Kathy Gillen Genealogy

11/05/2026

A big moment for anyone with Irish heritage.

The 1926 Census of the Irish Free State — today’s Republic of Ireland (but not Northern Ireland) — has now been released, offering the most detailed snapshot of Irish families ever recorded.

It includes precise ages, full birthplaces, religion, occupation, employer’s name and business, and even the number of rooms in each home. A remarkable treasure trove for family historians.

This release is especially exciting because the previous census was taken in 1911; there was no 1921 census due to the unrest in the country at the time.

If you would like your Irish family history researched, our dedicated team would be delighted to help.

02/05/2026

After celebrating our 5th anniversary at the end of last year, we were thrilled to see Kathy featured in a two page spread in the JEP. The exposure has been incredible. The lovely messages we received meant the world, and the enquiries and new business that followed have been fantastic.

A big thank you to Jersey Evening Post reporter Terry Neale for the brilliant write up.

As ever, a huge thank you also to the wonderful families who’ve supported us over our first five years. It’s been a pleasure working with you and having the privilege of unearthing lots of fascinating information along the way.

Thanks also to the many applicants who have asked us to help them obtain their Irish passports. 🇮🇪☘️

Here’s to many happy years of researching to come.

Visit kathygillen.co.uk to contact us and embark on your own journey today.

17/08/2025

It’s been a wonderful and rewarding week with the luck of the Irish smiling on us!

It all started earlier this year when Kathy was approached by two brothers. “Can you help us with our applications for Irish passports? Our grandfather was born in Ireland and we have his birth and marriage certificates”.

Her response was, “We would love to! It would be a two stage process, which would start with applying for your Irish citizenship”.

But, little did we all know what a challenge it would prove to be!

What the brothers thought was their grandfather’s birth certificate actually belonged to someone else.

After many twists and turns, and even contact with parish priests based in Ireland, finding the right birth certificate proved to be elusive. The trail suggested that their grandfather had most likely changed his identity.

Using the power of DNA testing and analysis, together with painstaking research, our Irish team was able to unravel the mystery and find the correct birth certificate. As we suspected, it was in a different name!

We are delighted to say that the brother’s citizenship applications were submitted this week ☘️☘️☘️☘️.

Another lovely outcome is that a number of the DNA matches turned out to be close relatives - and the brothers look forward to meeting their newly found family in the future.

We are absolutely thrilled. Stories like this are at the heart of what we do: uncovering family mysteries, connecting generations and helping people discover their heritage.

07/07/2025

We love a challenge, and nothing makes us happier than helping to solve a long-standing family mystery.

“We’ve been searching for our grandfather’s military records for years! He had a common name, and that may be why we’ve had no success. We know he served in World War I. Can you help???”

My response? “Absolutely. We specialise in finding military records just like these.”

After extensive research, and more than a few twists and turns, we finally uncovered his service records. And with them, the reason the family’s search had been so difficult became clear.

Their grandfather had enlisted at just 16 years old using a different name: that of his deceased older brother’s.

Tragically, his brother had been killed only months earlier at the Battle of the Somme, one of the deadliest campaigns of the First World War. He was just 18.

Today, on 7 July, the anniversary of his death, we remember that brave and selfless young man.

I would like to thank my team for all their hard work. It makes us all happy that his story, once hidden, now lives on.

05/05/2025

As we move closer to celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Day, our thoughts return to when we had the privilege and pleasure of researching Captain Henry James Richmond, the St Helier Harbourmaster in May 1945.

Surrounded by British soldiers, and whilst the crowd sang the National Anthem, Henry had the honour of hoisting the Union Flag over the balcony of the Pomme d’Or Hotel, which had served as the German Headquarters during the Occupation, making him a compelling character in the history of Jersey.

