Monday, 22 October 2012

NLI launches WW1 family history roadshow series


Back in March, the National Library of Ireland (NLI) held a World War One Family History Roadshow to which the public was invited to bring along memorabilia belonging to family and friends who took part in World War One. (See the report in Irish Genealogy News here.)

All items brought to the National Library were digitally photographed, so that visitors could take their precious memorabilia home with them. Once digitised and catalogued, the material was uploaded to the Europeana 1914-1918 website, where it can now be viewed by everyone.

The first roadshow was a huge success. As a result, the NLI is now planning a series of roadshows around the country in the countdown to 2014. The first of these will take place on Monday 5 November, from 10am to 5pm, at the Hunt Museum in Limerick.

The NLI announcement says: 'We are inviting you to bring your WWI memorabilia (anything from diaries to helmets, and from medals to postcards) to the Hunt Museum, where it will be digitised and added to the online archive, along with the stories that bring these objects to life. We are delighted that we will be joined on the day by Mr Jimmy Deenihan, TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, whose Department has made the Irish roadshow days possible. There will also be historians and experts on hand to talk to you about the significance of your finds.'

Places at the Roadshow are limited so advance booking is essential. Telephone 00 353 (0)1-603 0346 or email europeana1914-1918@nli.ie, stating whether you'd prefer to attend morning or evening.