Colleen Murray Genealogy

I am a Professional Genealogist based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I completed my PLCGS from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies in January, 2015. I specialize in Irish genealogy, and visit Ireland regularly for research trips. I also do local Alberta research, and distance research on Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes and elsewhere.

Recent Blog Posts

Y-DNA and the Waiting Game
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Y-DNA and the Waiting Game
I first tested my father’s Y-DNA back in 2014- and it wasn’t until a few weeks ago, five years later, that he finally received a match who shares his surname. This issue is more common than you might think- and it isn’t necessarily a warning sign of illegitimacy in the family (although that’s alw...
Published at Colleen Murray Genealogy
New Editions
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New Editions
I treated myself to some new editions of books that I've previously owned & read. Especially excited that my brand new edition of John Grenham's Tracing your Irish Ancestors finally arrived today after weeks of waiting!
Published at Colleen Murray Genealogy
Hunting for a spy in Belgium
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Hunting for a spy in Belgium
My maternal Belgian line was the most neglected side of my family tree. My mother had inherited two extensive compiled genealogies that made research on this line seem less necessary, and it wasn’t until last year in preparation for a visit to Brussels that I really turned my efforts to this side...
Published at Colleen Murray Genealogy
The Intentionally Forgotten
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The Intentionally Forgotten
Library and Archives Canada finished digitizing the service files of Canadian Soldiers in WW1 earlier this year. The completion of this project, no doubt, was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1, which we are celebrating today, this Remembrance Day, 11-11-2018.Finding a...
Published at Colleen Murray Genealogy
EPL's Heritage Collection is circulating!
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EPL's Heritage Collection is circulating!
Public Library kept their best genealogy books in what was called the Heritage Room of the downtown Stanley Milner library. These books did not circulate, and were not to be removed from the room. It was frustrating to visit the Milner library, pay for parking, and to try to read an important boo...
Published at Colleen Murray Genealogy
Lecture tonight on Irish Palatines
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Lecture tonight on Irish Palatines
Photo we took of Adare Manor during a visit a few years ago. Tonight, I am giving a talk at the Alberta Genealogical Society, at the meeting of the Irish Special Interest Group. My topic is the Irish Palatines. The Irish Palatines were a group of refugees from the Palatinate in Germany, who fled ...
Published at Colleen Murray Genealogy
Granny Hogan and family lore
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Granny Hogan and family lore
Moonshine Still, public domain, courtesy of Flikr Creative Commons, posted by UNC Library Commons.I'm sharing this story so that it is preserved for relatives to see, but it may also be an interesting example to others, showing how old family stories can often hold a kernel of truth.In about 1988...
Published at Colleen Murray Genealogy
Privacy Policy
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What information we collect:We collect information that you provide to us when contacting us via email or filling out our online contact form. Information collected may be name, email address, and details relating to your research request or research project, or any other details you choose to pr...
Published at Colleen Murray Genealogy
Free access to The Catholic Register
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I will admit that I had no knowledge of The Catholic Register newspaper prior to learning that they were offering free access to their publication to mark their 125th birthday. As it turns out, this is an excellent resource for Catholic-Canadian Genealogy.I was uncertain as to whether The Catholi...
Published at Colleen Murray Genealogy
Personal Genome Sequencing
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I just listened to a fascinating discussion on CBC Radio: The Current on personal genome sequencing. Although we have become used to sending our DNA samples south of the border, it was good to hear that there is DNA research happening in Canada as well. The organizers of the Personal Genome Proje...
Published at Colleen Murray Genealogy