“Kiss Me, I’m Irish.” We’ve heard that clever expression a lot—especially around St. Patrick’s Day. And, since many Irish people were either driven out of their country because of wars, famine, religious or economic factors or emigrated because of other reasons, that could very well be true for a lot of people. There are an incredible number of Irish people living in other lands. According to the Insights guide on Ireland, almost three million Irish people live outside Ireland.

So while a trip to Ireland is a treat for everyone, it’s especially nice to visit there if you do have Irish roots. Can you imagine how exciting it would be to find that you are related to some famous Irish person—or visit kin during your visit! It would add even more meaning to your trip.

But how do you know if your people come from the Emerald Isle? Trace your genealogy! Many seniors finally have the time to research their ancestors, and there are many resources in Ireland to help you.

Before you travel to Ireland, it’s most efficient to start your research in the country where you live so you can make the most of your time while in Ireland. In the U.S., you can contact Tourism Ireland, 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 1-154 at 1-800-223-6470 or visit their web site at www.tourismireland.com or e-mail them at infous@tourismireland.com. They have a wonderful little booklet called Tracing Your Ancestors in Ireland that you can ask them about.

For general information and details of local centers within the Republic of Ireland, you can contact the Genealogical Office at www.nli.ie. The central repository for records relating to births, deaths, and marriages in the Republic is at the Office of the Registrar General at www.groireland.ie. For Northern Ireland, contact the Public Record Office at http://proni.nics.gov.uk .

But, whether you want to trace ancestors or not, you owe it to yourself to visit Ireland to discover it’s many historical, cultural—and culinary treasures, just to name a few.