Wednesday 12 March 2014

Genealogy afloat: July cruise includes Irish research

Now here's a novel way (to those of us in northern Europe, at least) to progress your Irish genealogy research: a cruise around the geographical British Isles, taking in Scottish, English and French islands, London, Normandy and Dublin.

The 10-day Unlock The Past cruise will set off on the Marco Polo from London on 19 July. It'll be the fifth genealogy cruise from the Australia-based organisers, and their first in the northern hemisphere. In addition to all the on-board relaxation and shore excursions that you'd expect of a classic ocean liner, passengers will be able to choose from a terrific programme of genealogy lectures, Research Help Zones, special-interest groups and technology-related presentations throughout the cruise.

The Marco Polo Waldorf Restaurant
Around 40 topics will be available across 25 sessions, with most of them held in the early evening to allow plenty of time for shore leave (there's only one full day at sea) and cruise entertainment.

Topics will appeal to those with British and Irish connections, and the line-up of lecturers includes many names well-known for their specialism in these areas of research. Among them are Eileen and Sean Ó Dúill who will be presenting the Irish-themed talks.

The lecture programme is still provisional but Irish lectures are likely to be as follows:

Eileen Ó Dúill:

  • Researching in Ireland: planning is the key to success – intermediate/advanced
  • Dublin, 30 June 1922: did everything blow up? – intermediate/advanced
  • Introduction to Irish genealogy: where do I start? – beginner
  • Mrs Fancy Tart is coming to tea: making sense of family stories
Sean Ó Dúill:
  • Country cures from Irish folklore
  • Death and burial: peasant Ireland in the 19th century
  • Matchmaking and marriage customs in 19th century rural Ireland
Details of the main focus of each of these talks can be found here.

In addition, the organisers may offer a genealogy-related shore tour in Dublin and possibly in one or two other ports. See the full itinerary of the cruise for details of ports of call and typical excursions available from them.

For more details about the cruise, click on the image of the Marco Polo below.

The Marco Polo (Cruise & Maritime Voyages)