We would like to join Captain Richmond’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren in remembering him with huge pride.










https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DZthk8h76/?mibextid=wwXIfr

29/04/2025

Kathy was honoured to be featured in this month’s Gallery Magazine, sharing the unexpected ways genealogy can reconnect people with their past, and sometimes even change their future.

Read the full article here: Kathy Gillen, Women in Business: Branching Out. https://www.gallery.je/agenda_business/women-in-busines/branching-out/

Kathy would like to add:

“I was so delighted to be featured in Gallery, thank you so much to Emma Pallent for capturing the heart of what we do with such care and insight. All of the success we have achieved is very much a team effort. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such a wonderful team who share my passion for genealogy and family history. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my amazing family and friends for all their support over the years.”

26/03/2025

Did I mention how much pleasure we get from helping others?

Kathy was chatting to a friend who advised me that her parents were celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary and the family would like to arrange for them to receive a greeting from the King and Queen.

“But we need a copy of their marriage certificate as soon as possible!”

I said, “Let’s see how we can help you”!

Within a short time, our team had sourced and ordered the certificate.

This is the result ❤️

It has made the couple’s day extra special.

How lovely.

17/03/2025

☘️☘️Happy St Patrick’s Day☘️ ☘️

Our team has had a number of recent successes helping individuals who have parents/grandparents born in Ireland - north and south - obtain their Irish citizenship/passports.

It gives us such pleasure to be of assistance.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like further details.

The team at Kathy Gillen Genealogy understand the importance of preserving your family's legacy, and are committed to providing you with the highest level of research and analysis.

10/06/2024

🌳🎁 Celebrate Father’s Day on June 16 2024, with an Unforgettable Gift for a Special Man in Your Life! 🎁🌳

Whether it's your dad, stepdad, grandfather, or any cherished father figure, why don’t you arrange for us to research their family history! This will be the perfect, heartfelt present they’ll treasure forever! ❤️

To get you started, we offer our Introductory Genealogy and Family History Service.

🎁 For just £99.99, our exclusive package includes:

🌳 Personalised ‘Information Gathering’ Consultation: We start exploring their family's unique history
🌳 Creation of a Custom Family Tree on Ancestry.co.uk: Watch as their family’s incredible story unfolds
🌳 Comprehensive Records Review: We’ll check to see what records are available online and see how far back it may be possible to trace their lineage
🌳 5% Discount for Extended Research: Continue the exciting journey and discover even more with a special discount

💝 This isn’t just a gift; it’s an extraordinary experience that brings families closer, igniting joy and curiosity in loved ones of all ages. It’s also a priceless legacy for generations to come.

✨ Ready to give the gift of history and heritage? Visit our website kathygillen.co.uk to contact us or send us a direct message on Facebook to embark on this amazing journey today!

If so, let me do the research for you. It is extraordinary how much information is available. It is not unusual to go back to the mid 1800s, or even further.

06/06/2024

Who would have thought!

I pinch myself when I think about the exciting journey I have been on since establishing my genealogy and family history business. I really can’t believe how much it has developed.

I now have an amazing team of researchers and support staff, who share my passion for genealogy and family history. We have conducted research for families with ancestors worldwide.

By compiling vivid profiles, we have brought these ancestors, most of whom were unknown to the family, to “life”.

The feedback is always joyous and so rewarding.

Equally fulfilling is the support it has allowed us to give, both financially and in the form of auction lots/raffle prizes, to local organisations dedicated to helping others, including:

Age Concern Jersey
Beresford Street Kitchen
Dementia Jersey
EYECAN
HANDS AROUND THE WORLD
Jerripedia
Jersey Christmas Appeal
JAAR Jersey Action Against R**e
Jersey Hospice Care

A huge thanks to my team, my family and friends, and our wonderful clients, for making this possible.

Kathy

26/04/2023

Have you ever watched TV programmes such as 'Who Do You Think You Are?' and said, "I would love to research my family history, but do not have the time!".  If so, let me do the research for you. It is incredible how much information is available.