Patti~       Many native Irish both in the Republic and in NI are.  We (my husband and I) have often discussed the American passion for finding their ancestors with his family in Wexford and mine in Mayo.  They ask why is it so important to Yanks.  We usually quote JFK, "you can't know where you are going until you know where you have been" or words similar.  They nod and may or may not seem satisfied with the answer.       I just think there is something missing in our genetics because we can't look at the same geography and know it has always been so back before our personal oral history.  However, in general, my Mayo family looks up at Croagh Patrick each morning as our ancestors did or my husband's look out over the fields down to the sandy dunes of the sea out to the Saltee's as their ancestors have done before the 18Th century!       We have been quite lucky because both our maternal sides kept contact with Ireland over the years.  However, at least with our Irish cousins, they are interested in our common ancestors in Ireland before 1864.  They have helped us and themselves as much as they could.  Both Mayo & Wexford live on the same home place the families have occupied since pre 1798 (Wexford) and approx. 1850 for Mayo.        When the Irish went out during and after the Famine, they would send home letters; some were from those who were literate but others had people write them.  As the years passed, many of these links D/T death, war, etc.  became lost.  In modern times it is a daunting task for the native Irish with little oral history passed down to even know where to start.        My family lost track of some of my Gran's siblings.  But it was my cousin's in Mayo who gave us clues to find their families in the USA, not the immigrants.        In both countries, there were subjects that over the years which were just not discussed or passed on; various rebellions which family may have participated, effect of the famine on those who stayed behind, etc.  We (Mayo & Wexford) question how our ancestors kept the land when they were Catholic!!  Granted they leased until about 1878 when they were able to purchase out right, but how???       My husband's Wexford family only now freely discusses '98 Rebellion, Fr. Murphy & his brother, some family members who may have participated.  After studying the Protestant records at Trinity in Dublin and extensive research/reading, it was horrible for both sides.  Many survivors fled and families lost contact.       Many are just plain suspicious of people showing up in a village/town after 200 years seeking a kinship. Which is understandable.  I'm sure in the USA we would be too.        Just some ideas re: you question. Mary Ellen Chambers       ________________________________ From: patricia meyers <pattimeyers67@att.net> To: wexford list <IRL-WEXFORD@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thu, June 17, 2010 10:14:12 AM Subject: [IRL-WEXFORD] general question... Every so often the question comes up....why aren't the native-born Irish looking for us?  Are there any websites for them to research in Ireland for their American/Australian/South American, etc cousins?  Patti Meyers  ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-WEXFORD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Ellen Chambers" <maryln61@yahoo.com> To: <irl-wexford@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 11:22 AM Subject: Re: [IRL-WEXFORD] general question... Patti~ Many native Irish both in the Republic and in NI are. We (my husband and I) have often discussed the American passion for finding their ancestors with his family in Wexford and mine in Mayo. They ask why is it so important to Yanks. We usually quote JFK, "you can't know where you are going until you know where you have been" or words similar. They nod and may or may not seem satisfied with the answer. I just think there is something missing in our genetics because we can't look at the same geography and know it has always been so back before our personal oral history. However, in general, my Mayo family looks up at Croagh Patrick each morning as our ancestors did or my husband's look out over the fields down to the sandy dunes of the sea out to the Saltee's as their ancestors have done before the 18Th century! We have been quite lucky because both our maternal sides kept contact with Ireland over the years. However, at least with our Irish cousins, they are interested in our common ancestors in Ireland before 1864. They have helped us and themselves as much as they could. Both Mayo & Wexford live on the same home place the families have occupied since pre 1798 (Wexford) and approx. 1850 for Mayo. When the Irish went out during and after the Famine, they would send home letters; some were from those who were literate but others had people write them. As the years passed, many of these links D/T death, war, etc. became lost. In modern times it is a daunting task for the native Irish with little oral history passed down to even know where to start. My family lost track of some of my Gran's siblings. But it was my cousin's in Mayo who gave us clues to find their families in the USA, not the immigrants. In both countries, there were subjects that over the years which were just not discussed or passed on; various rebellions which family may have participated, effect of the famine on those who stayed behind, etc. We (Mayo & Wexford) question how our ancestors kept the land when they were Catholic!! Granted they leased until about 1878 when they were able to purchase out right, but how??? My husband's Wexford family only now freely discusses '98 Rebellion, Fr. Murphy & his brother, some family members who may have participated. After studying the Protestant records at Trinity in Dublin and extensive research/reading, it was horrible for both sides. Many survivors fled and families lost contact. Many are just plain suspicious of people showing up in a village/town after 200 years seeking a kinship. Which is understandable. I'm sure in the USA we would be too. Just some ideas re: you question. Mary Ellen Chambers Hi Mary Ellen I found this very interesting--thank you for writing it. My grandparents both came from Co Donegal(Carndonagh, Malin Head, Glenmakee area) I wish I had known them better, and learned more about their lives in Ireland before they came to MA My grandfather died in 1931, way before any of us cousins were born, and Mary Ann (grandmother) died in 1958. I'd love to one day find(as we think we still have families on both O'Donnell/Bradley- sides) family members still living in that area. In doing family research I've learned that by marriages I have a family from Wexford but they are in CA, and those that immigrated from Wexford have long since died. Name Sinnott. b ________________________________ From: patricia meyers <pattimeyers67@att.net> To: wexford list <IRL-WEXFORD@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thu, June 17, 2010 10:14:12 AM Subject: [IRL-WEXFORD] general question... Every so often the question comes up....why aren't the native-born Irish looking for us? Are there any websites for them to research in Ireland for their American/Australian/South American, etc cousins? Patti Meyers ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-WEXFORD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-WEXFORD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Patti, I'm replying to this mail very late but I just wanted to say that your question is a very good one. It does seem strange that out of all the Irish genealogy websites that look 'in' from outside Ireland there does not seem to be one that looks 'out' from inside Ireland. During my family research I have found out about many family members from earlier generations who emigrated to other countries but then lost contact with the family back in Wexford. I'd love to have a way of letting them know they are being searched for by their roots. Eileen For the record I have lots of 'branches' I'd like to discover are overseas but looking for their Wexford roots including: Whites in USA, England Chapmans/Jackmans in South America, Minnesota, New York, London, Newfoundland Cullens in USA Shudalls in USA O'Learys in USA, England McGraths in USA, England, South America Ryans in England Powers in England Smiths in Limerick ________________________________ From: patricia meyers <pattimeyers67@att.net> To: wexford list <IRL-WEXFORD@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thu, June 17, 2010 10:14:12 AM Subject: [IRL-WEXFORD] general question... Every so often the question comes up....why aren't the native-born Irish looking for us? Are there any websites for them to research in Ireland for their American/Australian/South American, etc cousins? Patti Meyers