Northern Ireland's Tithe Applotment Books go online

The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland has released its newly digitised collection of Tithe Applotment Books online. They've been a long time coming to a screen near you, but it's good to now have TABs for the entire island readily accessible to family historians and other researchers. Many will be able to trace their ancestors back a couple of decades or even more prior to Griffith's Valuation.

Townlands of Carran and Crew, Errigal Keerogue, Co. Tyrone.
Click/tap to open enlarged view of sample page

The books, which date from c1820 to c1840, can be viewed, free of charge, on PRONI's e-catalogue (see step by step below). They are catalogued alphabetically by parish name and can be searched at townland level within each parish pdf. They are not indexed by householder's name.

I've only had a chance to look at a couple of parishes so far, and I'm pleased to say the scanning quality is very good. The only thing you need to watch is the size of the pdf downloads. The two I opened were large: 63Mb and 121Mb, so not a lot of fun for those with a slow connection, but they're worth waiting for! Each page is large and you can zoom in and out to decipher the writing where needed.

To access the files, go to PRONI's e-catalogue page. Click the bright green 'Search the e-catalogue' button. On the next page, click Browse in the top right of the page, just below the PRONI logo. Then enter FIN/5 in the search box. From the landing page, FIN/5/A is probably the best option for most researchers, but look around the other 22 options, too, in case there's a file dedicated to your parish of interest. From FIN/5/A you'll find you have the option of 317 'digital view' files, arranged alphabetically by parish. Use the Previous and Next buttons below to select those you want to view. (These instructions are for a PC, not a mobile phone.)

For information about the Tithe Applotment Books and their value to genealogists, see my website Irish Genealogy Toolkit.

I imagine PRONI's e-catalogue will take a heavy bashing in the next few days!

Also released online today are the National Education Commissioners Grant Aid Applications collection. These files, held in ED/1, consist of 33 volumes of applications arranged by county and then by school name. They date from 1832 to 1889. They provide interesting details about the number and demographics of pupils attending local schools, and the make up and salary of teaching staff. Some teachers names are included, as are the names of the local people supporting the applications. The latter are identified as either Protestant or Roman Catholic.

To access the files, go to PRONI's e-catalogue page. Click the bright green 'Search the e-catalogue' button. On the next page, click Browse in the top right of the page, just below the PRONI logo. Then enter ED/1 in the search box. On the landing page, you can start selecting by county and then, within your chosen file, select the school you want to view. The pdf downloads for individual schools are mostly about four to six MB.

NOTE: Other online releases from PRONI today: Hogg photographs (LA/7) and Northern Ireland Hansard (NILA/7).

New book: The People of Derry City, 1930

Just published in the USA is The People of Derry City 1930 by author Brian Mitchell MAGI, who manages the Derry Genealogy and Heritage Centre.

The 192-page book contains names and address details extracted by Brian from The Derry Almanac and Directory, and follows on from The People of Derry city 1921, which was published in 2016.

Because the 1926 census for Northern Ireland has been destroyed, the first post-1911 census that survives for Derry City is that for 1937. Under existing legislation, this won't be released to the public until 2038, which leaves the annual editions of The Derry Almanac as the closest surviving census-type documents for the period from 1912 to 1936.

Brian has transcribed both the 1921 and 1930 Almanac using five fields: surname of head of household, first name of head of household, street address, house number, and Almanac page number of the respective listing, creating census-substitutes for the city's inhabitants for the year before Partition and again nearly one decade later.

The new book is now available through Genealogical.com. ISBN: 9780806358949. Price US$32.

Black Friday brings good deals from FindMyPast DNA

No longer such a new-kid-on-the-block, FindMyPast DNA is running another Black Friday Sale on its test kit this year.

Just as FindMyPast's huge online database is known for specialising in Irish and UK records, so it's DNA partner (Living DNA) is considered a specialist in helping people around the world connect with their Irish and British roots. Some genetic genealogists believe this DNA test provides a greater level of detail in its results, especially for those with ancestral connections to the geographical British Isles. But it's not a localised test.

You'll see results mapped across 80 global regions, including 21 from Britain and Ireland.

In addition to the dna test discount, Living DNA is offering a saving on its Deep Ancestry (y-DNA and mt-DNA) upgrade, so you can discover details of your ancestor's migration histories for less, plus, with every DNA test, researchers automatically receive 14 days of free access to Findmypast’s entire archive of more than 11 billion records and historical newspapers.

The amount of Black Friday discount varies slightly from region to region, but provide worthwhile savings. ALL the discounts expire at 11:59pm GMT on Monday 2 December.

	FindMyPast Ireland DNA kit reduced from €79 to €59 + shipping Deep Ancestry upgrade reduced from €24.95 to €10.
	FindMyPast USA/Canada  DNA kit reduced from $89 to $59 + shipping Deep Ancestry upgrade reduced from $29.95 to $10.
	FindMyPast UK  DNA kit reduced from £79 to £59 + shipping Deep Ancestry upgrade reduced from £19.90 to £10.
	FindMyPast Australia/NZ  DNA kit reduced from $129 AUD to $95 AUD + shipping Deep Ancestry upgrade reduced from $39.95 AUD to $34 AUD.

Some of the above content contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy via these links. This does not affect the price you pay as a consumer, but it does contribute to keeping Irish Genealogy News online. See Advertising Disclosure tab above.

Check out ARA Ireland's Explore Your Archive week

Today marks the middle of Explore Your Archive Week for the Archives and Records Association (ARA), Ireland, the principal professional body for archivists, archive conservators and records managers in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

In addition to a brand new website at https://araireland.ie/, where you'll find 'featured' collections from Tipperary Studies, RTE Archives and Loreto Archives, ARA Ireland members have organised some events to showcase their collections and demonstrate more of what archivists and librarians get up to at work.

For example, Donegal Archives has three month-long travelling exhibitions – the Traditional Boats of Ireland (The Dónal Mac Polin Collection); A Trek Throough Time: images from the county archives; and Celebrating 120 Years of the History of Irish Local Government, while Derry Genealogy and Heritage centre is holding two Open Afternoons of talks and consultations.

Social media has been a major player in the Explore Your Archives campaign, and I've noticed high levels of activity and engagement on twitter (the only sm outlet I use). A series of themed hashtags were decided in advance (see image above right), so that archivists could prepare and present their own unique take of the day's hashtag term using twitter, facebook, instagram etc.

Some of those I've seen across my twitter feed have taken an amusing or unexpected twist on the day's 'tag term' or have revealed some very strange and unusual items among their archives. It's really been quite enlightening.

To join in the fun, and find out more about the fabulously diverse range of archive collections available across Ireland, search your preferred social media using any of the tags listed. It doesn't matter if the official day for that tag has passed... a search with a hashtag should still find the posts.

