Monday 14 October 2013

October 14 to 20: A big week of Irish Genealogy events

With Back to our Past taking place in Dublin this week (see below, 18-20 October), this is a big week for Irish genealogists, and one where we might reasonably expect some lovely new records to be launched. What's on your wishlist?

Of course, the Show is the not the only thing happening this week. Here's your round up of genealogy and history focussed lectures, exhibitions, and other events:

Monday 14 October: Prisons, Protests and Hunger Strikes – how Ulster women fought for the vote, with Dr Margaret Ward & Dr Myrtle Hill. Host: Carryduff Historical Society. Venue: Committee Room, Lough Moss Centre, Hillsborough Road, Carryduff Co Down. Time: 8pm. Cost: £2 non-members.8pm.

Monday 14 October: Griffiths Valuation and Online Revision Books, with Bill Macafee. North of Ireland FHS Newtownabbey Branch. Venue: Drama Theatre, Glengormley High School, 134 Ballyclare Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 5HP. 7pm. Enquiries.

Monday 14 October: Roscommon to New Jersey: Chain Migration and the Irish Diaspora, with Thomas Callahan, History Department, Rider University, USA. Host: Institute of Irish Studies. Venue: Room 03/006B, Peter Froggatt Centre, QUB. Belfast. 1:00pm–2:00pm.

Tuesday 15 October: Lighting the fuse? the establishment and outlook of the Irish Volunteers, 1913–14, with Dr Conor Mulvagh. Third in the Dublin Anniversaries series of City Hall lunchtime lectures. 13:10–13:50pm, plus 10 minutes Q&A. Free. No booking required. First come, first served.

Tuesday 15 October: Setting out and recording methods. North of Ireland FHS, Omagh Branch. Venue: Omagh Library, Dublin Road. 7:15pm. Enquiries

Tuesday 15 October: Workhouses, with Janet Hancock. Venue: Newry City Library, 79 Hill Street, Newry, Co Down. BT34 1DG . 12:30pm. Free. Booking advised. Tel 028 3026 4683.

Tuesday 15 October to Wednesday 16 October: History of mental health in Belfast, from the asylums to the present day. A free exhibition exploring attitudes and impacts. Venue: Grosvenor Hall, Glengall Street, Belfast. 10am to 4pm.

Wednesday 16 October: Celebrating Our Immigrant Heritage, a drop-in theme day to discuss and discover immigration records. Quebec FHS Heritage Centre and Library, 173 Cartier Avenue, Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada. 1:30pm to 4:00pm. Free. Open to the public. Information: 514-695-1502 or www.qfhs.ca.

Wednesday 16 October: The Home Rule Crisis of 1912-14, with Hugh McShane. Venue: Castlewellan Library, 3 Upper Square, Castlewellan, Co Down BT31 9DA. 7:30pm. Free but booking advised on 028 4377 8433.

Thursday 17 October: More Than Just Ship Passenger Arrival Lists, The National Archives at Kansas City, 400 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA. Find out about immigration records, passport applications, naturalization documents, passenger arrival lists and more! Email for details: kansascity.archives@nara.gov

Thursday 17 October:
Church of Ireland Representative Church Body Library, with Dr Susan Hood. North of Ireland FHS, North Down & Ards Branch. Venue: 1st Presbyterian Church Hall, Main Street, Bangor, Co Down. 7:30pm.

Thursday 17 October: Churches and Churchgoers, with Dr Janice Holmes and Dr Barry Sheehan. Part of the Exploring Family History Lecture Series presented by the Open University and PRONI. Venue: PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 6:30pm–8pm. Free but booking required at proni@dcalni.gov.uk.

Friday 18 October: Searching for that Elusive Scots-Irish and Irish Ancestor, a free talk and Q&ampA with Gillian Hunt of the Ulster Historical Foundation. Venue: Hilton Atlanta North-east, Georgia, USA. Part of the Stone Mountain Highland Games. The talk is free and all are welcome.

Friday 18 October to Sunday 20 October: Back to our Past, Ireland's very own genealogy event. Venue: RDS Industries Hall, Dublin. 11am to 7pm every day. Three strands of lectures on each day. Half price entry voucher and details.

Saturday 19 October: Bound for Botany Bay 1788? – The First Fleet to Australia, with Barbara Wimble, President Botany Bay FHS. Host: North of Ireland FHS, Fermanagh Branch. Venue: Library, Halls Lane, Enniskillen, BT74 7DR. Time: 2:15pm.  Enquiries.

Sunday 20 October: Roses from the Heart - 'Blessing of the Bonnets' ceremony at 12.00 noon at St Coleman's Cathedral in Cobh, Co Cork, followed by procession to Cobh Heritage Centre where they will be permanently installed. These bonnets represent the 184 women and children aboard the ill-fated NEVA on its way to Australia.