Monday 2 October 2017

Irish family history and heritage events, 2-15 October

Until 14 October: Dublin Festival of History 2017. 62 free events – talks, walks, screenings, panel discussions and seminars – still to be enjoyed at libraries, Dublin Castle, and many other venues across Dublin City. See programme for full details.

Monday 2 October: NLI Reading Room and Manuscript Room closed. Venue: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. On-going Monday closures are to facilitate extensive redevelopment of the premises. All other services/exhibitons/cafe, including Genealogy Advisory Service, operating as normal. Details.

Monday 2 October: A beginner’s guide to DNA, with Michael McDowell. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society, Killyleagh Branch. Venue: Killyleagh Masonic Hall, 50 High Street, Killyleagh, Co. Down, BT30 9QF. 8pm. Free. All welcome.

Tuesday 3 October: The Miller's Tale, with Áine Foley. Host: More Tales of Medieval Dublin lecture series. Venue: Wood Quay Venue, Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. 1:05–1:55pm. Free. All welcome.

Tuesday 3 October: Ireland, Egypt and India: 1919 an anti-imperialist turning point, with Dr Kate O'Malley. Host: National Archives of Ireland's 2017 Lecture Programme. Venue: Reading Room, National Archives, Bishop Street, Dublin 8. Free. All welcome. 6pm. No booking required.

Tuesday 3 October: Irish Genealogy Hour – hands-on research in the computer classroom, with different topic each week. Host and venue: Billings Public Library, 510 North 28th Street, Billings, Montana, USA. Free. All welcome. Noon to 1pm. For more information, T: (406) 657-8258.

Wednesday 4 October: The Black Death in Dublin, with Finbar Dwyer. Host: Rathmichael Historical Society. Venue: Rathmichael National School, Stonebridge Road, Shankill, Co Dublin. 8pm. All welcome. Fee: €4.

Wednesday 4 October: Online resources for family history, with Stephen Scarth. Host and venue: Linen Hall Library, 17 Donegall Square North, Belfast BT1 5GB. 1pm. Free. All welcome. Need to book.

Thursday 5 October: Capturing the past – photographic collections and digitisation at PRONI, with Joy Carey and Lorraine Bourke. Host and venue: PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. Part of the 'PRONI’s archives unlocked' Thursday lunchtime public talks. 1pm. Free. Need to book as spaces are limited. Details and registration.

Friday 6 October: How to start researching your family history, with Ann Robinson. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society, Lisburn Branch, and LibrariesNI. Venue: Carryduff Library, Church Rd, Carryduff, Co Down, BT8 8DT.  11am. Ring/email library staff for details: (44) 028 9081 3568; carryduff.library@librariesni.org.uk.

Saturday 7 October Launch of new database: An Index of Catholics and their Friends in England 1680–1840, with Rory G Higgins FSC and William Shannon PhD. Host: Catholic Family History Society. Venue: The Conference Rooms, 24 Tufton Street, London SW1, UK. Tickets £20 to include lunch, refreshments and a disc of the database. 10am-4pm. Details.

Saturday 7 October: Open Day and Book Sale, at the North of Ireland Family History Society's Library & Research Centre in Newtownabbey. Free genealogy and dna advice, pick up a bargain, learn more about the Society's busy programme of branch meetings, lectures and short courses, browse the library and map collection.11am to 4pm. All welcome. Venue: NIFHS Library & Research Centre, Valley Business Centre, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim BT36 7LS. Free parking.

Monday 9 October: NLI Reading Room and Manuscript Room closed. Venue: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. On-going Monday closures are to facilitate extensive redevelopment of the premises. All other services/exhibitons/cafe, including Genealogy Advisory Service operating as normal. Details.

Monday 9 October: The Irish Linen Industry, with Brian Mackay. Host: Carryduff Historical Society. Venue: Committee Room, Lough Moss Leisure Centre, Hillsborough Road, Carryduff, Co Down. 8pm. All welcome. Members free. Non-members £2.

Monday 9 October: Carnmoney Graveyard, with Nigel Henderson. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society, Newtownabbey Branch. Venue: Drama Theatre, Glengormley High School, 134 Ballyclare Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 5HP. 7pm. All welcome.

Tuesday 10 October: Irish Family History Group, monthly meeting. Host and venue: The Core Library, Theatre Square, Homer Road, Solihull, UK, B91 3RG. 10am to Noon. All welcome, for genealogy help and support.

Tuesday 10 October: DMP casualties during the War of Independence – Part Three, with James Scanlon. Host: Genealogical Society of Ireland (GSI). Venue: Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute, Cumberland Street, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. 8pm. €3 donation. All welcome.

Tuesday 10 October: Family history: A beginner's guide to DNA, with Martin McDowell. Host and venue: Belfast Central Library, Royal Ave, Belfast BT1 1EA. Free. 2pm–3pm. Booking advised; T: 028 9050 9150. All welcome. 

Wednesday 11 October: Irish Family History Advice Sessions, with Archivists. Host and venue: Glasgow City Archives, Level 5, Mitchell Library, Granville Street, Glasgow, G3 7DN, Scotland. Bookable one-to-one slots. Book in person at the Granville Street reception or phone 0141 287 2999.

Thursday 12 October: The Plantation families of North-West Ulster, with Brian Mitchell MAGI. Host and venue: Ballymena Central Library, 5 Pat's Brae, Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT43 5AX. Free. 12:30pm. All welcome. Details: T - 028 2563 3950; E - ballymena.library@librariesni.org.uk​.

Thursday 12 October: Public tour of WWIreland Exhibition, Exploring the Irish Experience at home and abroad. Host and Venue: National Library of Ireland, 2/3 Kildare Street (next door to main building), Dublin 2. Free. 2pm. No booking required.

Thursday 12 October: How to get ready to search Irish records, with Kevin Cassidy. Host: Greater Omaha Genealogical Society – Irish Interest Group. Venue: LDS Omaha Stake Center, 14680 California Street, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. 7pm. Free, but advance registration required by email to Rita Henry (rhenry416@cox.net).

Friday 13 October: Tour of the Newspaper Library and how to use it for genealogy research. Host and venue: Belfast Central Library, Royal Ave, Belfast BT1 1EA. Free. 2:30–3:30pm. Booking advised; T: 028 9050 9150. All welcome.

Saturday 14 October: Places and jurisdictions in Ireland, with Tom Rice. Host: Irish Genealogical Society International. Venue: Minnesota Genealogical Library, 1185 Concord St North, South St Paul, MN 55075, USA. Members $15/ Non-members $20. 10:30 to Noon. Register.

Saturday 14 October: Towns of the Ulster Plantation, a one-day conference. Hosts: Cumann Seanchais Bhreifne (Breifne Historical Society) and Cavan Genealogy. Venue: Johnston Central Library, Farnham Street, Cavan. 10am to 4pm. To book, contact the Library on +353 (0)49 436 1094. Fee: €10. Booking essential. Full programme.

Saturday 14 October: Derry – the pathway to another life, with Brian Mitchell MAGI. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society, Tyrone Branch. Venue: Seminar Room, First Floor, Omagh Library, Dublin Road, Omagh, BT78 1HL. 10am. All welcome.

Sunday 15 October: Irish Historical walk from Kings Cross to Soho. Hosts: London Easter 1916-1924 Centenary Committee and Irish Historical walks in London. Meeting at German Gymnasium, 1 King's Blvd, London, N1C 4BU. Taking in Irish ghettos (Bloomsbury, Soho, Somerstown), links to Fenian rising of 1867, and Easter Rising, and places with connections to famous Irish people. 12pm to 3pm. Details.