Beara Peninsula in Ireland

Ireland Counties of Ireland  County Cork Beara

The Beara (pronounced bear-a) peninsula is one of four peninsulas which jut off the extreme southwest corner of Ireland into the north Atlantic ocean. It is partially divided between County Cork and County Kerry. Mining and fishing and an excellent harbor seem representative of major activities on Beara.

Riobard O'Dwyer is a genealogist and social historian who studied the families of the Beara Peninsula. His collection has been donated to the New England Historic Genealogical Society. The collection contains handwritten genealogies, transcribed vital records and cemetery records, data on occupations, and notes.

In his extensive 3-volume "The Annals of Beara" O'Dwyer has documented names and family history of many of the Beara locales and families.

O'Dwyer also made a documentary, Stories from Irish America: From Beara to Butte, about the thousands of Beara copper miners who emigrated to the mines of Butte, Montana.

Resources:


 * Irish Genealogy web site


 * Beara genealogy mailing list


 * Meaning-of-names.com has an extensive list of Beara genealogy sources.


 * The Beara Historical Society also maintains a Genealogy/Heritage Forum (but the society web site seems to be somewhat dormant).


 * Citizens of Beara who migrated to Boston have formed a Boston Beara Society.


 * The Ring of Beara Blog contains much local information, including photos and some names from cemeteries.