Press Release "This is Ireland" The British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois will present Jim Ryan of Beloit as their featured speaker this St. Patrick's Day. He will present "This is Ireland" featuring slides of his many trips to Ireland, along with his Irish wit and humor. He will also be discussing Griffith's Valuation, a widely used source for genealogists searching their Irish ancestry. Ryan is a native of Beloit, born to Irish parents. He states he has been "Irish most of my life." Surnames on his father's side include Ryan, Tyman and Walsh. His mother's side boasts surnames such as O'Shea and Haggerty. He has traveled to Ireland many times and has escorted tours of Ireland. Ryan has studied Irish History, Culture and the language. The BIGWILL meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. Refreshments will be served. Join us for socializing before and after the meeting. Non-members and guests are welcome to attend. BIGWILL meets at the Grace Lutheran Church, 6000 Broadway in Richmond Illinois (on Hwy. 173, just West of Hwy. 12). The meeting is always held on the third Saturday of every other month. Visit the BIGWILL website at: rootsweb.com/~wiilbig/. For further information, please contact Peggy Rockwell Gleich at 608-752- 8816 or by e-mail at: [email protected] (for WI) or Ann Wells at 815-455-7150 or by e-mail at: [email protected] (for IL).