President Obama Presented with a Certificate of Irish Heritage

Obama Compressed

The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, presented US President, Barack Obama, with a Certificateof Irish Heritage at a St. Patrick’s Day reception at the White House on Tuesday, 20th March. The President was also presented with the traditional bowl of shamrock.

Mr Kenny said “As a prominent reminder, and on your behalf of your historic homecoming, Mr President, it is my honour to present to you on behalf of the Irish people and of the government this formal Certificate of Irish Heritage.”

“This will have a special place of honour – alongside my birth certificate,” the President quipped.

 

Former Canadian PM Receives Certificate of Irish Heritage

Paul Martin Receives His Certificate of Irish Heritage

Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore, presented former Canadian Prime Minister, Paul Martin with a Certificate of Irish Heritage during a visit to Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec as part of his visit celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, 2012.

Paul Martin Receives His Certificate of Irish Heritage

Quebec Premier Daniel Johnson, Norm Flynn, Founder and Executive Director of Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (H.E.R.O.S.), and Jason Burns, on behalf of his late father, Pat Burns, former coach of four NHL teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens, were also presented with Certificates of Irish Heritage by the Tánaiste at a special luncheon.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Space

Here’s a marvelous St. Patrick’s Day video tribute from astronaut Cady Coleman on the International Space Station in 2011. She plays two flutes, one a wooden flute from the Chieftains member Matt Molloy and the other a pennywhistle from Chieftans’s Paddy Maloney

 

Maureen Fitzgibbon, Manchester, UK

MF with C of IH

On Saturday, 3rd March 2012, the Irish World Heritage Centre in Manchester hosted the Council of Irish County Associations Manchester annual dinner dance as part of the Manchester Irish Festival. At the event, Rose Morris, Arts and Cultural Director at the Irish World Heritage Centre presented Maureen Fitzgibbon with a Certificate of Irish Heritage in recognition of the work she has performed over many years with the North West Group of Catholic Family History Societies.

“This Certificate makes twenty years of work looking for my family roots worthwhile. I am sure that many other family historians would welcome such recognition” said a delighted Maureen on receiving her Certificate.

Rose Morris, of the IWHC said “I was delighted to officiate at the presentation of the Certificate of Irish Heritage to Maureen Fitzgibbon on behalf of the Irish World Heritage Centre in Manchester. Maureen is a truly deserving recipient of this honour and recognition as she is extremely proud of her Irish ancestry and has worked tirelessly in Lancashire and further afield in family history and is the Meetings Organiser for North West Group of Catholic Family History Societies arranging talks, conferences and facilitating research.

As the vision and aims of the Irish World Heritage Centre is to acknowledge the positive contribution made by Irish emigrants and their descendants in the countries in which they settled it was fitting that we were able to nominate Maureen and acknowledge her cherished links with Ireland in this special way.”

The Irish World Heritage Centre is based in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, and is a major focal point for the local Irish community and community groups.

The Council of Irish County Associations Manchester consists of various County Associations, GAA teams and parish centres working to promote and support Irish culture and tradition in Manchester

Jim Edwards, Sydney, Australia

Bigger group compressed 150

On December 9th, 86 year old Jim Edwards from Sydney was presented with a Certificate of Irish Heritage by Caitríona Ingoldsby, Consul General, at a ceremony at the Irish Famine Memorial at Hyde Park Barracks.

Mr Edwards great-great grandmother, Hannah Rafferty was born in Co. Roscommon and was an orphan girl sent to Australia following the great famine.

Attending the presentation were Mr Edwards, his daughter Susan and his son Peter, his wife and Mr Edwards’ grandson. Also present were Tom Power, Chairman of the Irish Famine Commemoration Committee and Vice Chairperson Perry McIntyre, Kate Clark, the Director of the Sydney Historic Houses Trust and Gary Crockett the Curator of Hyde Park Barracks Museum.

The presentation followed a reception held at the Consulate in Sydney to mark the launch of the Certificate of Irish Heritage which was attended by 125 people.

Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE – London 24-26 February

WDYTYA LIVE

The Certificate of Irish Heritage will be attending the world’s biggest family history event – Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE 2012. The show is being held at the Olympia, London between 24 and 26 February.

Come and visit us at stand 622:

  • Each of our Certificate designs and frames will be on display
  • Apply for a Certificate of Irish Heritage for yourself or as a gift for a family member or friend
  • Professional genealogists: find out about our Genealogist Affiliation Programme
  • Enter our WDYTYA? LIVE Prize Draw – and win your own framed Certificate of Irish Heritage!

As well as visiting us at the show, there is much more to see including selection of Irish exhibitors including Roots Ireland, the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (sharing a stand with AGRA & ASGRA) and Tourism Ireland. You can also attend one of the many Society of Genealogists Workshops – where you can listen to many speakers, including one of our Affiliated Genealogists, Helen Kelly of APGI. Why not see Larry Lamb, Emilia Fox and Richard Madeley in the Celebrity Theatre!

WDYTYA? LIVE promises to be an exciting and family history packed weekend – we hope to see you there!