Megan Smolenyak found Obama’s Irish ancestry
Finding President Obama's Irish ancestry had a bit 'o the (yes) luck of the green in it. During Obama's run for the presidency Megan Smolenyak was quoted as a genealogist in a press release announcing that he was part Irish. That bit 'o luck started people inquiring of her and she naturally turned to genealogy tools and started digging.
No one knew where his family was from in Ireland, and the quest led Megan to a pair of tombstones with Obama's fourth great-grandfather and corresponding grand uncle. This in turn led to the President's third great-grandfather, Fulmoth Kearney. The Kearney's had hailed from Moneygall.
Here are Megan Smolenyak's 5 Genealogy Secrets
- Be methodical and organized.
- Remember that everything is not online: search real places!
- Remember cemeteries.
- Don't believe everything the family tells you until verified
- Connect!
And finally, why do we all do it?
It's both the thrill of the hunt and a sense of belonging.
