The 2026 ScotlandsPeople Release is the one week each year when Scottish genealogy suddenly feels easier. Fresh statutory records come online. Long-stuck research lines start moving again. Those “maybe someday” questions turn into “okay, let’s do this.” If you want…
Start your Ballina story on real ground When you begin tracing family in County Mayo, it often starts with a single word: Ballina. It feels specific until you arrive and realize how much ground that name actually covers. County Mayo…
You have probably heard the phrase “lost records” and felt your stomach drop. The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland is designed for that exact moment. It gives you a practical way to chase clues that once seemed gone for good.…
The January 17, 2026, Central Florida Scottish Highland Games felt like stepping through a doorway in time. Even before we reached the gates, the crowds told the story. About 200 people waited in line to catch the shuttle bus. They…
If you are tracing Scottish settlers in America, the story gets interesting fast. You are not just looking at people who stepped off a ship from Scotland. You are also following families who lived in Ulster (Northern Ireland) for generations.…
Rosyth submarine dismantling is one of those Fife stories. You can feel it in the air even if you never step inside the fences. You are standing on the edge of the Firth of Forth, watching cranes, basins, and industrial…
When you start planning a trip, “Free Dublin Activities” might sound too good to be true. Dublin is full of parks, museums, libraries, and walks that cost nothing. These activities offer deep connections to Irish history. They can also connect…
Mystery photograph When I first looked at the sepia photograph, I noticed the neat embossing on the mount: J. Slimming Cowdenbeath. My father, looking about 18, stands stiffly leaning on a young man. He is dressed in his best suit.…
Yesterday my cousin Bill Stewart emailed me with a simple question: “I had a thought and wondered if you had ever looked into Y-DNA testing. I did mine a few years back and it was super interesting to me, and…