MY BLOG

Welcome to my genealogy journey

I will be sharing when and why I started tracing my own family tree. 

The brick walls I broke down and the many living relatives and friends I found along the way. 

I will be posting when I can and giving some tips and ideas along the way…….

Catherine

______________________________________________________

17th September

What Can an Irish Death Certificate Tell You About Your Ancestor?

When researching an Irish ancestor, a death certificate can provide much more than simply the date and place of death.

It can sometimes give you valuable clues that help connect one generation to the next.

What information can you find?

An Irish civil death record can include details such as:

• The name of the deceased
• Date and place of death
• Age
• Occupation
• Cause of death
• Marital status in some circumstances
• The name and address of the informant
• The relationship of the informant to the deceased

The informant can be particularly interesting.

A death registered by a son, daughter, spouse or other relative can provide an additional family connection that may help confirm that you have identified the correct person.

Don’t rely on the age alone

One of the most common problems in family history research is that an ancestor’s age can vary from one record to another.

Someone might be described as 60 on a death record but appear as 56 or 58 in an earlier census.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve found the wrong person.

Ages were often supplied by other people, and the information on a death certificate may not have come directly from the deceased.

Instead, look at the whole collection of evidence.

Does the address match?

Does the occupation make sense?

Is the informant a relative?

Do the names of the spouse or children fit with other records?

These details can be much more useful than relying on one age.

The address can be an important clue

Addresses are particularly valuable when researching Irish families.

If an ancestor died at an address that also appears in a census, valuation record, electoral register or another family document, you may be able to establish a much stronger connection between the records.

Even when the surname is common, an unusual address can help distinguish one family from another.

Cause of death can also provide context

The cause of death can sometimes give you an insight into the circumstances surrounding an ancestor’s final years.

However, historical medical terminology can be very different from modern terminology, so it is important not to interpret an old cause of death without understanding the terminology used at the time.

One certificate rarely proves the whole story

A death certificate is a useful piece of evidence, but it should normally be considered alongside other records.

For example, you might combine information from:

Death certificate → Census → Marriage record → Birth or baptism record → Other family records

Each record can either strengthen the identification or raise a new question.

And sometimes it is the apparent contradiction between two records that provides the clue you need to investigate further.

Researching an Irish ancestor?

If you have an Irish ancestor whose life story you are trying to uncover, professional genealogy research can help bring together the available records and build a documented family history.

At CK Genealogy Research & Design, I research Irish and international family histories using civil records, church records, census returns, archives, newspapers, property records, cemetery records and other historical sources.

I can also provide research reports and copies of relevant records where available.

Every family history is different, and research cannot guarantee that a particular record or ancestor will be found. But sometimes one small detail is enough to open up an entirely new branch of your family tree.

CK Genealogy Research & Design
Dublin, Ireland

______________________________________________________

 16th Sep

Why One Irish Genealogy Record Is Rarely Enough

When researching your Irish family history, it can be tempting to find one record that appears to confirm an ancestor’s identity and move on to the next generation.

But genealogy rarely works that simply.

A single record can contain an error, a different spelling of a name, an incorrect age, or information supplied by someone who did not know all the details. This is why comparing different records is such an important part of Irish family history research.

Look for the same person in different records

For example, a marriage certificate might give you:

• The couple’s names
• Their occupations
• Their fathers’ names
• Addresses
• Witnesses

Those details can then be compared with census records, church registers, civil death records, newspaper reports, valuation records and other sources.

The 1901 and 1911 Irish censuses are particularly useful because they can provide information about household members, ages, occupations, relationships, religion and addresses. The National Archives of Ireland provides access to these census records online.

Names can change

Irish ancestors did not always appear under exactly the same name throughout their lives.

A person recorded as Bridget in one document might appear as Bessie, Bess or another variation elsewhere. Spelling could also vary considerably, particularly when names were written down by different record keepers.

This is one reason I always recommend looking beyond an exact-name search when researching an Irish ancestor.

Check the address

An address can sometimes be just as important as a name.

If you find the same family surname appearing at the same address in several records, this can provide an important clue that you have found the correct family.

Property and valuation records can also help establish where a family lived. Griffith’s Valuation, for example, is an important source for Irish family and local history research.

Don’t forget church records

Civil registration in Ireland began in 1864 for births, marriages and deaths, although non-Catholic marriages were registered from 1845.

For earlier generations, parish registers can be essential. Depending on the parish and denomination, baptism, marriage and burial records may provide information that isn’t available elsewhere.

Build the evidence

Good genealogy isn’t simply about finding a name that looks right.

It’s about building a body of evidence.

I like to look at several records together and ask:

Does the age make sense?
Does the address fit?
Do the family relationships match?
Does the occupation fit?
Are the witnesses or neighbours connected?
Does the information remain consistent across different records?

Sometimes the answer is straightforward. Other times, the discrepancies are what lead to the breakthrough.

If you’re researching an Irish ancestor and have reached a point where the records don’t seem to agree, don’t assume you’ve reached a dead end. Sometimes the smallest clue can lead to the next generation.

Need help with your Irish family history?