Bargains galore at NIFHS Flash Book Sale, 30 November

The North of Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS) will be holding a Flash Book Sale of Surplus Material this Saturday, 30 November, at its Research Centre and Library in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim.

A terrific range of books is available, including Graveyard Inscriptions, Journals, Biographies and Communities, Churches, Local History, and much more, and the prices are low, low, low.

The Flash Book Sale list (pdf), with prices (many of them half price), can be downloaded from the NIFHS website.

Some other books – many of them directories from the second half of the 1900s – will also be on sale at full price. See the Also For Sale list (pdf).

The sale will be held from 10:30am to 2pm at Unit C4 Valley Business Centre, 67 Church Road, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, BT36 7LS, where there's plenty of free parking.

NAI & PRONI: Press Preview/Preservation Weeks in Dec.

December is looming, and with its arrival there is always some disruption to regular opening and closing schedules, and that's even before we put the tinsel up (well, it is in my house, anyway).

Outside of the 'festive' closures in the last week of the month – I'll bring you details of those nearer the time – there are two big changes to note: the National Archives of Ireland's Press Preview week and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland's Preservation Week. Here are the details:

NAI - Press Preview Week, Monday 2 December – Friday 6 December inclusive.
The Reading Room at Bishop Street, Dublin 8, will be closed to the public for the entire week. The free Genealogy Advisory Service will not operate, either. The suspension of normal services is to facilitate the annual Press Preview when reporters and researchers from the media assemble to view and review government records released under the 30-year-closure rule. (In January, the 1989 records will be released to the public, and it's traditional that the press gets advance sight of them to prepare features and reports for publication or broadcast in the New Year.)

The NAI (and its Genealogy Advisory Service) will reopen to the public on Monday 9 December at 10am (not the usual time of 9:15am).

PRONI - Preservation Week, Monday 9 December – Friday 13 December inclusive.
During this annual event, PRONI's Preservation and Collections Management staff get an opportunity to dedicate some time to the vital work that goes on behind the scenes. The knock-on effect means a reduced service to researchers. Document ordering and production will be suspended throughout the week, but the Search Room and self-service microfilm facilities will be available as normal in the public search room.

Regular service will resume on Monday 16 December. Researchers should also note that the last Late Night Thursday of 2019 will be on 5 December and will resume on 9 January 2020.

Irish genealogy and history events, 25 Nov - 7 Dec

Monday 25 November: Getting Started, an introductory workshop for those interested in local and family history. Host and venue: PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 11am to 1pm. Fully Booked.

Tuesday 26 November: Online Resources workshop, an introduction to using online records for family and local history research. Each workshop will start with an orientation tour of PRONI. Host and venue: PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 11am to 1pm. Fully Booked.

Tuesday 26 November: Talking about DNA, with Martin McDowell. Host: NIFHS, Belfast Branch. Venue: CS Lewis Room, Holywood Arches Library, 4-12 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 1NT. Free. All welcome. 7:30pm.

Tuesday 26 November: Six Degrees of Separation, with Dr Linde Lunney. Host: NIFHS, Causeway Branch. Venue: Upper Main Hall, The Sandel Centre, Knocklynn Road, Coleraine, BT52 1WT. 8pm. Free. All welcome.

Tuesday 26 November: Historical Emigration from Newtownstewart and District, with Dr Patrick Fitzgerald and Clare Lawler Kilgallen. Host: Dennett Interchange. Venue: Mellon Centre for Migration Studies, Ulster-American Folk Park, 2 Mellon Road, Castletown, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 5QY. 7:30pm. All welcome. Free. See full details and Registration/RSVP (not obligatory) at eventbrite.

Tuesday 26 November: An inconvenient truth? Sexual violence and the Irish Revolution, a History Ireland Hedge School, chaired by editor Tommy Graham. Venue: National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Square, Dublin 2. In the panel will be Linda Connolly, Lindsey Earner, Tom Clonan and Brian Hanley. 7pm. Free.  Booking recommended.

Wednesday 27 November: Using WikiTree, with Anne Johnston of the NIFHS. An Explore Your Archive week event. Host: PRONI. Venue: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 1pm. Free but need to register.

Wednesday 27 November: Ulster, America and the Enlightenment, an evening celebration of a unique epoch in Irish, Ulster and Belfast history in the Age of Revolution. Host: Ulster Historical Foundation. Venue: Drinks reception, C18th music with harpist Edel Brady and three talks by renowned historians. Venue: First Presbyterian Church, 41 Rosemary Street, Belfast BT1 1QB. All welcome. Donation of £20 appreciated. 7pm to 10pm. Details.

Wednesday 27 November: From the Cradle to the Grave: The Work of the Sanitary Officer, with Joanne Rothwell, County Archivist. Venue: Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club, Davitts Quay, Dungarvon, Co Waterford. 8pm. Admission: €5. No booking necessary. All welcome. Details.

Wednesday 27 November:  Mary Mulligan, neighbour to Countess Markievicz, with Peadar Curran. Host: The Old Dublin Society. Venue: Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. 6pm. Free. All welcome.

Thursday 28 November: Researching Your WW1 Ancestors, with Alan Rosborough. Host: NIFHS, Ballymena Branch. Venue: Michelin Arts Workshop, Braid Arts Centre, 1-29 Bridge Street, Ballymena, Co Antrim BT43 5EJ. 7:15pm. All welcome. Free.

Thursday 28 November: A Beginner’s Guide to Using DNA for Family History​, with Martin McDowell of the NIFHS. Host and venue: PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 1–2pm. Free, but need to register.

Thursday 28 November: The Military Service (1916-1923) Service Collection, with Michael Keane. Venue: The People's Museum of Limerick, 2 Pery Square, Limerick City, Limerick. 7:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Thursday 28 November: The penal laws and Catholic children in the eighteenth century, with Dr Eoin Kinsella. Host and Venue: Royal Society of Antiquities, Helen Roe Theatre, Society House, 63 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. 7:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Thursday 28 November: Exploring Land, Mapping & Property Records in Ireland, a seminar, chaired by Tom Quinlan (NAI). Host: Property Registration Authority of Ireland. Venue: Registry of Deeds Archive Services, Henrietta Street, Dublin 1. 2:30pm–4pm. Free. Need to register.

Thursday 28 November: Law, language and injustice: Myles Joyce and the Maamtrasna Trials, 1882, with Professor Margaret Kelleher. Host: South Kilkenny Historical Society. Venue: Mullinavat Parish Hall, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny. Free admission. 8pm. All welcome.

Friday 29 November: Launch of new suite of online records. Host and venue: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. Free, with lunch included. 11am to 3pm. Need to register.

Friday 29 November: Red hand on the Suir – the Irish Transport and General Workers Union in Waterford in the early C20th, with Francis Devine. Host: Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society. Venue: St Patrick's Gateway Centre, Patrick St, Waterford City. 8pm. Members free; non-members €5. All welcome.

