I've listed below some of the more obvious famiy history events, but the Heritage Week website is heavily loaded with details of wonderful and interesting tours, lectures, performances and exhibitions designed to explore the times and lives of our ancestors. Since gathering events for my listing, I'm sure others will have been notified to the website, so be sure to check what's on in your area of interest at HeritageWeek.ie.
Monday 13 August: 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, will open at 11am (late opening is to facilitate a staff development meeting) and operate as normal from that time. Details.
Monday 13 August: The Military Service Pensions Collection: Dependants of the War of Independence and Civil War casualties, with Robert McEvoy. Host and venue: Richmond Barracks, off Bulfin Rd, Inchicore, Dublin 8. 11am. Tickets €5, includes tea/coffee & scone. Book or purchase at the door.Tuesday 14 August to Saturday 18 August: Scots-Ulster Reunion & Conference, 5 days of tours, lectures, music, culture, and celebration. Host: Maine Ulster Scots Project. Venue: Bowdoin College, 255 Maine St, Brunswick, ME 04011, USA. Details.
Thursday 16 August to Sunday 19 August: West Cork History Festival - lectures, performances, screenings (field trips all sold out). Venue: Rosebank, Russagh, Castletownshend Road, Skibbereen, Co. Cork (Rosebank is the the former dower house of the Liss Ard estate, less than a mile outside the town). All presentations/performances are in marquees. Programme and tickets.
Saturday 18 August: Máire Ní Murchú, the bean feasta/wisewoman of Beara, with Niamh Ní Lochlainn. Host: Bere Island Project Group. Venue: Bere Island Heritage & Information Centre, Ballinakilla, Bere Island, Co Cork. 2.30pm. Details.
Saturday 18 August: Sharing family history stories, with Penny Bristol-Jones, Eilish Feeley and Marie Gillooly. Host and venue: Roscommon County Library, Abbey Street, Roscommon, Co. Roscommon. 10am to 12:30pm. Free. Details: T 0906 637272.
Saturday 18 August: Genealogy workshop, with resident genealogist Lynn Brady. Host and Venue: Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Finglas Rd, Botanic, Dublin 11. 2pm to 3:30pm. Free but booking required at booking@glasnevintrust.ie. Details.
Saturday 18 August: Family History workshop. Host: Western Family History Association. Venue: Lackagh Parish Centre, Turloughmore, Co. Galway. 3pm to 6pm. Free. Details.
Saturday 18 August: Family history research. Host and venue: Genealogical Society of Ireland, Loughlinstown Leisure Centre, Loughlinstown Drive, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin. Volunteer members of the GSI will advise and assist visitors on researching their family history. 10am to 5pm. Free. More info - T: 0872486878, E: eddie_gahan_snr@hotmail.com.
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 August: Carving a Future from the Past, a weekend of Colgan heritage events including guided walk, genealogy workshop, Bliain na Gaeilge Get Writing, history of the alcohol factory, traditional music workshop, exhibition of schools' projects, and launch of ColganHeritage.com. Host and venue: Colgan Community & Resource Centre, Chapel Street, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal. Saturday 9:30am - 9:30pm. Sunday 10:30am - 10:30pm. Details.
Sunday 19 August: Family Genealogy Day. Learn how to research or consult a genealogist. Host and venue: Belderrig Community Centre, Belderrig, Ballina, Co. Mayo. 3pm to 5pm. Free. Everyone welcome, although not suitable for under 12s.
Monday 20 to Friday 24 August: Living Folklore: a daily archive tour. Host and venue: National Folklore Collection UCD, Newman Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4. 11am to 12pm. Free, but booking required - email bealoideas@ucd.ie.
Tuesday 21 August: Sligo Heritage Video collection. Host and venue: County Sligo Heritage & Genealogy Society, County Sligo Heritage & Genealogy Centre, Aras Reddan, Temple St, Abbeyquarter North, Sligo, Co. Sligo. 10am to 12:30pm. Visitors will be able to choose from a selection of short videos & presentations on topics including Emigration from Sligo Port and the Schools Folklore Collection. Free. Booking required - tel: 0719143728 or email community@sligoroots.com.
Tuesday 21 August: Family history research. Host and venue: Genealogical Society of Ireland, Loughlinstown Leisure Centre, Loughlinstown Drive, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin. Volunteer members of the GSI will advise and assist visitors on researching their family history. 10am to 5pm. Free. More info - T: 0872486878, E: eddie_gahan_snr@hotmail.com.
Tuesday 21 August: Genealogy Clinic. Free 30-minute one-to-one consultation with guidance on specific research problems. Host and venue: Mountmellick Library, O'Moore St, Townparks, Mountmellick, Co. Laois. 10am to 1pm. Need to book: T - 0578644572.
