The West of Ireland Homecoming Project

Discover your ancestors.

Reclaim your citizenship.

Connect with your community.

Several million people all over the world can trace their ancestry to the West of Ireland—and millions more wish they could!

Whether Irish blood runs in your veins or not, our mission is to open you to one the most exceptional places in the world — the wild western region of Ireland.

Through honouring the profound story of the generations who called this place home and understanding the cultural identity of the diverse communities who live here now, we will provide you with an authentic connection to the unique, West of Ireland.

Why Choose Us ?

  • The largest digital collection of school registers and local records in Ireland.

  • Led by Dr. Liam Alex Heffron, author, columnist, and cultural speaker with a passion for connecting past and present.

  • Genealogy, citizenship, relocation, and even film — a complete bridge between Ireland and America.

Into The West

Six thousand years ago, Neolithic farmers landed on the west coast of Ireland… and the human story of large-scale community settlement began. Over millennia, they carved out a life against wet Atlantic winds, based in agriculture that shaped hundreds of generations of West of Ireland families.

Following the long, bloody invasion by England, Ireland would finally became Britain’s first colony — the proving ground for policies of conquest, control, and dispossession that would later be exported across the globe. The legacies of empire, shaping today’s conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and beyond, were first tested here. And no place bore that impact more sharply than the West of Ireland.

Here, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the edge of Europe, poverty, famine, and emigration forged a people whose resilience became the backbone of Irish identity. The rugged landscapes preserved Gaelic culture and language, creating a distinct way of life that resisted assimilation and inspired global movements.

To understand the forces shaping our world today, we must return to where they began. In the West of Ireland — in the memories, the struggles, and the records of its people.

Your Homecoming Journey

We have a unique collection of services and resources gathered under one roof to bring you home to the West of Ireland.

    • Mayo–Sligo Archives → “Search exclusive school and parish records.”

    • Genealogy Services → “From a name in a register to a family story.”

  • Citizenship & Passports → “Step-by-step guidance for reclaiming Irish citizenship.”

    Tours and Accommodation → “Embark on tailor-designed tours and stay in specially selected hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs”

    • Relocation & Business → “Practical advice for living and working in the West.”

    • Film (Hollywood Without Borders) → “Building Irish-American stories on screen.”