Find your Irish Ancestors today with the Irish Family History Foundation online research service
15th Annual Historic Houses Conference will take place in Dublin Castle from 19-21 June 2017.
The Country House Revived? will focus on the survival and revival of historic houses across Ireland, the UK, and Europe in the course of the last fifty years. The conference will be accompanied by a photographic exhibition.
Further details and a list of accommodation are available at http://historicirishhouses.ie/
NEW SEARCH FEATURES on rootsireland.ie
Subscribers can now search using baptismal sponsors’, marriage witnesses’ or burial informants’ names.
Remember our special offer, one third off annual subscriptions, ends on 27 March 2017.
Reminder: We have recently added new Baptismal and Marriage records for Rathangan Catholic parish, Co. Wexford.
Baptisms: 1803 – 1892
Marriages: 1803 – 1806 and 1813 – 1890
Get a 12 months subscription with one third off from 6 March to 27 March 2017 inclusive.*
To obtain this offer just go to the following link and login using your existing RootsIreland login details: http://www.rootsireland.ie. If you currently have a subscription, click My Account, My Subscription and Start a New Subscription.
If you have any questions please check our Help section and if this does not provide an answer, then you may contact us or one of the county centres. You can check what is available on our site for each county here.
*Offer applies from 12 midnight Irish time on 6 March to 12 midnight Irish time on 27 March 2017 only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
The Dublin City Council Libraries and Archives Digital repository has launched an online archive of over 43,000 historic photographs and documents. Users can search documents online by archive, date, and location at no charge.
Photos of events like the Eucharistic Congress and the North Strand Bombing are included, as well as everyday events such as social events and Dublin scenes. The Fáilte Ireland Photographic Collection with images dating from the 1930s onwards of people, places and tourist locations from across Ireland is also available.
The archive includes pictures of old documents and objects, with the oldest document dated to 1757 – of an old planning map of Dublin City.
You can find the archive at http://digital.libraries.dublincity.ie/vital/access/manager/Index
Anon. Pilgrimage to St. McDara’s [Macdara] Island – leaving the Island by currach and gleoiteog [galway hooker], Co. Galway.
Many people believe that researching Irish ancestors is impossible because of the destruction of the Public Record Office in 1922. While many records were destroyed, others survived and large collections have come online in recent years.
Join Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt from the Ulster Historical Foundation during their annual U.S.A. lecture tour to learn how to get the most out of Irish resources and records, gain strategies for breaking down brick walls, and grasp important historical context that may help fill in gaps in your research.
Whether you are just beginning your Irish research or have been at it for years, you won’t want to miss these workshops!
Fuller contact details with additional information can be found at: www.ancestryireland.com/northamericantour2017
Friday, 03 March – Phoenix, AZ (9:00am–5:00pm)
Location: Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Host: The McClelland Library
Web: www.azirish.org/upcoming-ulster-historical-foundation
Tel./e-mail: 602-864-2351, 623-225-6352 (Mobile)
Main Contact: Cindy Patricki – cindy.patricki@azirishlibrary.org
Saturday, 04 March – Phoenix, AZ (9:00am–5:00pm)
Location: Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Host: The McClelland Library
Web: www.azirish.org/upcoming-ulster-historical-foundation
Tel./e-mail: 602-864-2351 623-225-6352 (Mobile)
Main Contact: Cindy Patricki – cindy.patricki@azirishlibrary.org
Sunday, 05 March – Tacoma, WA (1:00pm–5:00pm)
Location: Pierce County Libraries, Administrative Center Library, 3005 112th St E, Tacoma, WA 98446
Host organisation: Lakewood and South Hill Libraries
Tel/e-mail: 253-548-3425 or 316-300-3383 (mobile)
Register online: www.piercecountylibrary.org/calendar.aspx?id=281
www.facebook.com/events/618976198289299
Tuesday, 07 March – The Hermitage, Nashville, TN (6:00pm–9:00pm)
Location: The Hermitage, 4580 Rachel’s Lane, Nashville, TN 37076
