The power of words...

Find Your Family were recently featured in a local newspaper.

It was strange to see parts of our story in print, evoking memories of another time when another newspaper played a huge part in our own family search. 

Not long before the above group shot was taken, the Irish Times had printed a letter written by Kathleen. The letter was a plea for information about Kathleen’s mother, Mary’s sister.  This letter was written after having exhausted many other avenues in the long journey towards finding our birth family, before the days of the internet. The letter in the Irish Times did indeed lead to the discovery of Kathleen’s mother (sadly deceased) as well as many other close family members, cousins and aunts (including Mary O'Connor, above), brothers and sisters. It was seen by a family member who, like many Irish families who have settled in the UK and elsewhere, regularly reads the Irish Times to keep abreast of events back ‘at home’. As well as finding her relatives, Kathleen received many letters and cards from others hoping to help and kind souls praying she may be their own kin.  Correspondences which developed in friendships.

Newspapers can still be an invaluable resource when looking for long lost family. Their readership can be both broad and specific, often covering large audiences in precise search areas. Never underestimate the power of words; a simple letter or e-mail to an editor, a heartfelt plea or straightforward query, can lead to doors you perhaps never dreamt you would open.

www.findyourfamily.org.uk