Friday 29 November: Exploring Archive & Genealogy Collections, an afternoon of short talks (Tracing your ancestors at 12pm and Understanding Archive Collections) and an opportunity to browse the collections and talk to the genealogist and archivist. Venue: Central Library, Foyle Street, Derry. Hosts: Derry City and Strabane District Council. Free. Details. Part of the Explore Your Archives campaign.

Saturday 30 November: Surplus book sale. Host and venue: North of Ireland Family History Society, C4, 67 Valley Business Centre, Church Rd, Newtownabbey, Antrim BT36 7LS. See list of books for sale. 50% off published price on the day. 10:30am to 2pm. All welcome. Plenty of parking.

Saturday 30 November: School Records, a single two-hour session workshop with Sandra Ardis. Host and venue: North of Ireland Family History Society, C4 Research Centre, Valley Business Centre, Church Rd, Newtownabbey, Antrim BT36 7L. All welcome. 2–4pm. Fee £8, payable at the session. Details.

Monday 2 December to Friday 6 December: Media Preview Week. To facilitate this annual event, when members of the press explore government records that have been closed for 30 years (this year is records from 1989), the Reading Room of the National Archives of Ireland will be closed to the public. Reopens Monday 9 December at 10am.

Monday 2 December: Members' Night - Tales and Artefacts. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society, Killyleagh branch. Venue: Killyleagh Masonic Hall, 50 High Street, Killyleagh, Co Down, BT30 9QF. 8pm. All welcome.

Tuesday 3 December: Finding Family History Stories, a single two-hour session workshop with Michael McKeag. Host: Host and venue: North of Ireland Family History Society, C4 Research Centre, Valley Business Centre, Church Rd, Newtownabbey, Antrim BT36 7L. All welcome. 11am–1pm. Fee £8, payable at the session. Booking and details, here.

Thursday 5 December: Tracing Relatives of the Belfast Shipyards, a class with Maureen McKinney 7.00pm-9.00pm NIFHS Venue: Honneyman Room, NIFHS Research Centre, Unit C4, Valley Business Centre, 67 Church Road, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim BT36 7LS. 7–9pm. £8. Fully Booked.

Thursday 5 December: The suffering of the poor and the language of charity in C19th Ireland, with Dr Ciaran McCabe. Host: Ulster Society for Irish Historical Studies. Venue: Seminar Room, Institute of Irish Studies (QUB), 27 University Square, Belfast. 6:30pm. All welcome.

Friday 6 December: Online Resources workshop, an introduction to using online records for family and local history research. Host and venue: PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. All welcome. Free. 11am to 1pm. FULLY BOOKED.

Saturday 7 December: How to get ready to search Irish records, with Kevin Cassidy. Host: Columbus Public Library. Venue: Columbus Public Library-Van Cleave Room, 3000 Macon Rd., Columbus, Georgia, USA, 10:30am. All welcome.

Ancestry DNA: Lowest price of the year for Ireland: €59

Ancestry DNA's Cyber Sale for Irish researchers sees the test kit at its lowest price of the year. It's been reduced from €95 to €59. As always, shipping is extra.

That's a saving of €36, and makes the decision to treat friends and loved ones (and yourself, of course!) much easier.

Be sure to make that decision and click/tap the image, right, to place your order before 11:59pm GMT on Cyber Monday, 2 December, when the sale ends.

Offer expired. Link removed.

AncestryDNA at the lowest UK price of the year: £49

Ancestry UK has launched its 2019 Cyber Sale. It sees AncestryDNA test kits at their lowest price of the year: £49 plus shipping.

That's a £30 discount, and makes the decision to treat friends and loved ones (and yourself, of course!) much easier.

Be sure to make that decision and click/tap the image, right, to place your order before 11:59pm GMT on Cyber Monday, 2 December, when the sale ends.


Some of the above content contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy via these links. This does not affect the price you pay as a consumer, but it does contribute to keeping Irish Genealogy News online. See Advertising Disclosure tab above.

My winter 'catch-up' selection of Irish history podcasts

In the hope of getting some downtime in the next month or so, I've curated my very own Irish history 'box set' of podcasts I haven't got round to listening to yet, despite their being on my To Do list week after week!

I'm sharing it here on Irish Genealogy News in case it's of interest as a ready-made listing of treats for the ears of other researchers.

In no particular order:

The Treaty of Limerick
BBC's In Our Time programme, broadcast 7 November. 53m.
Chaired by Melvyn Bragg, the discussion panel features Jane Ohlmeyer, Chair of the Irish Research Council and Erasmus Smith’s Professor of Modern History at Trinity College Dublin; Clare Jackson, from the History Faculty at the University of Cambridge and Senior Tutor of Trinity Hall; and Thomas O'Connor, Professor of History at Maynooth University.
Listen to the Treaty of Limerick here.

The Great Irish Famine
BBC's In Our Time programme, broadcast 4 April. 57m.
Chaired by Melvyn Bragg, the discussion panel features Cormac O'Grada, Professor Emeritus in the School of Economics at University College Dublin; Niamh Gallagher, Lecturer in Modern British and Irish History at the University of Cambridge; and Enda Delaney, Professor of Modern History at the University of Edinburgh.
Listen to The Great Irish Famine here.

Jack the Ripper & Irish Connections
Irish History Podcast (IHP) series, recorded 2 September. 31m.
IHP creater Fin Dwyer interviews the historian Hallie Rubenhold, whose latest book is The Five – The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper.
Listen to Jack the Ripper & Irish Connections here.

The Mater Hospital: Where History is Made
Irish History Podcast (IHP) series, recorded 21 October. 50m.
IHP creater Fin Dwyer explores the history of the hospital, which opened its doors in 1861, and interviews its archivist, Helen Madden, and Professor Ronan Cahill of the Mater Hospital and University College Dublin.
Listen to The Mater Hospital: Where History is Made here

Brehon Law: From Divorce to Irish Sex Magic
Irish History Podcast (IHP), recorded 16 August 2019. 33m.
IHP creator Fin Dwyer talks to Gillian Kenny who explains Brehon Law, the complex and sophisticated legal system of early medieval Gaelic Irish society, and challenges some widely held misconceptions about what behaviour was accepted and not.
Listen to Brehon Law: From Divorce to Irish Sex Magic here

Testimony, the story of the Military Archives
RTÉ Radio One's The History Show, broadcast 10 November. 50m.
Author and presenter Myles Dungan visits the Military Archives at Cathal Brugha in Rathmines to explore the collections it holds, what they tell us about the Anglo-Irish War, and how they are being preserved and archived.
Listen to Testimony here.

