Rosie O'Donnell - WDYTYA? Episode 3

Tonight's episode of Who Do You Think You Are will feature Rosie O'Donnell.   She was born born March 21, 1962 and raised as an Irish Roman Catholic.

When she was very young  her mother passed away of breast cancer.  No one ever talked about her mother again and so Rosie hadn't any clues about that side of her family until she did the show.  This chart shows her family tree.

                                                      Andrew                         Anne

                                                                         Murtagh                       Doyle

                                                                   (1811 Ire. - 1876)  (1829 Ire. - 1896)

                                                                                 |______________|

                                                                                             Michael         < ------ >         Ann

                                                                                             Murtagh       m.  1878     Diamond

                                                                                                      |_________________|

                                                                                 Anna   < ----- >  Daniel Andrew    < -----> Katherine

                                                                       (1881 – Canada)              Murtha                          McKenna

                                                                                                                (1894 -

                                                                                                                          |______________|

                                      Edward Joseph                                                                           Rosann

                                         O'Donnell                              <-------- >                                     Murtha

                                                                                           m. 1959                                (1934 - 1973)

                                                         | _________________________________________|

                                                                 |             |             |                |                |

                                                             Rosie    Daniel   Edward   Timothy   Maureen

Tracing her maternal line she finds what happens to a mystery woman in a picture (who happens to be her Grandfather's first wife and who tragically dies from in a freak accident), re - unites with unknown family, learns of her French - Canadian roots and finally travels to Ireland where she learns of the hardships her ancestors endured in the workhouses during the famine.  Famous line (and most real) is when she visited the workhouses and overwhelmed with her ancestors past she comments, "Get me the hell out of here."

By far one of my favourite episodes.

For a complete summary of this episode visit the ProGenealogists Website who participated in helping trace Rosie's family.