The Ireland Reaching Out program are doing some exciting things. They have contacted me because of a post on this list and I now have a contact from the Knockainey Civil Parish. Today, I got an email that the St John's Knockainey Cemetery pictures are online, and those in the program in Ireland are starting to transcribe the inscriptions and put them online. You can find them here: http://www.irelandxo.com/group/knockainey-limerick/local-news/historic-graves-knockainey Have others been contacted? Just wondering. -- Pat Connors, Sacramento CA http://www.connorsgenealogy.com

Pat~       I have not received the type of request, as you.  However, from various sources in the Republic I have received notices of events, which sound similar to reunion type.  Unfortunately, the ones I saw were happening in a matter of weeks.  Thus, unless one had planned to be in country at those times it would difficult from accommodation and cost issues to attend at almost "last minute".       I think it is terrific.  When we have been "home", to Mayo and Wexford over the years, we found many native Irish curious about all those ancestors who went out and their families today in USA, OZ, Canada and even South America.  In most circumstances, contact was lost.  We are now seeing the large number of descendants searching.  My husband and I are fortunate that our maternal sides did keep the link open over the 150 years to their families.  Perhaps it was a "woman thing", but whatever, we are so happy it happened.        Hope the counties will set up some type of newsletter which will publicize these events in a timely manner. Mary Ellen Chambers Lakewood, OH