Host: Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
Web: thehermitage.com/event/exploring-your-scotsirish-genealogy
Tel./e-mail: 615-889-2941, info@thehermitage.com
Thursday, 09 March – Michigan City, IN (9:30am–4:00pm)
Location: Michigan City Public Library, 100 E. 4th Street, Michigan City, IN 46360
Host: Michigan City Public Library
Web: www.mclib.org
Tel./e-mail: 219-873-3049 (call Robin Kohn to register)
Saturday, 11 March – Bentonville, AR (9:00am–4:00pm)
Location: Bentonville Community Center, 1101 SW Citizen’s Circle, Bentonville, AR 72712
Host: Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society
Web: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~arnwags, www.facebook.com/groups/nwags
Tel./e-mail: 479-271-6820, genealogy@bentonvillear.com
Sunday, 12 March – York County, PA (1:00pm–5:00pm)
Location: York County History Centery, 250 East Market St, York, PA 17401
Host: South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society
Web: www.scpgs.org/meetings
Tel./e-mail: 717-887-7508, richardkonkel@yahoo.com
Monday, 13 March – Green Bay, WI (3:00pm–8:30pm)
Location: Brown County Library, 515 Pine Street, Green Bay, WI 54301
Host: Brown County Library
Web: www.browncountylibrary.org
Tel./e-mail: 920-448-5815
Main Contact: Sue Lagerman or Mary Jane Herber
Wednesday, 15 March – Fountaindale, IL (9:30am–5:00pm)
Location: Fountaindale Public Library, 300 West Briarcliff Road Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Host: Fountaindale Public Library and Plainfield Public Library
Web: host7.evanced.info/fountaindale/evanced/eventcalendar.asp, www.fountaindale.org
Tel/e-mail: Debra Dudek (main contact) – 630-685-4201 – ddudek@fountaindale.org
Register by phone (630) 685-4176 or Register online for the seminar: http://ow.ly/OLiy308phOz
Thursday, 16 March – Fountaindale, IL (9:30am–4:30pm)
Location: Fountaindale Public Library, 300 West Briarcliff Road Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Host: Fountaindale Public Library and Plainfield Public Library
Web: host7.evanced.info/fountaindale/evanced/eventcalendar.asp, www.fountaindale.org
Tel/e-mail: Debra Dudek (main contact) – 630-685-4201 – ddudek@fountaindale.org
Registration: Free Event! In-person attendance limited to 70 in Main Lecture Room, and 35 in
Friday, 17 March – Richmond, VA (9:00am–12:30pm)
Location: Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Programme Title: Irish Ancestry Day (note: the full event runs from 09:00 to 16:00)
Host: Library of Virginia
Web: libraryofvairishancestryday.eventbrite.com, http://www.facebook.com/educationLVA
Tel./e-mail: 804-692-3500 (general number)
Main Contact: Catherine Fitzgerald Wyatt – catherine.wyatt@lva.virginia.gov
Saturday, 18 March – Philadelphia, PA (9:00am-4:30pm)
Location of programme: Brookside Manor, 50 Bustleton Pike, Feasterville, PA, 19053
Host: The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (GSP)
Web: https://genpa.org/events/
Tel./e-mail: 215-545-0391 email info@genpa.org
Sunday, 19 March – Pittsburgh, PA (9:00am-4:30pm)
Location of programme: Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222
Host organisation: Heinz History Center & Westmoreland County Historical Society
Main contact (handling registration): Sierra Green
Tel: 412-454-6361, mobile: 724-456-4769
Email: sgreen@heinzhistorycenter.org
Tuesday, 21 March – Little Rock, AR (6:00pm–9:00pm)
Location: Hillcrest Hall, 1501 Kavanaugh Blvd, Little Rock, AR 72205
Host: Arkansas Genealogical Society, Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.
Web: www.butlercenter.org
Tel./e-mail: 501-320-5711
Main Contact: Christopher Stewart – cstewart@cals.org
What better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day itself, than by making a start on your Irish and Scots-Irish ancestral quest. Your Irish genealogy is waiting to be discovered.
With sixty years’ experience of serving Irish people everywhere, let the Ulster Historical Foundation help you discover your family’s story.
From its creation as the Established Church in the second half of the 16th century up to the Court of Probate Act of 1857, the Church of Ireland was responsible for legally administering some aspects of vital life events such as registering marriage bonds and licences for those people who did not want to marry by banns. These were usually registered, but mot always, in the diocese of the bride’s local parish.
