has long been rumoured to have ancestry in Ireland, but the newly discovered records show, in detail, Disney's family history.
1940 Census Records Coming Soon!
Countdown to the release of the 1940 Census, April 2, 2012! |
Prohibition
Click here:
to Watch the Ken Burns Prohibition Documentary on PBS.
Milwaukee Irish Fest: Wild Mountain Thyme
In 2010 Milwaukee Irish Fest celebrated its 30th anniversary. In doing so the festival brought in many great musical friends that have graced the Irish Fest stages through these years. The Ward Irish Music Archives put together a film to document this occasion. Using the iconic song Wild Mountain Thyme as our theme, this film highlights one of the great gatherings of Irish musicians in one moment in time, always the third weekend in August.
Byron Kilbourn
At our September meeting, Frank Matusinec gave a presentation on how the body of Byron Kilbourn was exhumed in Jacksonville, Florida and returned and buried with his family in Milwaukee back in 1998.
Who Do You Think You Are?
Rosie O'Donnell travels from Jersey City to Ireland on an emotional ride to discover her mother's roots.
John McCabe at Irish Fest
We were honored to have John McCabe with us at the genealogy tent for the 2010 Irish Fest. He was born in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. Before the Plantation (1612) Enniskillen Island was the Headquarters of the Maguire Clan. Today the original Enniskillen Castle complex where the Maguire's resided, incorporates the local Museum.
In the early 1960's he established a genealogical research service the basis of which was to assist overseas residents to trace their ancestors in Ulster Province. This Province includes the six Counties which today form Northern Ireland viz - Counties Antrim, Armagh, Derry/Londonderry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone.
In addition to his work, he enjoys identifying 'hidden' records relating to Irish emigrants, migrants, transportees from Ireland and military personnel. The most successful outcome was the finding of some seven hundred families, mostly Irish, residing in Bytown (Ottawa) in 1829. In 1988 he delivered the Houston Memorial Lecture at Seminar 88 in Ottawa which included photocopies of the above mentioned 1829 list. This source was published by the Ontario Genealogical Society as the McCABE LIST - EARLY IRISH IN THE OTTAWA VALLEY. Editor Bruce S. Elliott.
Irish center faces loss of building
The Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin, is a local and national historic landmark. The center finds itself in a financial situation where the board may have to put the building up for sale.
