I was sitting beside my dad in front of a microfilm reader in Manchester’s Central Library when we first discovered our Irish ancestor William Kirby. Monthly posts from members celebrate their contributions to family history storytelling — in all its forms. Posts may be written or recorded (audio or video) will be shared for free each month.
So happy you reposted this - what an inspiring piece of research. And how incredible to be able to see these homes! My own immigrant ancestors’ dwellings have long been destroyed by urban renewal.
What a fantastic story. I love how there is that weird synchronicity in family history. That you often walk down streets that your ancestors walked down. Thank you for sharing.
Ireland. It calls our names, those of us with even a toehold in our ancestry to those green hills. My 2nd gr.grandparents hailed from Roscrea Parish, Kings county (now Offaly) and Ballymena, Antrim. Both were emigrants fleeing the results of the Great Hunger. If you haven't read it, there is a wonderful book "Voyage of Mercy" by Stephen Puleo who details with great accuracy about those who left by boat and those who left life. It can really put you in the time and place and give you so much understanding of what their lives were like. I was so thrilled you were able to visit the cellar home of your 3rd-greats. I have enough Irish in me to believe they knew you were there.
This is an amazing story -- I love how you literally uncover this history below ground and then get to see and feel the bricks in this concrete way. Have you ever been to Henrietta House in Dublin (https://14henriettastreet.ie/)? It's a tenement museum in a preserved house like they have in many cities, but one thing I liked about this one is they have left the walls and infrastructure layered so you can actually see wallpaper or chimneys or floors from different eras. It's remarkable--
So happy you reposted this - what an inspiring piece of research. And how incredible to be able to see these homes! My own immigrant ancestors’ dwellings have long been destroyed by urban renewal.
Thank Lisa. Re the houses - if there's a car park there they may just still be there under the surface waiting to be discovered.
What a fantastic story. I love how there is that weird synchronicity in family history. That you often walk down streets that your ancestors walked down. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Alex
Ireland. It calls our names, those of us with even a toehold in our ancestry to those green hills. My 2nd gr.grandparents hailed from Roscrea Parish, Kings county (now Offaly) and Ballymena, Antrim. Both were emigrants fleeing the results of the Great Hunger. If you haven't read it, there is a wonderful book "Voyage of Mercy" by Stephen Puleo who details with great accuracy about those who left by boat and those who left life. It can really put you in the time and place and give you so much understanding of what their lives were like. I was so thrilled you were able to visit the cellar home of your 3rd-greats. I have enough Irish in me to believe they knew you were there.
Thanks Karla and thank you for the kind words. I haven’t read the book but I will look for it now. Thank you.
This is an amazing story -- I love how you literally uncover this history below ground and then get to see and feel the bricks in this concrete way. Have you ever been to Henrietta House in Dublin (https://14henriettastreet.ie/)? It's a tenement museum in a preserved house like they have in many cities, but one thing I liked about this one is they have left the walls and infrastructure layered so you can actually see wallpaper or chimneys or floors from different eras. It's remarkable--
Thanks Victoria. Very kind of you. I haven’t been to Henrietta Street but it’s on my history bucket list along with the Tenement Museum in New York.