A Story of Irish Whiskey: How three families saved it from extinction
A five-part series from Irish Distillers. Launched May. 15-20m each.
Narrated and dramatised accounts of the three main Irish whiskey families
– the Jamesons, Powers and Murphys – exploring the drink's meteroric rise in the 1800s through its fall in the aftermath of revolution and wars in the 20th century to, finally, its 21st century renaissance.
Listen to the Story of Irish Whiskey here

A century on – how do we view the War of Independence?
A History Ireland magazine Hedge School, recorded 19 September. 1hr 13m.
History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, chaired this Hedge School, geared towards 15-18 year old students, with a panel made up of Donal Fallon, co-editor of the blog Come Here To Me; Liz Gillis, historian and author of 25 May: The Burning of the Customs House 1921; Martin Mansergh from the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations; Mary McAuliffe, Assistant Professor of Gender Studies, UCD; and Kevin Manning.
Listen to A century on, how do we view the War of Independence? here.

Scotland and the Global Irish Revolution
A History Ireland magazine Hedge School, recorded at Edinburgh University, 15 May. 32m.
To what extent did revolutionary developments abroad shape what happened within Ireland during the revolutionary period 1919–23? And in what ways did events within Ireland impact beyond Irish shores? History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, was joined for a lively discussion by Darragh Gannon, Fearghal McGarry (both Queen’s University, Belfast); Niall Whelehan (Strathclyde); and Kirsty Lusk (Glasgow).
Listen to Scotland and the Global Irish Revolution here.

And an extra one from Three Castles Burning, a brand-new podcast production.
The Bachelors Walk Massacre
The first in a new series from Dublin historian Donal Fallon, released 19 November. 26m.
Three Castles Burning is a social history podcast, dedicated to the story of the Irish capital and exploring some lesser known events. In this podcast Donal is joined by historian Lorcan Collins.
Listen to The Bachelors Walk Massacre here.

25% saving on RootsIreland.ie's 12-month subscription

RootsIreland.ieis offering a 25% discount on its 12-month subscription package. The saving is available to both new and existing* customers.

The database, created by the Irish Family History Foundation's network of 34 local genealogy centres, is widely considered the most complete and accurate set of Roman Catholic and other church records online. In total, it holds more than 23 million records, made up mainly of church and civil bmd collections, and is continually growing. During the course of this year, the databases have grown by almost 220,000 records, with additions to the online holdings for Counties Clare, Laois, Offaly, East Galway, Wexford, Armagh, Derry and Waterford.

To view details of the online sources of each local centre, use this handy widget.

By taking out a subscription with RootsIreland, family historians help the local centres continue to provide a world-class service and fund further transcription projects.

The offer will run until 11:59pm Irish Time on Monday 9 December.

*To obtain this offer, login use your existing RootsIreland login details. If you currently have a subscription, click My Account, My Subscription and Start a New Subscription. The special deal subscription will then begin once your current subscription runs out.

Dark Days of the War of Independence: photo exhibition

The National Photographic Archive's new exhibition, ‘From Turmoil to Truce: Photographs of the War of Independence’, has opened in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

Burning of Cork 13.12.1920 W.D. Hogan / courtesy NLI

It draws on the National Library of Ireland's extensive collection of photographs and newspapers, and explores the key aspects of a dramatic, brutal and extreme period of Irish history, in which Irish republicans fought to win Ireland’s freedom from centuries of British rule.

In telling the story of Ireland’s pursuit of independence, the exhibition highlights the increasing normalisation of violence at the time; the impact felt across the country and at all levels of society; and the personal experiences of both individuals and families.

Dublin’s Custom House engulfed in flames, Cork’s Patrick Street reduced to rubble, families ejected from their homes by British forces, and the immediate aftermath of outbreaks of violence and bloodshed are among the scenes displayed.

The ground floor exhibition space is rendered in a stark black and white colour scheme, reflecting the subject matter and title of the exhibition, as visitors are taken on the journey from conflict and turmoil to resolution and truce. Multimedia elements include a large display showing a selection of archival Pathé newsreels, putting visitors in the place of cinema-goers of the era; while an interactive screen offers an opportunity to get hands-on with history and browse other ephemera from the period, including theatre programmes.

Speaking at the launch, Director of the NLI, Dr Sandra Collins, said: “The War of Independence was a challenging time in our history. The Irish Free State was born in violence and involved difficult choices. It is important to the National Library to be part of the national conversation about these dark and complex times."

The exhibition is free to visit and is open seven days a week: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and 12noon to 5pm on Sundays. It will run until May 2020 and a programme of events has been organised to complement the photographic exhibition, comprising panel discussions, events and tours. Free guided tours will take place on the third Thursday of every month: 28 November (1pm), 16 January, 20 February, 19 March, and 16 April.

See the short video below for more information.

Save 30% on BritishNewspaperArchive subscriptions

The BritishNewspaperArchive has a 30% discount promotion running across its subscription package range until Saturday 23 November.

This promotion has ended

A subscription gives you unlimited access to some 175 Irish newspaper titles – split 125/50 between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively – as well as the entire British collection which has had a significant number of Scottish titles added during the year.

In total, the online archive has 35 million pages of newspapers dating from the 1700s available to search.

The discount reduces each subscription package as follows:

• 12-months subscription reduced from £80 to £56
• 3 months subscription reduced from £26 to £18
• 1-month subscription reduced from £12.95 to £9.07

To take advantage of the discount before it expires, click the image. You shouldn't need it, but in case you do, the promotion code is RFA2019ACQ.

Some of the above content contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy via these links. This does not affect the price you pay as a consumer, but it does contribute to keeping Irish Genealogy News online. See Advertising Disclosure tab above.

Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives: latest updates

Headstone in Balmoral Cemetery, Belfast. Eaby Dixon
lost two daughters and his wife in the 1870s.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Ackroyd and IGPArchives.

It was headstones all the way for the team at Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives (IGP-web) in the first half of November.

Photos and text files have been uploaded for six burial grounds from four counties. As always, they are free to view by family historians.

ANTRIM Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Balmoral Cemetery, Belfast - Part 1
Dunluce Presbyterian Graveyard

DUBLIN Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Mount Jerome, Dublin - Part 239

MAYO Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Aughagower Graveyard, Part 1
Sisters of Mercy Convent Graveyard, Westport

MEATH Genealogy Archives - Headstones
St James New Cemetery, RC, Athboy Pt 1
(text file added to photos file)

25% off FindMyPast IRELAND's 1- and 12-month subs

FindMyPast.ie is offering researchers a 25% discount on all its 1-month and 12-month subscription packages. The savings can be enjoyed by both lapsed and new customers.

Here are the options:

Starter package - Irish and British BMDs and Census records

• 1-month: €9.95 reduced to €7,46
• 12-months: €84 reduced to €63.

