An Irish American family are searching for their ancestors in Donegal in a bid to contact their long lost relatives for a family reunion.

According to InishownNews.com, the McCormick family, who currently live in Newark, New Jersey, are hoping to trace surviving relatives in the Greencastle area of Donegal ahead of two forthcoming family reunions.

Family spokesperson David McCormick explained how his grandfather was born on the family’s voyage across the Atlantic.

"It was 124 years ago this past April that Patrick, son of George McCormick and Mary Ann McColgan, and Lizzie (nee Fleming) McCormick of Eleven Ballyboes set sail from Donegal for the port of New York City and a future in Newark, NJ.

"The McCormicks arrived just after the Great Blizzard of 1888, one of the most severe snow storms in the history of the USA," said David.

"Lizzie and Patrick had 12 children. Lizzie was pregnant with twins when they left Donegal, but they were born during the voyage and one died. The surviving twin, John Patrick, is my grandfather.

“We've now identified 150 descendants of their 12 children and hope, with this article, to bridge the Atlantic and identify relatives that remain in Ireland.

"Representatives of their descendants will gather in Union, NJ this July 14 and July 15 for their first family reunion and a celebration of their Donegal heritage."

Noted family descendants include Mark McCormick, a professional golfer who just finished competing in the PGA's U.S. Open at the Olympic Country Club in San Francisco, California and John McCormack, an author.

"The descendants of Patrick and Lizzie wish to make connections with relatives still living in the Donegal area in the hopes of scheduling a Donegal reunion in the coming years," added David.

McCormick urged anyone who may have any information regarding the family to contact him at tpdmadt@me.com.