For those who are interested in finding information on their Irish ancestry, the Friends of Irish Research can assist in what can often be a difficult and arduous task.

The organization, which is located in Brockton, MA, provides the resources and services of their research center and a place where those interested can come and discuss solutions in their genealogical search. Their staff has over 100 years experiences and they offer access to the most comprehensive resources currently available, including a growing library of over 5,000 digital books.

The friends also embark on various projects. One such project which is currently taking place is the building of a searchable database of all the grave markers in the Old St. Mary’s Cemetery in Canton, MA.

In an effort to strengthen their own resources, Friends of Irish Research have partnered with Ireland Reaching Out (IrelandXO), a reverse genealogy organization. Instead of waiting for people of Irish descent to trace their roots, Ireland XO goes the other way around by researching a townland, village or parish in Ireland and tracing the descendants of those areas worldwide. Ireland XO offers a free service and is a non-profit organization. Friends are also an affiliate of Ancestry.com.

To make an appointment for assistance in your family research, simply send an email to friendsofirishresearch@gmail.com. The Friends provide all of this for free, though donations are welcomed to help them acquire additional reference materials and subscription services.

The Friends meet most Friday evenings at 7:30 – 9:30pm at their new location at 899 N. Main St, Brockton, MA. The schedule of meetings and events is found on their website http://www.icclibrary.info. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for March 22nd, April 5th and April 12th.