European Heritage Open Days Weekend in N. Ireland

Download the brochure (pdf 1Mb)

More than 400 properties and events of cultural and historical interest will be on offer free of charge this coming weekend when Northern Ireland joins forces with the rest of Europe for European Heritage Open Days (EHOD).

Although EHOD is officially a weekend event, some organisers hold an Open Day in the preceding week, presumably due to staffing limitations. Others open only on the Saturday. Some, but not all, of the genealogy events fall into these categories and the list below is by no means exhaustive so be sure to check the brochure or use the dedicated search facility at Discover Northern Ireland.

• Newry City Library Heritage Open Day will be held on Thursday 11th, from 9am to 9pm. Closed all weekend.
  
• Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum, The Mall, Armagh. Research your military ancestry on Saturday 13th, 10am–12:30pm and 1:30pm–5pm. Free. Not open Sunday.
  
• Irish Local Studies Library, Abbey St, Armagh. Open Friday 9:30 to 4pm, with drop in beginners' genealogy sessions from 10am–12Noon and 2pm–4pm. Also open Saturday 10am–2pm.
  
• Ballymena Central Library, 5 Pat’s Brae, co Antrim. Thursday 11th, Family History on the web, 6pm–8pm. Friday 12th, Family history on the web 10am–12:30pm. Not open over the weekend.
  
• Mellon Centre for Emigration Studies, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagah, co Tyrone. Open Thursday 11th 10.30am – 12noon for Family history on the web,
  
• Omagh Library, Irishtown Road, Omagh, Co Tyrone. Thursday 11th, Family history workshop, 10.30am – 12noon.
  
• PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. Saturday 10am–5pm, tours and talks unlocking the secrets of the archives, plus full document ordering service. Sunday 14th, talks and tours of the archive. See PRONI schedule.
  
• Downpatrick Library Heritage Day, Friday 12th, 10am–5pm. Closed the weekend.
  
• Enniskillen Library, Halls Lane, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. EHOD on Thursday 11th 9am–8pm, with Family history workshop 10:30am–12noon. Open Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.
  

Also of particular interest to genealogists are the many graveyards opening for tours, some guided, some not. Look out for them in the brochure.

For the first time the EHOD programme will include talks about historic properties that are also film sets for productions such as 'Game of Thrones', 'The Fall' and 'Dracula Untold'.

Linking up with the special weekend, Craft NI and Food NI will be bringing a variety of bespoke craft and food heritage events to many of the historic buildings taking part. This year’s programme also reflects a Decade of Centenaries and has a sub-theme of Anniversaries such as events marking the First World War and Belfast Central Library’s 125th anniversary.

Although all events are free, it's necessary to book for some.

And here's a question for the EHOD NI press and marketing department... exactly what does 'pre-booking' convey that 'booking' does not?