Marriage Licence Bonds were an alternative to marriage banns, although both were designed to prevent clandestine marriages. Banns were read in both the bride’s and groom’s parish on three consecutive Sundays to allow anyone knowing a reason that the marriage should not go ahead to come forward. Marriage licence bonds worked slightly differently. They allowed a couple to go to court and pay a sum to sign a witnessed declaration that the marriage was free to go ahead. Before 1858 marriage licence bonds were exclusively handled by the ecclesiastical courts of the Church of Ireland.
These new additions to armagh.rootsireland.ie are the indexes of marriage licence bonds taken through diocesan and prerogative courts across Ireland. Copies were kept by the Public Records Office but many were destroyed in the explosion during the Irish Civil War in 1922. These bonds may offer a rare opportunity to find your Irish ancestors before the 19th century. Dating back as far as 1727 they are an invaluable resource for many family historians.
Each record contains a transcript of the original register. The amount of information varies, but you can find out the following about your County Armagh ancestor: Name, Name of spouse, Year of marriage.
This is an ongoing computerisation project and we have released the records for the surnames beginning with the letters from A-L. These will contain many other marriages for surnames beginning with letters between M-Z if they married someone who surname began with the letters from A-L. Most marriage bonds will appear twice in our records as they were recorded by both married parties surnames.
We hope to complete the outstanding records in the near future; however, we offer a manual search service for these non computerised records for a nominal fee and full details can be obtained contacting Armagh.Ancestry@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk
Just added to www.wexford.rootsireland.ie are the transcripts of the registers of the Catholic parish Rathangan, Co. Wexford:
Baptisms: 1803 – 1892
Marriages: 1803 – 1806 and 1813 – 1890
The Capuchin Annual was published by the Irish Capuchin Franciscans from 1930 until 1977. Although its readership was predominately Irish, its circulation was international as it was frequently sent to Irish emigrants particularly in North America and in Australia. It was a journal unique in Irish publishing containing many literary, historical, photographic, theological, biographical and artistic articles. It claimed a readership of 25,000 worldwide at the height of its success in the 1950s.
Many Irish writers, artists and educators who later rose to prominence such as Benedict Kiely, Pearse Hutchinson, Francis Stuart, Daniel Corkery, Francis MacManus, Richard J. King, Thomas MacGreevey and Augustine Martin received their first opportunities to publish with the Annual.
Throughout its publication run it maintained a very high quality of contributions by leading politicians and writers. The Annual frequently reflected a very strong nationalistic theme. The 1942 and 1966 editions of The Capuchin Annual are particularly well-known as they contained detailed articles, profusely illustrated, on the 1916 Rising. The complete collection of The Capuchin Annual is now being made freely available online solely for scholarly research at www.capuchinfranciscans.ie/capuchin-annual-1930-1977
In March of this year we produced an e-publication The Family Histories of the Seven Signatories of the Proclamation as our contribution to the commemoration of the 1916 Rising.
We are delighted to announce that it is now available to purchase as a book. Thanks are due to Kildare County Council and Merrion Press/Irish Academic Press for supporting the book and ensuring it will be there for posterity.
This book would be a lovely Christmas present. It is available from Merrion Press and bookshops including Hodges Figgis, Eason’s, Dubray Books, Barker & Jones (Naas), Farrell & Nephew (Newbridge), and O’Mahony’s.
The Proclamation of the Irish Republic is the most significant document in Irish history. The credo contained therein, to cherish ‘all of the children of the nation equally’, has come to define its seven signatories, marking a common bond in their life’s work. Their memory intensely moulded by their political activities, history can forget the diverse background from which these seven men came—family histories that touched upon twenty counties and economic environments ranging from extreme poverty to privilege.
The Family Histories of the Seven Signatories is an indispensable genealogical history that uncovers the disparate lives that came together through the will for Irish independence. Thomas Clarke and James Connolly were born in England and Scotland respectively, their families having emigrated in the years after the Great Famine, an experience shared by many generations of Irish people before and since. Thomas McDonagh and Patrick Pearse had immediate English forebears. The signatories’ pasts from before they were born were an essential component in determining their ideas – each firmly their own – of an Irish republic. Their extended histories, fully disclosed within the pages of this book, are a riveting realisation of the complexities that defined nineteenth century Ireland and the lives of the seven signatories whose pasts reveal the many-faceted draw towards rebellion.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Éamonn Ceannt
2. Thomas Clarke
3. James Connolly
4. Seán Mac Diarmada
5. Thomas MacDonagh
6. Patrick Pearse
7. Joseph Plunkett
About the Author
Paul Gorry has had a lifelong interest in family history. He has worked as a professional genealogist since 1979 and he is a Member of Accredited Genealogists Ireland. As well as conducting research for clients, his work has involved advice to individuals on their own research, tutoring, lecturing, record editing, conference organising and writing. He was joint author (with Máire Mac Conghail, MAGI) of Tracing Irish Ancestors (1997). He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Genealogists (London) in 1999 and as a Fellow of the Irish Genealogical Research Society in 2005.