I provide professional genealogy research through CK Genealogy Research & Design, including Irish family tree research, civil and church records, census research, cemetery searches, family history reports and more.

Every research project is different, and while research can uncover fascinating information, no guarantee can be given that a particular ancestor or record will be found.

If you’ve reached a brick wall in your Irish family tree, I’d be happy to discuss your research and see what avenues may be available.

CK Genealogy Research & Design
Dublin, Ireland
https://ckresearchanddesign.com

____________________________________________________

15th Sept 2026

Why Can’t I Find My Irish Ancestor?

One of the most frustrating parts of Irish genealogy is knowing that your ancestor was born, married or lived in Ireland – but being unable to find the record you are looking for.

Don’t give up too quickly!

Irish records can be difficult to trace because names were often spelled differently, ages may be incorrect, and records can be missing or incomplete. Your ancestor may also have been recorded under a townland, parish or town that is different from the place name you know today.

Sometimes a simple variation in a surname or first name can make all the difference.

When researching an Irish ancestor, it is worth checking:

• Different spellings of the surname
• Variations in first names
• Nearby parishes and townlands
• Civil and church records
• Census records
• Griffith’s Valuation and other land records
• Newspaper and archive records
• Cemetery and burial records

Most importantly, don’t assume that a record doesn’t exist simply because you haven’t found it yet.

Irish genealogy often requires several different records to be brought together before you can be confident that you have identified the correct person.

If you have an Irish ancestor you are struggling to find, I can help you investigate the available records and piece together the evidence.

CK Genealogy Research and Design
Family history research | Irish genealogy | Family trees | Genealogy reports

Please note: genealogy research cannot guarantee that a particular record or ancestor will be found.

______________________________________________________________

17th August 2026

So it has been a busy summer for me, lots of clients, some looking for Irish citizenship,

some looking for missing relatives. Family history books produced, family trees printed

and some interviews with Hotels. All good and looking forward to helping more clients.

I am starting a diploma course in Family History in September. Holidays first though!

______________________________________________________

6th June

I have been very busy work and personal time. I have had many clients looking for my services

to help them apply for Irish citizenship. This week I am trying to solve a mystery of a missing relative…..

______________________________________________________________

18th April 2026

The 1926 Census is finally available! I have been happily looking up information about my grandparents and great-grandparents. I have not slept in a few days! Much more to find……

__________________________________________________

13th March 2026

I attended an Irish Family History meeting last Wednesday night. It was a very interesting evening with many laugh-out-loud moments that, unfortunately, I cannot share!

One member spoke about having photographs of Nelson’s Column after it was blown up—and he himself appeared in the pictures. He explained that he had been given a camera as a gift and carried it with him at all times. Looking back, he said he is very glad that he did.

He also shared the challenges he faced while trying to locate his father’s baptismal certificate. When he finally found a copy, the date recorded on it did not match the date his family had always believed to be correct.

I also spoke about my experience using AI to help locate a burial place for a client. I discussed both the advantages and the limitations of using it. AI can be very useful for tasks such as transcription, cleaning up text, summarising information, and organising research. However, it cannot replace proper evidence, historical context, or human judgement.

The group members regularly support one another and share their knowledge and expertise. It is a very worthwhile group to join.

 ______________________________________________________________________

23rd Feb 2026

Researching an Ancestor Who Did Not Want to Be Found

What happens when the trail suddenly goes cold — not because records are missing, but because someone deliberately disappeared?

It took me many years to uncover any real information about my great-grandfather Daniel Flynn’s brother, Michael Flynn.

I first found him on the 1901 census (from the National Archives website), aged 13, living in Dublin with his mother and siblings. His brother Daniel was listed as a Private in the British Army.

But by 1911, Michael had vanished. He did not appear on the census (from the National Archives website).

I later located his army record on Ancestry. Michael had become a Sergeant Major in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. I even found a photograph in the family archive of him in uniform alongside his brother Daniel. After that, however, the trail went cold.

Eventually, I discovered a World War I record that appeared to match him. It mentioned a wife and two children — Michael and Anne Marguerite, the latter born in India. Encouraged, I searched for a marriage certificate, checking carefully that the father’s name aligned. It seemed I was on the right path.

But then doubt crept in.

Should everything be uncovered? How do we handle discoveries that may unsettle living relatives?

While searching further, I found a Michael Flynn listed on the 1939 Register in England on the Ancestry website. He was living with his wife Mary Ellen and three children. Something caught my attention: his birth date was recorded as 6th September 1889.

My Michael Flynn’s birth record showed 13th November 1888.

Close — but not the same.

Curious, I researched Michael Flynn, born in September 1889. I soon discovered that this man had died in 1911. I found his death record from the Irish Genealogy website (irishgenealogy.ie) and burial details from the Dublin Cemeteries Trust (dctrust.ie). That should have ruled him out entirely.

Yet DNA results told a different story.

A DNA match connected directly to the family listed in the 1939 Register. The children matched. The family matched. Everything pointed back to them.

So why would Michael adopt the birth date of another man — one who had died?

Then I uncovered the answer.