Plus package – As Starter package above, plus British and Irish parish, military and travel records, plus 1939 Register

• 1-month: €14.95 down to €11.21
• 12-months: €144 reduced to €108

Pro package – As Plus package, plus all worldwide records and British & Irish newspaper collections

• 1-month: €18.95 reduced to €14.21
• 12-months: €192 reduced to £144

In each case, the cost is billed in a single payment. The savings are available until midnight GMT Saturday 23 November.

To take advantage of the discounts, click/tap the image or link above.

You shouldn't need it, but if you find the discount isn't automatically displayed and applied, the voucher/promo code for this offer is FW25ALLIE.


Some of the above content contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy via these links. This does not affect the price you pay as a consumer, but it does contribute to keeping Irish Genealogy News online. See Advertising Disclosure tab above.

25% savings on FindMyPast USA subscription range

FindMyPast USA/Canada is offering researchers a 25% discount on its 1-month and 12-month subscription packages.

Here are the options:


Essential British & Irish – Access to Irish, British and USA BMDs and census records, plus British and Irish migration and parish records, plus access to FindMyPast's family tree builder.

• 1 month: $14.95 reduced to $11.21
• 12 months: $129 reduced to $96.75

Ultimate British & Irish – Access to all records in the Essential package above, plus British and Irish newspaper collections, British military records, UK and Irish wills/ probate and institutional records, plus exclusive content and masterclasses.

• 1 month: $19.95 reduced to $14.96
• 12 months: $179.04 reduced to $134.25

In each case, the cost is billed in a single payment. The savings are available until Saturday 23 November, but I haven't received confirmation of the time of day.

To take advantage of the savings, click/tap the image or link above.


Some of the above content contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy via these links. This does not affect the price you pay as a consumer, but it does contribute to keeping Irish Genealogy News online. See Advertising Disclosure tab above.

30% discount on FindMyPast UK's 3- and 12-month subs

FindMyPast UK is offering researchers a 30% discount on all its 3-month and 12-month subscription packages.

Here are the options:

Starter package &ndash Irish and British BMDs and Census records, plus build a tree

• 3-months: £23.85 reduced to £16.70
• 12-months: £72 reduced to £50.40.

Plus package – As Starter package, plus British and Irish parish, military and travel records, plus 1939 Register

• 3-months: £35.85 reduced to £25.10
• 12-months: £120 reduced to £84.

Pro package – As Plus package, plus all worldwide records and British and Irish newspaper collections

• 3-months: £44.85 reduced to £31.40
• 12-months: £156 reduced to £109.20.

In each case, the cost is billed in a single payment. The savings are available until Saturday 23 November, probably midnight GMT, but I'm not sure.

To take advantage of the discounts, click/tap the image or link above.



Some of the above content contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy via these links. This does not affect the price you pay as a consumer, but it does contribute to keeping Irish Genealogy News online. See Advertising Disclosure tab above.

Irish genealogy and history events, 18-30 November

Monday 18 November: A Bard's Road to an Earl's Abode, with James Heenan. Origin of the harp and Turlough O'Carolan's journey to his patron's home at Portumna Castle. Host: Birr Historical Society. Venue: County Arms Hotel, Birr, Co. Offaly. 8pm. All welcome. Non members €5.

Monday 18 November: The National Library of Ireland (all areas) will open at 11am. This includes the Genealogy Advisory Service and Reading Rooms.

Monday 18 November: Ernie O'Malley and his Clew Bay Folklore Collection, with Cormac O'Malley. A Folklore Society of Ireland lecture. Host: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. 7pm. Free. All welcome and booking not required.

Monday 18 November: Family history advice, with Margaret Bonar and Betty Craven. Two sessions: Mornings (10:15-Noon) at Raheny Library, Howth Rd, Raheny, Dublin 5 / Afternoon sessions at Donaghmede Library, Donaghmede Shopping Centre, Dublin 13. Free. All welcome. Booking essential at T 087 6491605.

Monday 18 November: Larne Naval Base in the Great War, with Guy Warner. Host: NIFHS, Larne Branch. Venue: Larne Bowling & Lawn Tennis Club, 112-120 Glenarm Road, Larne, BT40 1DZ. 7:30pm. All welcome. Free.

Tuesday 19 November: “You may want a priest yet”: the portrayal of the Catholic Priest in Irish Folklore, with Professor Salvador Ryan. Host and venue: Tipperary Studies, The Source, Thurles, Co Tipperary. 7:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Wednesday 20 November: Using Local Records, with Joy Smith. Host: NIFGS, North Armagh Branch. Venue: Bleary Community Centre, 1 Deans Road, Bleary, Craigavon, Co Armagh, BT66 7AS. Free. 7:30pm. All welcome.

Wednesday 20 November: Bishop James Doyle (JKL) and Daniel O’Connell, with Dr Thomas McGrath. Host: Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society. Venue: Carlow College, St Patrick’s, Carlow Town. 8pm. Free. All welcome.

Wednesday 20 November: The story of the Dunmore Road and its Big Houses, with Joe Falvey. Host: Barony of Gautier Historical Society. Venue: Woodlands Hotel, Dunmore Road, Waterford. 8pm. All welcome. Members free. Non-members €5.

Thursday 21 November: Clerical Families in 19th Century Ulster, with Dr Janice Holmes. Host: Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland. Venue: McQuiston Memorial Presbyterian Church, 83 Castlereagh Rd, Belfast BT5 5FE. 8pm. Details.

Thursday 21 November: Linenopolis: the health and welfare of mill workers, a talk by David Huddleston examining workhouse, asylum, school and mill records to reveal the health and welfare of mill workers during the late C19th. Host and venue: The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 1pm. Free but you need to register. All welcome.

Saturday 23 November: Irish records? They all went up in smoke... didn't they? a workshop for beginners with Jill Williams, FIGRS. Host: Scottish Genealogy Society, 15 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL, Scotland. 10am to Noon, in the Society's Library. Price: £10. Booking.

Saturday 23 November: The Irish Land Agent and the Great Famine: Management practices and challenges, with Dr Ciaran Reilly. Host and venue: Newry and Mourne Museum, Bagenal's Castle, Castle Street, Newry, Co Down BT34 2BY. £3. Noon. All welcome.

Monday 25 November: Getting Started, an introductory workshop for those interested in local and family history. Host and venue: PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 11am to 1pm. Fully Booked.

Tuesday 26 November: Online Resources workshop, an introduction to using online records for family and local history research. Each workshop will start with an orientation tour of PRONI. Host and venue: PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 11am to 1pm. Fully Booked.

Tuesday 26 November: Talking about DNA, with Martin McDowell. Host: NIFHS, Belfast Branch. Venue: CS Lewis Room, Holywood Arches Library, 4-12 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 1NT. Free. All welcome. 7:30pm.

Tuesday 26 November: Six Degrees of Separation, with Dr Linde Lunney. Host: NIFHS, Causeway Branch. Venue: Upper Main Hall, The Sandel Centre, Knocklynn Road, Coleraine, BT52 1WT. 8pm. Free. All welcome.

