A number of people have asked me about my logo. It represents the Thanksgiving Statue which stands on the banks of the River Lagan in Belfast. It was constructed in 2007 and is almost 20 metres high.

As with other public works of art in Ireland the sculpture has been given several nicknames. These include:

Nuala with the Hula

The Belle on the Ball

The Thing with the Ring

She represents various themes associated with hope, aspiration, peace and reconciliation and is derived from images of Classical and Celtic mythology. Her position on the globe signifies a unified approach to life on this earth. It encompasses oneness, while celebrating the diversity of culture. The globe at her feet indicates the universal philosophy of peace, harmony and thanksgiving, and has marked on its surface the cities where the people and industries of Belfast migrated and exported to.

The aim of the sculpture is to bring people together, change hearts and minds and to make bridges across the divides in our community.

As a genealogist I believe researching your ancestry, discovering your family history and developing your family tree gives you an insight into your own social history and provides an opportunity to understand others.