Finders Ireland’s Maeve Mullin featured in the Irish Times in conversation with Joanne Hunt, talking about her job as the organisation’s director and why she loves what she does.

Maeve’s interest in genealogy started at a young age. She enjoyed history at school, and her father loved genealogy, and used to take her to speeches and graveyards as a Clogher Historical Society member.

She worked for 25 years in the Bank of Ireland, but wanted something else, especially because Irish history was her Masters at Maynooth, and is delighted that she made genealogy her career.

Probate genealogists

Explaining how Finders Ireland works to the readers of the Irish Times, Maeve said probate genealogists work mostly for solicitors. If a will names someone without an address, a solicitor will contact Finders International. If they’re dead, their descendants may inherit.

The solicitor needs a family tree to determine the beneficiaries of a death of someone who does not have a will and Ireland began civil birth, death and marriage registration in 1864, while churches have records of baptisms, marriages, and burials, while the Henrietta Street Registry of Deeds holds older property records.

Finders Ireland sends letters to potential estate beneficiaries, who are often pleased and surprised to receive such correspondence. Scepticism is common when something seems too good to be true. People will be amazed that Finders knows their great-grandparents’ townland. Then, the teams has to verify that “Mary Murphy” had these parents and grandparents.

Research in Canada, America and Australia

Many Irish people emigrated, so Finders Ireland also conducts a lot of research in Canada, America and Australia. Many people moved to South Africa and Argentina in the 1800s, and the office is seeing increasing examples where they need to find people in eastern Europe because a family member died in Ireland or because someone died in Poland, Lithuania, or Latvia and left dependents in Ireland.

If people emigrated to China or certain parts of Africa, this could make research and beneficiary identification challenging.

Maeve warns that it is rare for one beneficiary to inherit, and in most cases, there will be a group of cousins who receive a more modest portion of the estate.

Family history

Family history fascinates most individuals, Maeve says. They may have lost touch and are curious about the deceased. It may be someone who left Ireland 40 years ago, and the family is happy to get closure. While it’s good to inherit an unexpected sum of money, most people are also interested in their family history.

Reconnecting is great. It can be emotional, but a distant relative is more curious and interested. It is common for people to say to Maeve that she knows more about their family than they do. In one case, one family was thrilled to reconnect and attend each other’s children’s weddings.

Someone with property and shares could leave a few million. If they own a property or have bank funds, their net worth is usually €200,000 or €300,000. Many have estates around €10,000.

Genealogists ‘patient’ ‘detail-orientated’

Maeve reckons genealogists must be patient, detail-oriented, creative and thorough. Her favourite case is where a Dublin hospital called regarding a deceased male. Neighbours reported he kept himself to himself and had no next of kin.

Finders Ireland found his mother’s death, probate and Deansgrange grave after a tough search. She died after a lifetime with him. Instead of an unmarked cemetery, the man was buried with his mother and grandparents, giving the team a great sense of accomplishment.

Maeve adds that research is fun and satisfying, and that she enjoys finding the rightful beneficiaries to a will.

Finders International Ireland trace missing beneficiaries to estates, properties and assets. To find out more, you can visit our website. Alternatively, you can email [email protected]  or telephone +353 (0)1 5676940.