Tuesday 26 November: Historical Emigration from Newtownstewart and District, with Dr Patrick Fitzgerald and Clare Lawler Kilgallen. Host: Dennett Interchange. Venue: Mellon Centre for Migration Studies, Ulster-American Folk Park, 2 Mellon Road, Castletown, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 5QY. 7:30pm. All welcome. Free. See full details and Registration/RSVP (not obligatory) at eventbrite.

Tuesday 26 November: An inconvenient truth? Sexual violence and the Irish Revolution, a History Ireland Hedge School, chaired by editor Tommy Graham. In the panel will be Linda Connolly, Lindsey Earner, Tom Clonan and Brian Hanley. 7pm. Free.  Booking recommended.

Wednesday 27 November: Using WikiTree, with Anne Johnston of the NIFHS. An Explore Your Archive week event. Host: PRONI. Venue: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 1pm. Free but need to register.

Wednesday 27 November: "From the Cradle to the Grave": The Work of the Sanitary Officer, with Joanne Rothwell, County Archivist. Venue: Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club, Davitts Quay, Dungarvon, Co Waterford. 8pm. Admission: €5. No booking necessary. All welcome. Details.

Thursday 28 November: Researching Your WW1 Ancestors, with Alan Rosborough. Host: NIFHS, Ballymena Branch. Venue: Michelin Arts Workshop, Braid Arts Centre, 1-29 Bridge Street, Ballymena, Co Antrim BT43 5EJ. 7:15pm. All welcome. Free.

Thursday 28 November: A Beginner’s Guide to Using DNA for Family History​, with Martin McDowell of the NIFHS. Host and venue: PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 1–2pm. Free, but need to register.

Thursday 28 November: The Military Service (1916-1923) Service Collection, with Michael Keane. Venue: The People's Museum of Limerick, 2 Pery Square, Limerick City, Limerick. 7:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Thursday 28 November: The penal laws and Catholic children in the eighteenth century, with Dr Eoin Kinsella. Host and Venue: Royal Society of Antiquities, Helen Roe Theatre, Society House, 63 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. 7:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Thursday 28 November: Exploring Land, Mapping & Property Records in Ireland, a seminar, chaired by Tom Quinlan (NAI). Host: Property Registration Authority of Ireland. Venue: Registry of Deeds Archive Services, Henrietta Street, Dublin 1. 2:30pm–4pm. Free. Need to register.

Friday 29 November: Launch of new suite of online records. Host and venue: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. Free, with lunch included. 11am to 3pm. Need to register.

Friday 29 November: Red hand on the Suir – the Irish Transport and General Workers Union in Waterford in the early C20th, with Francis Devine. Host: Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society. Venue: St Patrick's Gateway Centre, Patrick St, Waterford City. 8pm. Members free; non-members €5. All welcome.

Friday 29 November: Exploring Archive & Genealogy Collections, an afternoon of short talks (Tracing your ancestors at 12pm and Understanding Archive Collections) and an opportunity to browse the collections and talk to the genealogist and archivist. Venue: Central Library, Foyle Street, Derry. Hosts: Derry City and Strabane District Council. Free. Details. Part of the Explore Your Archives campaign.

US genealogy collections: new & updated, 1-15 Nov

Below you'll find my summary of the new and updated United States records released by the major family history database suppliers in the first half of this month.

The previous listing was published on Thursday 31 October (see blogpost.)

These regular summaries of recent releases are designed primarily to help family historians whose ancestors and extended family emigrated from Ireland to North America. But they will be of use to any genealogists researching in the USA.

Unless otherwise stated, the figures in parenthesis reflect the number of records uploaded to a new collection.

NEW COLLECTIONS

Ancestry

• US, National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel, 1921-1970 (320,835)
• U.S., Navy and Marines Awards and Decorations, 1942-1994 (1,804,597)
• U.S. WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954 (7,219,371)
• U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940 (5,678,476)

FamilySearch

• Iowa, Black Hawk County, Waterloo, World War I Pledge Cards, 1917-1918 (44,057)
• Idaho Naturalization Records, 1892-1990 (15,751)
• North Dakota, Naturalization Records, 1868-1924 (1,864)
• Oklahoma, Church Records, 1897-1984 (934)
• South Carolina, Charleston District, Bill of sales of Negro slaves, 1774-1872 (245,755)
• South Carolina, Charleston District, Estate inventories, 1732-1844 (398,496)
• South Dakota, Church Records, 1875-1993 (3,759)
• New York City GEOGRAPHICAL birth index, 1880-1917 (Reclaim the Records)

FindMyPast

• United States, Official Army Register 1861-1865 pdf collection
• United States, Massachusetts: Index Of Casualties, World War II (9,000)

MyHeritage

• North Carolina, Mecklenburg County Birth Index, 1913-2019 (882,189)
• North Carolina, Mecklenburg County Marriage Index, 1884-2019 (548,948)
• North Carolina, Mecklenburg County Death Index, 1916-2019 (345,224)
• Pennsylvania, Lawrence County Index of Obituaries, 1871-2016 (345,728)
• Pennsylvania, Lawrence Co. Index of Marriage Announcement, 1858-2006 (232,655)

Reclaim the Records

• New York City GEOGRAPHICAL Birth Index  (also at FamilySearch)

UPDATED COLLECTIONS

AmericanAncestors

• Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920
• St Michael's, Lowell, 1884–1908. (12,000 records; 46,400+ names)
• St. Stephen's, Framingham 1877-1920. (9,900 records; 40,000+ names)

Ancestry

• U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (15,292,577)
• U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 (35,600,493)
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current (148,768,351) 
• U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 (94,331,839)
• Washington, Divorce Index, 1969-2017 (2,606,871)
• Washington, Marriage Index, 1969-2017 (3,988,953)
• New York, State Census, 1925 (11,117,985)
• Washington, Marriage Records, 1854-2013 (13,315,117)
• U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2 (402,475,896)

FamilySearch

• Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974
• Alabama, County Birth Registers, 1881-1930
• California, Lassen County, State Board of Health, Burial Permits, 1931-1988
• Georgia, County Delayed Birth and Death Records, 1870-1960
• Hawaii, Board of Health, Marriage Record Indexes, 1909-1989
• Iowa, Monroe County, Card Index of BMDs from Newspaper Clippings, 1898-2015
• Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1965
• Louisiana, New Orleans, Interment Registers, 1836-1972
• Louisiana, Orleans Parish, Birth Records, 1819-1906
• Louisiana War of 1812 Pension Lists;
• Maryland, Kent County, Voter Registration Records, 1853-1898
• Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001
• Mississippi, Adams County, Natchez Death Index, 1835-1905
• Montana Naturalization Records, 1868-1999
• New Mexico, County Death Records, 1907-1952
• North Carolina, Wake County, Death Records, 1900-1909
• Rhode Island, Vital records, 1846-1898, 1901-1953
• South Carolina, Charleston County, Charleston, Birth Registers, 1901-1926
• Tennessee, Shelby County, Memphis, Board of Health Death Records, 1848-1913
• Texas, Harrison County Delayed Birth Records, 1860-1933
• United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011

Some of the above content contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy via these links. This does not affect the price you pay as a consumer, but it does contribute to keeping Irish Genealogy News online. See Advertising Disclosure tab above.

