Stories, discoveries and journeys
Irish Ancestral Adventures
Welcome to our collection of stories from Ireland and Scotland, where family history, local knowledge and the places we visit come together. Here we share discoveries from our research, traditions passed down through generations and experiences from the road, with photographs that bring those stories a little closer.
Choose an article below to read the full story and explore its photographs. There will be space to share your own memories and questions at the end.
When Kings Fell and the Name Changed
For centuries, the Mac Lochlainn (McLaughlin) dynasty stood amongst the most powerful ruling families in Ireland, producing High Kings, warriors and rulers whose influence extended far beyond their ancestral homeland of Inishowen. When Kings Fell and the Name Changed explores the dramatic rise and decline of this great Gaelic dynasty, tracing how the fortunes of a royal family were transformed by conflict, conquest and survival, while their descendants carried the McLaughlin name across Ireland and throughout the world.
Thomas “Tip” O’Neill’s Inishowen Ancestry
Long before he became Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and one of the most influential figures in American politics, Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill’s story began in the rugged landscapes of the Inishowen Peninsula in Co. Donegal. Join us as we explore the Irish roots, family connections and ancestral homeland that helped shape one of the most significant Irish-American political figures of the twentieth century.