Irish Tree, LLC has launched a family history research portal specializing in Irish ancestry, offering services beginning at $299. The company provides free consultations and three service tiers designed to help individuals navigate the particular difficulties of tracing Irish family lines. Maureen Fitzpatrick, who leads Irish Tree, explained that those researching Irish ancestors face distinct obstacles. "Building a family tree can be a challenging endeavor regardless of nationality. Those with ancestors in Ireland face unique challenges due to millions of missing and damaged birth, death and marriage records," Fitzpatrick said. Her experience dates to the early 1990s and emphasizes formal validation of client assumptions alongside original, documented research.
The service offers three options. The Basic package, for those with existing family trees, involves locating available vital records, obituaries, and other primary data for validation and context, with up to five hours of research for $299. The Starter package, also $299 for up to five hours, helps individuals without formal documentation build a framework starting with parents and grandparents. For more complex cases, Custom packages address specific research challenges, with a free consultation to determine the scope of work. Services are accessible via the company's website at http://irishtree.org.
Client testimonials highlight the service's impact. One Milwaukee public relations executive hired Irish Tree to complete her family tree before her mother's dementia progressed. "Maureen delivered the goods, complete with photos and interesting historical news articles about mom’s family," the client wrote. The research led to a memorable road trip and significant emotional connection for her mother. Another client was stuck on identifying her family's Irish birth town. "Your research was what unlocked my clarity about our ancestors!!" she wrote, noting that Fitzpatrick found an alternate obituary that provided the final clues, enabling a visit to the ancestor's birthplace.
Fitzpatrick's methodology is rooted in decades of hands-on research. Before the internet, she frequented the Latter Day Saints library in Salt Lake City and public libraries across America, searching microfilm for records. In the early 1990s, using CompuServe's dial-up service, she connected with a genealogist in Northern Ireland via the "Roots Forum," leading to dozens of research trips to Ireland. "My goal in establishing Irish Tree is to provide verifiable documentation of each client’s family history, delivering happiness and satisfaction along the way," she said.
The launch of Irish Tree addresses a growing interest in genealogy, particularly among the Irish diaspora, by making professional research more accessible. Fitzpatrick emphasizes ethics, integrity, reliability, and respect for client privacy in all work. The service's structured, affordable packages aim to demystify the process of tracing Irish ancestry, offering a practical solution for individuals seeking to connect with their heritage despite historical record gaps.