Irish Registry of Deeds Index Project continues to grow

Australia-based Nick Reddan has advised that he updated the volunteer-managed Irish Registry of Deeds Index Project earlier this week.

The main database – a name index for the memorial of deeds transcription books held at the RoD in Dublin – now holds 329275 entries. These names have been extracted from 35,744 memorials of deeds.

In addition, Nick has updated the databases holding the Townland and Grantor Indexes. The former now holds 68,355 entries; the latter 32,357.

All information on the site is provided free.

If you can spare some time to contribute transcriptions to this worthwhile volunteer project, check out the How To Help section towards the foot of the Home Page.

Irish Family History Society: Dublin lectures, 16 Nov

The Irish Family History Society will be hosting a day of lectures tomorrow, Saturday 16 November, in the Conference Room of the Dublin City Library & Archives, Pearse Street, Dublin 2.

Attendance is free and everyone – members and non-members – is welcome to attend.

Here's the schedule:

10:00am –  Registration
10:30am –  Tracing your Revolutionary History in Findmypast and beyond, with Dan Purcell
11:30am –  Ireland’s New Towns around 1800, with Rob Goodbody

12:30pm Lunch break

2:00pm –  Gilbert’s Calendar of Ancient Records of Dublin... What is in it?, with Peter F Byrne
3:00pm –  General Sean MacMahon: A life less ordinary, with Sean MacMahon
4:00pm –  Chairperson’s closing remarks

British record collections, new & updated in early Nov

Below you'll find my summary of the new and updated British records released by the major genealogy database suppliers in the first half of November. (The previous listing was on 31 October. See blogpost).

My regular listing of new and updated British collections is designed to help family historians whose Irish ancestors emigrated, temporarily or permanently, to England, Scotland or Wales.

Unless otherwise stated, the figures in parenthesis reflect the number of records uploaded to a new collection or the new total of records in an updated collection.

NEW COLLECTIONS

Ancestry

• Brompton Cemetery, London, Burial Registers 1840-2012 (204,827)

FindMyPast

• 1801 Lancashire, Liverpool Census (13,879)
• Britain, The Great War, I Was There   1,186 pages over 51 editions, 1938-1939
• Burma Star Association Membership Forms (53,057)
• Dekho, Journal of the Burma Star Association, editions, 1951-2018 (4,167)

GRO UK

• Death Indexes Online indexes for deaths registered between 1984–2019 can now be searched on the GRO site. Armed with the index reference, an order can be placed for a hard copy.

MyHeritage

• United Kingdom, War Memorials, 1914–1949 (1.1million)

UPDATED COLLECTIONS

Ancestry

• UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current (6,687,31)
• Northamptonshire, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages & Burials, 1532-1812 (4,138,400)

BritishNewspaperArchives

• Coatbridge Leader 1905–1957
• Banffshire Reporter 1869–1920 
• The Musselburgh News 1889–1941

FamilySearch

• England, Surrey Parish Registers, 1536-1992 (12,343)
• England, Oxfordshire Parish Registers, 1538-1904 (38,542)
• England, Herefordshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1583-1898 (5,845)
• England, Oxfordshire Parish Registers 1538-1904 (29,440)
• England, Yorkshire Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1613-1887 (1,528)

FindMyPast

• Cornwall Burials 75,000 records covering 52 parishes added. (356,338)
• Kent Burials. 12,000 records added, most from Swanscombe Cemetery. (2,473,561)
• British, First World War Soldiers' Medical Records. Some 36,000 records added. (1,309,121)

TheGenealogist

• TheGenealogist’s Map Explorer. Lloyd George Domesday Survey, 1910-1915, Hackney Area maps and field books added.

Some of the above content contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy via these links. This does not affect the price you pay as a consumer, but it does contribute to keeping Irish Genealogy News online. See Advertising Disclosure tab above.

AskAboutIreland.ie: technical problems continue

It was clear from the number of reports I was seeing on online forums and, indeed, receiving in my Inbox, that access and delivery issues with the frequently flaky AskAboutIreland.ie site have escalated over the last few weeks, so I took a dip into it this morning to see for myself.

Wouldn't you know it... It was working perfectly, and I spent a happy half an hour or more nosing into the Griffith's Valuation section, cruising around the historical maps for the Clonakilty to Skibbereen area – including some that may be additions since I last checked out my paternal ancestors – and exploring the details for one or two O'Driscoll households who I keep hoping will one day reveal themselves to be the family of my Great Grandmother, Ellen. The time wasn't wasted. I have a lead to follow up.

But enough of my genealogy fun. A couple of hours later, I saw more complaints on Twitter and when I tried to retrace my steps to the GV maps, I couldn't even get the door open. Just a 'this site can't be reached' notice.

I've spoken to the team that manages the site and it appears the techies are aware of the ongoing problems. It seems they are trying to implement a major upgrade project to the site (to areas other than the Griffiths Valuation collection) but it's causing knock-on problems. Possibly this will mean the upgrade will have to be applied site-wide. At present, there's no time scale for a stable solution.

If I hear any more, I'll let you know.

Official written response, 14 November 2019:

The www.askaboutireland.ie website was developed in 2009 to provide online access to educational, local history, environmental and genealogical content of the Irish public library service. The site is widely used by an audience ranging across primary school children, local historians, environmentalists, tourists, the Diaspora and the general public.

Since its creation, the site has been regularly updated and developed and it is now undergoing a review in order to assess the site performance and existing underlying functionality.

Due to the considerable size of the website, this process will take some time. Users may experience issues in use of the site during this time, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. Following the review, any recommendations arising will be implemented as quickly as possible.

Free access to AmericanAncestors' database for 7 days

AmericanAncestors.org, the website of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, has opened up its database to offer free access to more than 1.4 billion records.

Given it's primary area of focus – the states of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and the neighbouring state of New York, where so many Irish emigrants arrived and settled – this is an important collection for Irish family history researchers, whether their family is still in Ireland or long settled in the USA.

One of the most useful for tracking down extended family members, in my experience from the European side of the Atlantic, is the Massachusetts RC Archidiocese of Boston's records, 1789-1900. (I just checked the indexed database was included in the free access but only the browse version appeared in the list; however, the indexed version is included...  here's the direct link: MA-RC).

