Finding long lost cousins in America is a stirring experience and particularly so in 2013, the Year of the Gathering. It requires a lot of delving through American sources on family history, family papers and connections. In this context, Michael Kelly of Ardrahan recently located a cousin in America as was televised on the RTE programme “The Gathering”. His new found relative will be coming home for a family reunion this year. Michael will discuss his experience of this exciting outcome at the AGM of the Western Family History Association in the Lackagh Parish Centre (beside LackaghMuseum) on Wednesday January 16th next at 8.15pm.
At the AGM also, the Western Family History Association’s Library will be officially re-launched. Space has been allocated in the Lackagh Parish Centre for the Association’s collection of books on Family History and Genealogy. The existing store of books was greatly expanded in 2012 by the generous donation of the late Aodhagán Ó Rodhaighe’s collection by the Ó Rodhaighe Family. Aodhagán Ó Rodaighe was a former Chairman of WFHA and much admired for his deep interest in books, family history research, archaeology and scholarship. This donation adds significant wealth to the existing store of knowledge in the Library and will be valued greatly by the members. Other donations to the library were also made in 2012 which has greatly increased the value and content of the collection. The significance of the items within the collections will be explained by Bríd Higgins of the Western Family History Association.
The Association welcomes new members; the membership sub. is €30 per annum. For further information on the Western Family History Association and benefits of membership please visit www.wfha.info or contact the Chairperson Sean Flanagan 091 799258.
