History Foundation in Coalisland traces ancestors for people around the world

by Gráinne Connolly

Irish Family History Foundation 'Irish World' has been helping people from all over the world track down their families and ancestors. 

The Coalisland based company has been operating for over 30 years for counties Tyrone and Fermanagh. 

Over the years they have documented a mass index of information from data bases and use many principal sources of research such as; church records, baptism records, birth records, marriage records, gravestones, census data and muster rolls. 

If you have ancestral links with either Tyrone or Fermanagh, Irish World can dig into your roots and explore your family history. 

Q Radio has been speaking to Irish World's manager William O'Kane who says, 

"Every year we would help the best part of 1,000 people from all across the world. 

"Our main market would be America, Australia, Britain and then Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

"We can't help everyone as sometimes there are no records for a certain parish and we would let them know that before we do any work." 

Irish World are also now a registered charity and offer a grant scheme for local history groups. 

William says, "we help people within the field of our local history and genealogy work." 

"We like to be able to help people to use our expertise get acquainted with records to do with their background.

"We are also able now to help local history groups with small grants. 

"So if a group in maybe Omagh or Strabane, wherever, is trying to publish a book to do with local history, family history or folklore or local culture in general; Irish World would be happy to look at the possibility of granting upwards of £500 to that group." 

For any group planning to do that or feel they may be eligible for a small grant, or interested in finding out a bit more information about the grants there's an application form and guidance notes available. 

To find out more you can contact via email: info@irish-world.com or phone: 02887746065. 

Since it's a charity, donations are also always welcome to aid their research purposes.