Avid watchers of Who Do You Think You Are? may be used to the idea that family reveals are saved for celebrities and television shows. But with DNA testing services such as 23andMe, AncestryDNA and MyHeritageDNA becoming more affordable and mainstream, many have spit in tubes, hoping to uncover something about themselves they didn’t previously know. DNA testing has become a vital tool in genealogical research, offering insights that might not be available through paper records alone. But what happens when you hire a professional to meticulously piece together the science and the history?
Kathy Gillen is a genealogist who turned her lifelong hobby into a business during the pandemic. Her work combines traditional research methods with DNA testing, helping numerous families reconnect with their roots, solve longstanding mysteries or – post-Brexit – acquire Irish passports. By compiling research into digital, living family trees that are constantly updated, Kathy brings the past to life in an inherently personal way. Far from the dusty diagrams tucked away in your grandparent’s cupboard, Kathy’s approach allows people to delve deep into the lives of their ancestors, discovering their stories in a whole new light.
Tired of jigsaw puzzles and making banana bread, Kathy used lockdown to take her lifelong passion more seriously. “I had already done research on my family, my partner’s family, and friends – I didn’t charge them, but I did ask that they make a charitable donation in return. During Covid, I decided to take a course with the University of Strathclyde – it was all online, and it was absolutely terrific.” Her leap of faith lay the foundation for Kathy Gillen Genealogy. Built on a deep love of research and bolstered by technology, her business has drawn interest from people of all ages curious about their origins.
One of the most rewarding aspects of Kathy’s work is the emotional impact it has on families. She hosts “big reveals,” similar to the ones you see on Who Do You Think You Are?, where a whole family comes together to hear their history unfold. These presentations have taken Kathy across Europe, and they are central to the sense of fulfilment she acquires from her work. “They are absolutely joyous,” she said, “especially seeing the bonding it brings to families.”
Beyond simple family trees, Kathy’s work involves deep historical research into long-lost or estranged ancestors. One particularly fascinating case involved a man searching for his grandfather’s death records, which he needed to present to the Irish Embassy in order to obtain an Irish passport. “His grandfather was born in Ireland, but in 1923-ish, in Baghdad, he had disappeared,” Kathy explains. This posed a significant challenge, as tracing death records in such a situation was nearly impossible. “We looked in the Middle East, we looked in England because his family went to England. We looked in Ireland. We even checked the US – everywhere, to no avail. He’d disappeared.” To solve the problem, Kathy and her team successfully applied for an affidavit confirming the grandfather’s disappearance, ultimately securing the necessary documentation for an Irish passport.
Another key part of Kathy’s work is digitising old photographs and memorabilia, ensuring that stories aren’t lost to time. Families often send her dusty attic boxes filled with forgotten photos, which she uploads to their online family trees, making them instantly accessible to relatives across the world. This is especially meaningful for families separated by distance, or for long-lost relatives who discover each other through Kathy’s research.
While genealogy can bring joy, it also comes with difficult revelations. When I asked whether she ever has to give people bad news, she replied “all the time.” Sometimes it’s a child someone didn’t know they had; other times, coveted family myths turn out to be false. In one case, a woman discovered that her mother had lied about her birth year to appear younger than her husband – a secret she had managed to take to her grave.
Kathy’s passion is evident not just in the research itself, but in the profound impact it has on families. By preserving history, connecting generations, and helping individuals reclaim their heritage, she has built a career that is as emotionally rewarding as it is historically significant.
For those considering exploring their own family history, Kathy’s advice is simple: start by talking to your relatives. “Talk to your family, your older family, your mum and dad, your grandparents, your aunties, uncles, ask them to tell you stories.” History can sometimes feel distant and abstract, but Kathy Gillen’s work brings it to the forefront, creating family trees that don’t just record names, but preserve stories – leaving a legacy for future generations to build upon.
