About

Hello!

My name is Denise Brown. I was born and raised in New Zealand and have been living in Ireland since 2014. I was a secondary school teacher and cycling coach for several years in New Zealand. I have always had a solid interest in history and strong curiosity about why people do what they do (blame the sociology and politics major). Over the years I have heard stories about my ancestors but was too busy raising my four children to take much notice.

Becoming an immigrant myself and completing an online genealogy course in 2016, has resulted in an ongoing obsession. I love researching to find evidence to solve a mystery and there are mysteries to be solved!

This blog is to tell and honour the stories of my children’s ancestors. It includes my own and my husband’s families. They were ‘ordinary people’ and often immigrants. They didn’t leave much behind in regards to letters and diaries. Perhaps they did not expect their stories to be told. Those stories do matter to us however, so I want to bring clarity to as much of their experience as I can.

I am in the process of writing a book but hope this blog makes their lives accessible to a wider audience and is more timely.

If you are related, think there is a connection, or find that the content somehow gives you an insight into the experiences of your own ancestors, I would love to hear from you.