Find your Irish roots in The Green Room

Today, Ireland is home to around seven million people, yet an estimated 70 to 80 million people worldwide claim Irish ancestry. From the United States to Australia, Canada to Britain, the Irish diaspora is one of the world’s largest, shaped by centuries of migration and deeply rooted cultural identity.

But tracing Irish ancestry is not always straightforward. Records can be fragmented or lost, surnames repeated, and family stories can lead researchers down the wrong path. For many, the journey can be a real challenge.

But it doesn’t have to be. Communities of like-minded researchers can help, and The Green Room, run by Mike and Carina Collins, is a brilliant example of professionals and enthusiasts coming together to help each other.

Dedicated solely to Irish genealogy, the Green Room offers training, live webinars, advice from professionals, inspiring stories, and a community of supportive researchers.

‘Members can bring their own questions into the community and get guidance from professional genealogists, without having to hire someone to take the whole project away from them,’ Mike says. ‘We call it “done with you” rather than “done for you.” There is also a training library, a research roadmap, access to JohnGrenham.com, live sessions and a busy community forum. The aim is to help members keep moving forward, one sensible step at a time.’

The Green Room's origins

The origins of The Green Room are refreshingly organic. What began as a personal project for Mike, sharing photographs and reflections from walks through the Irish countryside, quickly struck a chord with people.

‘I began sharing stories and images on Facebook,’ Mike explains, ‘and very quickly people of Irish descent started asking whether certain places might be connected to their own family.’

At that point, Mike didn’t have much experience of genealogy, but he could see something exciting happening; people were drawn to the idea that someone from Ireland could walk the same roads, stand in the same fields, and bring their ancestors’ world to life. ‘Over time, the questions became more focused on surnames, townlands, records and family stories. The Green Room grew naturally from that,’ he says.

Adding context to the records

As any family historian will tell you, the dates, places, and documents are an essential part of growing a family tree, but this is just the beginning.

‘The big genealogy websites are genuinely useful, and we encourage members to use them,’ Mike says. ‘But a record on its own does not always tell you what to do next. Is it really your ancestor? Does the place make sense? Does the spelling variation matter? Are there other records to support it? The Green Room helps members understand the Irish context behind the records.’

Mike believes an inquisitive mind and the right approach can really add colour to the often monochrome records, and The Green Room’s community is the perfect place to start exploring. ‘Attitude matters more than knowledge level,’ he says. ‘Are you curious? Open to learning? Willing to follow suggestions and test what you think you know? Members can ask questions, receive guidance from professional genealogists, and learn alongside others on the same journey.’

‘We cannot promise a particular discovery, and no one honestly can,’ Mike explains. ‘But members can expect solid guidance, training, expert input, a supportive community, and a much clearer sense of where their Irish research should go next.’

There’s friendly support on hand, no matter what the challenge or how far you’ve got back on your family tree. ‘Many members do not have anyone in their own family who shares the same interest,’ says Mike. ‘Inside The Green Room, new members introduce themselves and are usually welcomed straight away by people who have been there for years… Everyone is there because they care about Irish family history, and that makes a big difference.’

Members also have help from professional genealogists.

Jayne McGarvey, based in Northern Ireland, specialises in Irish records, townlands and parish research; whilst Pam Holland is an expert on emigration, overseas records and DNA. ‘Members often arrive with a tangle of names, dates, family stories and possible records,’ Mike says. ‘Our genealogists help turn that into a clear research question. They may interpret a record, suggest where to search next, or spot a clue that changes the direction of the search. One member told Pam she was “like an ancestry psychic.” It is hands-on guidance, but not a full private research service.’

Negotiating the obstacles

With this support, obstacles are easier to overcome, and the 1926 Census release has revealed a wealth of new records. ‘For many years, researchers relied heavily on key surviving sources such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses,’ Mike explains. ‘The recent release of the 1926 Census has brought renewed excitement, offering fresh opportunities for discovery – particularly for families connected to the Irish Free State.’

For those researching further back, it’s important not to fall into familiar traps, Mike suggests. ‘One of the most common mistakes is diving straight into Irish records without first fully exploring records from the country where ancestors settled,’ he says. Documents such as death records, passenger lists and church registers often contain vital clues about origins in Ireland.

‘We also see people treating family stories as proof,’ Mike admits. ‘I love family stories, and they are often right in spirit. But they are clues, not conclusions. The danger comes when people build a whole tree on something that has not been tested.’

A family business

When they’re not travelling across Ireland, gathering stories and supporting members, Mike and Carina can be found in their cottage in County Cork. It’s very much a family effort, too. Their son Evan plays an active role behind the scenes, and is a familiar presence to many members. Evan is understandably proud of what his parents have created. ‘Thousands of people have come through the community… I have met many people now who have some very heartwarming things to say about my parents which is really nice to hear.’

Naturally, Evan has been bitten by the family history bug. ‘One line I find interesting is my father’s side from West Cork who were boat builders. It’s a very romantic job and an amazing location that I used to visit a lot as a child,’ he says. ‘I’ve developed a much greater appreciation for the connection between ancestry and place.’

For many, Irish ancestry research begins with a name, but soon becomes something richer – a link to landscape, history and identity. That connection lies at the heart of what The Green Room offers. Whatever your experience, it provides clarity, confidence and direction. Because family history isn’t just about finding ancestors – it’s about understanding where you come from, and sometimes finding your way back.

Discovering your ancestors’ home

‘Bart and Gale Lawless from Massachusetts had been researching Bart’s County Wicklow ancestors for years,’ Mike explains. ‘Our genealogist Jayne traced the family to Ballydowling, near Glenealy, using parish records, civil records, Griffith’s Valuation and even dog licence records. Carina and I then visited Wicklow with Bart and Gale. We found the old church site, what appeared to be the baptismal font, and the old Lawless homeplace. Bart stood on the land his ancestors had known. That moment, when a person stands in a real place their family once called home, is what this work is really about.’

Read more about Bart and Gale’s journey at: youririshheritage.com/irish-homelands-county-wicklow-revisited

The Green Room

The Green Room is a unique learning and support community for Irish family history researchers. It’s dedicated to only Irish family history research and is packed with in-depth, practical training and resources with support from Irish Genealogists and a community of members just like you.

Members can enjoy:

• Immediate access to training courses
• ‘Ask the Genealogist’ service
• Irish Homeland articles and videos
• Access to johngrenham.com
• Exclusive live webinars
• An active and supportive community of peers

Find out more at: youririshheritage.com