Our third research trip to Ireland is about to begin. The team of five will set out July 20th and return the 30th. Members of the team going to Ireland are Liz Allred, Kathy Chipman McKenna, Rich McKenna, Reed McKenna, and Kathy McConkie. Preparations have been in the works since the last team returned in June 2011. Records from the previous trip have been scanned. Names and vital information have been extracted. We stepped up with more intensive and specific preparation and training during the early months of this year. Our understanding of Hugh McKenna's life in County Tyrone, before moving to Belfast, has been expanded. Our most important goal for the trip is to identify his direct-line ancestors (parents, grand-parents, etc.). We believe that this is the trip to make the breakthrough. Secondarily, we will also identify as many of his family members as possible, including siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. We will join in the Clann McKenna Twelfth International Rally in County Monaghan and make contacts with extended family. We hope to share our web site with them. This Rally is part of The Gathering happening all over Ireland. We will also investigate getting headstone(s) on some of our family's unmarked graves in Belfast cemeteries. We will post to this blog daily on our trip. We are excited to be on our way.