We are pleased to announce that details for the Foundation’s Tracing your Irish Ancestors family history conference in June 2017 are now available.
Running from 14-21 June 2017, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors will offer a brand new programme which will appeal to both the dedicated family historian and those who may wish to spend time taking in the spectacular scenery and historical sites.
New for 2017
This year’s conference will include a guided tour of both the Knowth and Newgrange (visit confirmed) passage tombs at Bru na Boinne; a tour of south Antrim including a trip to Carrickfergus Castle, one of the best preserved medieval structures in all of Ireland; a visit to Ireland’s only accessible rope-bridge at Carrick-a-rede; a visit to Barons Court, the finest private home in Ireland; as well as the Hill of the O’Neills – the ancient capital of Ulster!
The extensive programme of tours throughout the week will also take you through rolling countryside to sites of international renown from the Giant’s Causeway and Dunluce Castle on County Antrim’s wild Atlantic coast to the haunting Kilmainham Gaol and Trinity College Dublin with its Old Library and the Book of Kells Exhibition.
New Irish Genealogy Essentials Course
Delivered by the Foundation’s expert staff a major new addition to our programming for 2017 includes an Irish Genealogy Essentials Course. This course will offer delegates, prior to the start of the conference, two and a half days of intensive learning, with practical demonstrations using relevant websites and other electronic resources.
Our programme is all about helping you to trace your roots
Assisted personal research in the archives with the help of the Foundation’s experienced genealogists, talks, tours and sightseeing are all part of the eclectic, friendly and fun mix of Tracing Your Irish Ancestors.
The Foundation has many years’ experience in hosting family history events and Tracing Your Irish Ancestors promises to be a truly memorable week.
‘Early Bird’ offer – register now for excellent savings
We are currently offering a special ‘Early Bird’ registration offer: sign up to attend our Summer Conference before the 28th February 2017 for only £799.99! (The price after 31st January will be £849.99).
Join us in June and learn about the dramatic history of Ulster and the lives of your Irish ancestors. You will be very welcome. For more information please visit:
Tracing Your Irish Ancestors, 14-21 June 2017 – www.ancestryireland.com/family-history-conference/summer
If you have any queries, please email: enquiry@uhf.org.uk
Ulster Historical Foundation
Testimonials from 2015 and 2016 conference attendees
If you are wondering whether to engage UHF’s services or attend one of their conferences I can assure you that you’ll experience absolute quality. I attended the June 2016 UHF conference and to sum it up – I attended a genealogy holiday. If you want to: meet like-minded people, have professional research assistance, eat really well, enjoy field trips that will show you the things that make Ireland amazing, meet new friends from around the world and enhance your own genealogy knowledge – this is a high quality conference you won’t be sorry you spent money on! On top of all that the staff at UHF are friendly, know their stuff, well organised and prepared to accommodate your last minute change (if they can). My only complaint is that it ended! But, I’ve already decided that I’m going to attend another one in a few years time. Yes, it’s that good! Davina Hughes. Waipa, New Zealand
Great conference UHF! It was very Informative, well organized, friendly, and fun. Looking forward to my next one. Suzanne Billings, Pennsylvania, USA
Excellent program for both researchers and tourists. I enjoyed the research and my wife likewise the tours. A most friendly and informative staff. Greatly enjoyed interacting with the staff especially the very delightful historical commentaries delivered as only the Irish can. The attendees bonded well with our shared interest in Irish genealogy and a great time was had by all. Thanks UHF! Andy and Jackie Moore, Illinois, USA
What a wonderful week this was, I cannot believe just how many places that we all visited together, thank you so much to everyone involved in all the hard work for giving us such a wonderful time, I also met up with many new friends. Kay Howard, Essex, England