American Travel Agent walks in her ancestors footprints by renewing wedding vows in Longford

Lisa Ferrarini, a travel agent from New Jersey, reconnected with her family roots in Legan, Co Longford last week.

Born in America, Lisa tracked her family's heritage back to Legan in Longford over 3000 miles away.

She got in contact with Joan Killian Gallagher, who also hails from the US and founded the Killian Homeplace which is the Longford Family History Centre

Mary Carleton Reynolds, the former County Librarian, was involved in organising Lisa’s visit to Legan and accompanied Lisa and her husband Henri throughout their day.

“She’s the first of her family to come back as her whole family left Longford in 1860,” Mary explained.
Lisa and her husband arrived in Legan on Wednesday morning and spent the day walking through the village and essentially walking in her ancestor's footprints.

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They were greeted by former TD and Senator James Bannon, a proud Legan man and local historian, who led them on a tour to Shawbrook, Carrigeens, Foxhall and other places strongly connected to the Carroll and Yorke Family. He was accompanied by a number of local historians from the area including senior genealogists from Killian Homeplace Family History Centre Sr Margaret Farrell, David Leahy and Cissy Duggan.

The highlight of the day came around 1pm when Lisa and her husband celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary by renewing their marriage vows in the same church where Lisa’s great-great-grandparents were married over 150 years ago. Parish Priest Fr Vincent Connaughton officiated at the renewal of vows ceremony for Lisa and Henri.

“I wanted to know about my Great Grandfather Patrick Carroll when he was born, when he came over to the United States and stuff like that, as well as his family here,” outlined Lisa.

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“When my relatives gave me the information I think they were following the wrong Patrick Carroll so I said you know what? I’ve got to figure this out,” and figure it out she did, googling Longford roots she got in contact with the aforementioned Joan.

“Renewing my vows 169 years after my great-great-grandparents, I now know their names, I know that part of my family,” stated Lisa.

It was an emotional day for Lisa and could be described as bittersweet, getting to know your family over 150 years on but also understanding why they had to leave.

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“The church was super emotional. I cried,” she recalled, “It’s been so emotional but we’ve got so much information. I just feel like I’ve walked in their footsteps, especially in the church. I’m the first Carroll ancestor to ever come back here.”

Like many people in Ireland during this time the Carrolls were poor and fled to America for a better life. Lisa could only go as far back as her great-great grandparents when drawing up the family tree as there were no records, many people before that time were simply ignored.

But thanks to Lisa her family was not forgotten.

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Mary outlined how the Longford Family History Centre functions.

“The Longford roots service which is now the Killian Homeplace Family History Centre is where the Longford Genealogy Centre is now located. Joan Killian Gallagher, this American Woman who found her roots out in Fermoyle heads it up and has restored these beautiful cottages in Fermoyle.”

Mary concluded, “There’s a number of local historians and I suppose genealogists who are giving their time to help research various people who have made contact with the Longford Roots Service. It was just retracing their steps and reminding Lisa where it all began, that’s why it was so emotional for Lisa and even for us watching her reaction to it.”

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