Through newspaper archives, I found records of a Michael Flynn working at the Post Office in London. He had been stealing postal items containing money. Eventually, he was caught and prosecuted. The newspaper listed his address: Ferndale Road, Lambeth — the same address connected to the family I had traced.

That confirmed it.

“Our” Michael Flynn had reinvented himself.

Even his wife Mary’s birth details were incorrectly recorded, which explains why I struggled to find her earlier records. It seemed reinvention ran deep.

This was no accident or coincidence. It was deliberate.

Researching family history often feels like assembling a puzzle. But sometimes, the missing pieces aren’t lost — they’re hidden.

And sometimes the most difficult ancestors to trace are the ones who teach us the most: about resilience, reinvention, shame, survival, and the complicated nature of family.

Author: Catherine Kelleher, Genealogist / AGI Affiliate

Mobile: +353 087 928 5663

Website: CK Research and Design

________________________________________________

17th Feb 2026

Well, I have just finished a report for one of my clients regarding Michael Collins.

Just started another report for a new client, and I am working on a booklet for another client.

_________________________________________________

26th Jan 2026

I have been very busy working on my two businesses in the last few months.

I am now an Affiliate  with Accredited Genealogists Ireland, I look forward to 

learning from other genealogists and increasing my skills in researching. 

More on that in the next few weeks after I meet my mentor. 

__________________________________________________

Sohana a student from the learning heaven came across an article on Ancestry to Archives: Libraries Are Revolutionizing Family Tree Research.

www.librarysciencedegreesonline.org/libraries-revolutionizing-family-tree-research

I thought it might be helpful to share. #genealogy

__________________________________________________

New Free Historical Records from 10 Countries

FamilySearch expanded its free online archives with over 18 million new records from 10 countries. Exciting additions include 12 million civil (birth, marriage, death) and church records from Italy, 8 million civil and immigration records from the Dominican Republic, and 2 million records from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Other countries with significant record additions include the following:

• Belgium
• French Polynesia
• Honduras
• Philippines
• United Kingdom
• United States

______________________________________________________

4th December

I have been busy putting the finishing touches (lol) to two family trees for clients,

Get in touch for last minute family tree gifts today #genealogy

__________________________________________________

20th November

I have had a busy few weeks, two clients I have been building their trees, nearly up to 500 on one and 400 on the other. I had a previous client’s friend come back to me, attacking me and threatening to bring me to court without explanation. I am not going into it further. Life is too short and most of my clients understand the work and effort that goes into my research. Onwards.

__________________________________________________

11th Nov

It has been a busy few weeks for lots of reasons…..

I am working on three client family trees and have a few brick walls, some I have broken down,

others I know I will break threw….Need help with a brick wall or want to find where a loved one is buried?

Get in touch for a quote.

___________________________________________________

22nd October

I have been busy in my different businesses the last few weeks!

I have been trying to prove a line of a family is connected to one of my clients

family tree, feel like I am close and won’t give up. Burial records helped me

confirm some information but not there yet. A new client is providing me with

some starting information next week and I can’t wait to get started on their tree.

I find starting a day with a walk clears the head and makes you see things alot

clearer! Reviewing another client tree this evening.

__________________________________________________

14th October

This week I have been researching my maternal line. I found a connection to Theodore Roosevelt, he was a good friend of a very distant relative.

Did you know the story of ‘The Teddy Bear’…….

___________________________________________________

6th October

So all I had to go on was grandfather’s birth record, saying his father was called Michael Joseph Kelleher. I found one Michael Kelleher, a draper, living in Glasnevin, Botanic road in 1911. I followed his life and found he worked in Clery’s on O’Connell Street and married Bridget Clune in Berkley Road church the following year 1912. I went to the church presbytery and a gentleman let me come in and take photographs of the marriage register which showed parents names, witnesses names and mother’s maiden names. I continued to follow Michael’s life and found he had 5 children, John (Jack), Desmond, Eine Maureen, Marie Teresa and Nora Euphoria. I spent too many hours to mention trying to find what happened to each of them, never knowing for sure if we were all related.

Then I ordered a DNA test and my results were uploaded showing matches and ethnicity. One day I found a match to a William Kelleher in America – his grand uncle was Michael Joseph Kelleher, the same man I had researched.

__________________________________________________

30th September 2025

Tips & Advice

Ask questions……… talk to your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Take notes…. but remember people can be economical with the truth. Chinese whispers can cause issues. Remeber if you are given dates of events search a couple of years before and after that year.

The 1901 and 1911 census is a great place to start your search. I am counting the hours until the 1926 census is available…. I have so much to look up and clarify.

I am starting a tree for a new client in a few weeks just waiting for the starting information. Get in touch for a quote and why my services are way above the rest.

Catherine

_______________________________________________________

25th September 2025

I started to have an interest in our family history after my dad passed away in 2007. I wish I had asked questions years before, but we can’t change the past. Little did I know that not only would I find family we didn’t know we had, but also living family we didn’t know we had. Family living in Dublin, Co. Wexford, Cork, Australia and United States.

I have to say I have enjoyed every minute of this search and it is still going on. I have not met anyone who is finished with their family tree.

More to come

#genealogy