Monday 3 March 2014

Ancestry and Ireland XO reach out together

Ireland Reaching Out (Ireland XO) have joined forces with Ancestry to create a partnership called 'Reaching Out Together', which will include community information sessions and special offers for Irish genealogists.

The partnership will see Ireland XO & Ancestry seminars presented around the island where interested communities can meet to discuss the role of ancestry and reverse genealogy in bringing Ireland's diaspora home.

Eric Booth, Ancestry's Dublin-based Senior Product Marketing Manager, says he hopes the programme will serve as a platform to encourage new domestic users to engage with genealogy in Ireland and preserve their past for future generations. "We believe the Reaching Out Together initiative provides a unique opportunity to engage with communities at a local level and will encourage both experienced and budding family historians to get involved with a project that will help drive economic growth through tourism and grass roots genealogy."

The first of the Roadshow seminars will be held on Wednesday 9 April at Portlaoise Parish Centre (8pm). The Reaching Out Together team will then move on to Mayo, Cork and Longford, with other locations to be confirmed.

Making the announcement, Ireland XO Programme Manager Susan O'Brien said: “We look forward to bringing Ireland Reaching Out's message on reverse genealogy to local communities and highlighting the benefits that Ancestry.com will bring to our volunteers when identifying people of Irish heritage. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to meet with us and learn about how we all can work together to better our communities.”

For more details about the Roadshow, email roadshow@irelandxo.com.