An FYI re: the initiation of a project sponsored by the Irish government.  It will start with Galway and progress to other counties. Ireland Reaching Out The Ireland Reaching Out (IRO or Ireland XO) Project is an Irish government sponsored initiative established to connect people of Irish heritage abroad with the Irish parish communities from where their ancestors emigrated in Ireland. The national pilot project is being organized within 46 parishes in the South-East Galway region and aims to enable geographical parish communities as they are today to expand to become globally connected online virtual communities.

In June of this year, the parish community of South-East Galway will be part of a Week of Welcomes festival. Activities will include visits to ancestral townlands, talks on local history and tours/leisure activities in the local South East Galway area. Please visit the website www.irelandxo.com<http://www.irelandxo.com> to view the brochure