O'Laughlin, Michael C., 1950-2020
Biography
Michael C. O’Laughlin was an author, genealogist, radio and podcast host, lecturer, and musician focused on Irish American heritage. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 23, 1950, O’Laughlin attended St. Pius X High School (1969) and Benedictine and Rockhurst colleges (BS, 1973) and owned O’Laughlin Press in North Kansas City. Through the Irish Genealogical Foundation, which he founded in 1978, he authored 60 books and published many by other authors, including rare book reprints. He also published the Journal of Irish Families, hosted the Irish Roots Cafe radio show, sang in the Irish Roots Cafe house band, and founded the Irish American Cultural Center in 1982. O’Laughlin participated in many celebrations of Irish culture, such as parades and festivals. For decades, he produced hundreds of lectures, CDs, videos, podcasts, and articles and led trips to Ireland to help people research their Irish heritage. O’Laughlin died on September 22, 2020, in Gladstone, Missouri, from pancreatic cancer.