Tuesday 21 August: Genealogy, an introductory workshop. Host: Ballybofey, Stranorlar & District Historical Society. Venue: Ballybofey Library, Steeple View, Navenny Street, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal. 6pm-8pm. Admission Free. Details.
Tuesday 21 August: Beginner's Family History one-to-one sessions. Host and venue: Cork County Library, Library Building, Carrigrohane Road, Cork City. 9:30am - 4pm. Admission free but booking required; T: 021 4285640
Tuesday 21 August: Family Connections, with Larry McNutt. Discover the connection and relationships of families in Buncrana and elsewhere. Host: West Inishowen History & Heritage Society, Venue: The Plaza, Buncrana, Co. Donegal. Admission Free. 7:30pm to 8:30pm. Further Information T- 087 9227 038, E- westinishowenhistory@gmail.com.
Wednesday 22 August: Beginner's Family History one-to-one sessions. Host and venue: Cork County Library, Library Building, Carrigrohane Road, Cork City. 9:30am - 4pm. Admission free but booking required; T: 021 4285640
Wednesday 22 August: Irish Assistance in the Library. Host and venue: Genealogical Society of Victoria, Level 6, 85 Queen St, Melbourne 3000, Australia. 10am to 4pm. Free for members. $20 non-members. One-hour consultations can be booked. Details.
Wednesday 22 August: Genealogy Clinic. Free 30-minute one-to-one consultation with guidance on specific research problems. Host and venue: Portlaoise Library, Dunamaise House, Lyster Square, Kylekiproe, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. 10am to 1pm. Need to book: T - 0578622333, E - scarroll@laoiscoco.ie.
Wednesday 22 August: Family history research. Host and venue: Genealogical Society of Ireland, Loughlinstown Leisure Centre, Loughlinstown Drive, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin. Volunteer members of the GSI will advise and assist visitors on researching their family history. 10am to 5pm. Free. More info - T: 0872486878, E: eddie_gahan_snr@hotmail.com.
Wednesday 22 August: From Tralee to Rhodesia, the story of Dr. Georgina Revington, the first Tralee woman to graduate with a Bachelor in Medicine from Trinity College, Dublin in 1912. She went on to become medical officer for Lurgan Workhouse in Armagh and then worked in Rhodesia at the Kalene Missionary Hospital. Host and venue: Kerry County Museum, Ashe Memorial Hall, Denny St, Tralee, Co Kerry. 1pm to 1:45pm. Admission free. Info: tel - 0667127777, email - education@kerrymuseum.ie.
Thursday 23 August: Beginner's Family History one-to-one sessions. Host and venue: Cork County Library, Library Building, Carrigrohane Road, Cork City. 9:30am - 4pm. Admission free but booking required; T: 021 4285640.
Thursday 23 August: Researching your family history, a talk on tracing your Irish ancestry, particularly in Limerick, using online resources. Get expert advice and guidance from professional genealogists. Hosts: Limerick Archives & Limerick Genealogy. Venue: City Hall, Merchant's Quay, Limerick, Co Limerick. 10am - 11am. Free. Details: tel - 061556535, email - archives@limerick.ie.
Friday 24 August: Who do you think you are? Host and venue: Irish Workhouse Centre, Portumna, Co. Galway. Genealogists and historians will be on-hand to give advice on the resources available and give tips on growing your family tree. 12pm to 5pm. Admission free. Further Information, tel: 09097 59200, email: info@irishworkhousecentre.ie.
Friday 24 August: Genealogy Clinic. Free 30-minute one-to-one consultation with guidance on specific research problems. Host and venue: Abbeyleix Library, Market Square, Knocknamoe, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois. 10am to 1pm. Need to book: T - 0578730020.
Friday 24 August: Family History Curiosities, an illustrated talk on the strange and interesting discoveries made during Irish family history research. Host and venue: Mallow Library, Thomas Davis St., Mallow, Co. Cork. 2pm to 3pm. Admission Free. Booking necessary. Tel: 022 21821, Email: mallow.library@corkcoco.ie
Friday 24 August: Creating your family history, and re-launch of the Ballinacree Historical Society website. Host: Ballinacree Historical Society. Venue: Ballinacree Community Centre, Ballinacree, Co. Meath. Free. 8:30pm - 10:30pm. Details.
Saturday 25 August: Family history research. Host and venue: Genealogical Society of Ireland, Loughlinstown Leisure Centre, Loughlinstown Drive, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin. Volunteer members of the GSI will advise and assist visitors on researching their family history. 10am to 5pm. Free. More info - T: 0872486878, E: eddie_gahan_snr@hotmail.com.
Saturday 25 August: Researching your Irish family history, a talk and exhibition. Host and venue: Midleton Library, 81 Main St, Midleton, Co. Cork. All welcome. Free. No need to book. 12pm to 1pm.