What does a genealogist in Ireland do?

An Irish genealogist researches historical records — civil registration, parish and church records, land valuations and census substitutes — to trace your ancestors and confirm the towns and parishes they came from. Our recommended experts turn scattered family details into a documented Irish family tree.

How much does Irish genealogy research cost?

It depends on the depth of research. As a starting point, a one-hour consultation with the genealogists at Cobh Heritage Centre costs €90, and Little Gem guests receive a complimentary 20- minute consultation when they book a private tour.

Can a genealogist find where my ancestors actually lived?

Often, yes. With a surname, a county, or even a family story, our recommended genealogists can frequently identify the parish or townland your ancestors came from, and we build those places into your private tour.

Do I need a DNA test first?

No. A DNA test isn't required to begin. If you've taken one, such as AncestryDNA, our recommended experts can interpret the results and link them to your Irish origins.

How do I start tracing my Irish roots?

Start by gathering names, dates, photos and stories from older relatives. Then book a consultation and we'll connect you with a suitable independent genealogist and weave their findings into your private ancestry tour.

Does Little Gem employ the genealogists?

No. Little Gem works with a network of trusted, independent professional genealogists and recommends the right specialist. The research relationship is directly between you and your chosen genealogist.

Find a Genealogist in Ireland to Trace Your Irish Roots

Finding a genealogist in Ireland is the surest way to trace your Irish roots. Little Gem Tours connects you with trusted, independent
professional genealogists who specialise in Irish civil, church and land records. They build your family tree and pinpoint the towns your
ancestors came from, so your private tour can follow their exact footsteps.

Reserve Your Private Ancestry Tour

How Our Recommended
Genealogy Experts Can Help You

From a single surname to a full family tree, our recommended genealogists combine formal expertise with Ireland's civil, church, land and DNA records to trace exactly where your family came from. Here's how they help you go deeper, and how that research becomes a journey you can walk.

Family Tree Building – Working from the names, dates and documents you already have, our recommended genealogists build your Irish family tree using civil registration, parish and church records, and census substitutes, establishing a documented, verifiable line back to your ancestral parish.

Local Research – Some of the most valuable records never make it online. Our experts carry out hands-on research in local archives, and your driver-guide takes you to the graveyards, churches and townlands connected to your family, gathering detail on the ground you simply can't find from home.

DNA Analysis and Interpretation – If you've taken a DNA test such as AncestryDNA, our recommended experts interpret your results and connect the genetic evidence to specific Irish origins, turning a list of matches into a real place on the map.

New to this? Here's how our ancestry tours work, from your first enquiry to the road

MEET
Our Recommended Genealogy Experts

We work exclusively with qualified, independent professional genealogists—specialists with formal academic training in Irish family history and years of hands-on research experience for clients around the world. Whether you're starting with a single surname or have already gathered detailed family records, the right expert can trace your Irish roots through civil, church, land, and DNA records, and we'll incorporate their findings into your private tour.

Kayleigh Bealin
The Irish Genealogist

Kayleigh Bealin is a professional genealogist who delivers in-depth, place-based research that uncovers each guest's individual Irish story, grounded in written records, genetic genealogy, historical context and lived experience.

She holds a Certificate and a Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde, backed by more than eight years specialising in both traditional and genetic genealogical research for Irish and international clients.

Her expertise has been recognised well beyond private research: Kayleigh has appeared on genealogy television programmes in the UK and the United States, and has carried out research for politicians, sports figures and other public personalities.
Learn more about Kayleigh: theirishgenealogist.com

Learn more here about Kayleigh: www.theirishgenealogist.com/

Don't forget to mention Little Gem Tours if contacting your genealogist directly!!

Fiona O’Mahony
Heritage planning lead

Fiona O'Mahony is your primary point of contact and the person who turns genealogical research into a practical, meaningful tour. She acts as the strategic liaison between our expert genealogists and your itinerary, so the family history uncovered on paper becomes places you can actually stand in.

Fiona brings senior-level experience in Irish heritage tourism, most notably as Head of the Irish Family History Centre. Her background spans genealogical services, museum operations, international tourism engagement, client relationship management and heritage programme development — a rare combination of genuine research understanding and the operational expertise needed to deliver complex, high-value heritage experiences.

Learn more here about Fiona: www.theirishgenealogist.com/

Claire Bradley
Expert genealogist from Leinster

Claire Bradley is one of Ireland's leading genealogists, with over 15 years of experience helping clients around the world trace their Irish roots. She specialises in Irish civil and church records, land valuation archives and DNA research.

Claire holds a Certificate in Family History from University College Dublin and a Master's in the History of the Family from the University of Limerick, where she deepened her expertise in Irish migration and family development — the exact knowledge that connects a family abroad back to a specific Irish parish or townland.

Areas of expertise:

Irish family tree research
DNA and genetic genealogy
Civil and church record tracing
Emigration and diaspora studies

Learn more about Claire: cbgenealogy.ie

Don't forget to mention Little Gem Tours if contacting your genealogist directly!!

Christy in the Cobh Heritage Center, County Cork

Christy Keating and the genealogy team at Cobh Heritage Centre in County Cork provide a full Genealogical Family History Research Profile. Cobh — historically the final departure point for millions of Irish emigrants — is one of the most significant places in the story of the Irish diaspora, which makes it a fitting home for this research.

Their expert system is designed so that someone with no prior knowledge of genealogical records can obtain a detailed, custom analysis of every Irish record relevant to a particular ancestor: which records matter, how to use them, where they are, and how to access them.

A one-hour research session with the Cobh Heritage Centre genealogists costs €90 (advance booking recommended).

Learn more about the Cobh Heritage Center Cork Geneaology

Don't forget to mention Little Gem Tours if contacting your genealogist directly!!

Frequently asked questions

ancestry-tour-ireland-3

ancestry-tour-ireland-6

ancestry-tour-ireland-7

ancestry-tour-ireland-3

1/8

Reserve Your Private Irish Ancestry Tour

Let us turn your family history into a deeply personal journey through Ireland. With the help of our recommended expert genealogists, we design private tours that trace your ancestral roots — visiting the towns, villages, churches, graveyards, and family homesteads connected to your heritage.