But there's a lot more besides. US Census records, wills, church records, tax lists, burial registers, immigration and naturalization records and so on.

The database isn't limited to the northeastern United States, either. It holds record sets for California, Iowa, West Virginia and other states, as well as a good many from England, Scotland, Wales, Sweden, Costa Rica, Australia... you get the picture.

Free access is now open and will be available for a full seven days until 11:59pm EDT on Tuesday 19 November (5am GMT on 20th).

You'll need a free guest account to explore the database.

Click the image for the home page, and enjoy yourselves!

Speed upgrade for Irish Newspaper Archives in January

Some more* good news from Irish Newspaper Archives (INA).

Via Twitter, the INA team has confirmed its plans for the next few months. First up, there's more content coming. No details yet. Perhaps more significantly, at this point in time, the family-owned business has started a new project that will speed up searching and browsing the online archive.

The slowness of browsing the site is often mentioned by regular users... it's usually the only criticism... so INA is now engaged in replacing, upgrading and duplicating its servers. All drives with be replaced with SSD fast drives. These technical developments will increase resources and help to share load.

These improvements should be live in January 2020 and will then be reviewed to see if any further upgrading work is still needed to deliver a slicker browsing experience.

* See last week's addition of new content and launch of Radical Newspapers Archive, here.

Irish genealogy and history events, 11-24 November

Monday 11 November: Ireland and Europe, 1918–1920: Versailles Peace Treaty and Partition, with Dr Elaine Callinan and Dr Ida Milne. Host and venue: Carlow College, Cobden Hall, Carlow. 1:45pm. Free and all welcome.

Monday 11 November: Votes for Women: the Suffrage Movement in Ulster, with Myrtle Hill. Host: NIFHS, Newtownabbey branch. Venue: Glengormley High School, Ballyclare Rd, Newtownabbey, BT36 5HP. Free. 7pm. All welcome.

Tuesday 12 November: Griffiths Valuation and its place in Irish Genealogy, with Michael Walsh MAGI. Host and venue: National Archives of Ireland, Bishop Street, Dublin 8. Free. 6pm. No booking required. All welcome. Details.

Tuesday 12 November: A Dander Down Railway Street, with Elizabeth Scott. Host: NIFHS, Lisburn branch. Venue: Bridge Community Centre, 50 Railway Street, Lisburn, BT28 1XP. 7:30pm. All welcome.

Tuesday 12 November: The 19th Century Valuation of Ireland, with Frances McGee. Host: Genealogical Society of Ireland. Venue: DFEi, Cumberland St, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin. 8pm. All welcome. €3.

Tuesday 12 November: The Forgotten Landlord: Francis Rawdon Hastings, 2nd Earl of Moira, with Henry Wilson. Host and venue: Irish linen Centre & Lisburn Museum, Market Square, Lisburn BT28 1AG. Free, but places must be booked in advance. 7pm to 9pm. Details.

Tuesday 12 November: The Goodwin Family of Hell's Kitchen, New York City: A case study tracking an Irish-American family, with Kevin Cassidy. Host: Pottawattamie County Genealogy Society. Venue: 622 4th Street, Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA. 6pm. Free. All welcome. Main doors lock shortly after 6pm.

Wednesday 13 November: Getting Started workshop for those interested in local and family history. Host and venue: PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 11am to 1pm. Free. FULLY BOOKED.

Thursday 14 November: Using Land Records, with Andrew Kane. Host and venue: North of Ireland Family History Society Research Centre, C4, Valley Business Centre, 67 Church Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 7LS. Fee: £8, payable at the session. 7pm–9pm. Details.

Friday 15 November: Connections and coincidences in emigration, with Dr Linde Lunney. Hosts: Ulster Historical Foundation and PRONI. Venue: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, 2 Titanic Boulevard, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, BT3 9HQ. 1-2pm. Free, but need to book. All welcome.

Saturday 16 November: Finding Overseas Ancestors, with Lois Abromatis Mackin. Host: Irish Genealogical Society International. Venue: Minnesota Genealogy Center, 1385 Mendota Heights Road, Mendota Heights, MN, USA. 10:30am to Noon. All welcome. Non members fee: $20. Details and pre-registration.

Saturday 16 November: War of Independence seminar. Host: Federation of Local History Societies. Venue: Harbour Hotel, New Docks, Galway City. 10:30am to 4pm. Fee €20. Need to reserve your place but you can pay on the door. Details.

Sunday 17 November: The Life and Times of Napper Tandy, with Brendan Matthews. Host: Meath Archaeological and Historical Society. Venue: GAA Hall, Stamullen. Co Meath. 3pm. Free but donations accepted. Details.

Monday 18 November: The National Library of Ireland (all areas) will open at 11am. This includes the Genealogy Advisory Service and Reading Rooms.

Monday 18 November: Family history advice, with Margaret Bonar and Betty Craven. Two sessions: Mornings (10:15-Noon) at Raheny Library, Howth Rd, Raheny, Dublin 5 / Afternoon sessions at Donaghmede Library, Donaghmede Shopping Centre, Dublin 13. Free. All welcome. Booking essential at T 087 6491605.

Monday 18 November: Larne Naval Base in the Great War, with Guy Warner. Host: NIFHS, Larne Branch. Venue: Larne Bowling & Lawn Tennis Club, 112-120 Glenarm Road, Larne, BT40 1DZ. 7:30pm. All welcome. Free.

Tuesday 19 November: “You may want a priest yet”: the portrayal of the Catholic Priest in Irish Folklore, with Professor Salvador Ryan. Host and venue: Tipperary Studies, The Source, Thurles, Co Tipperary. 7:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Wednesday 20 November: Using Local Records, with Joy Smith. Host: NIFGS, North Armagh Branch. Venue: Bleary Community Centre, 1 Deans Road, Bleary, Craigavon, Co Armagh, BT66 7AS. Free. 7:30pm. All welcome.

Wednesday 20 November: Bishop James Doyle (JKL) and Daniel O’Connell, with Dr Thomas McGrath. Host: Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society. Venue: Carlow College, St Patrick’s, Carlow Town. 8pm. Free. All welcome.

Thursday 21 November: Clerical Families in 19th Century Ulster, with Dr Janice Holmes. Host: Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland. Venue: McQuiston Memorial Presbyterian Church, 83 Castlereagh Rd, Belfast BT5 5FE. 8pm. Details.

Thursday 21 November: Linenopolis: the health and welfare of mill workers, a talk by David Huddleston examining workhouse, asylum, school and mill records to reveal the health and welfare of mill workers during the late C19th. Host and venue: The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. 1pm. Free but you need to register. All welcome.

Saturday 23 November: Irish records? They all went up in smoke... didn't they? a workshop for beginners with Jill Williams, FIGRS. Host: Scottish Genealogy Society, 15 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL, Scotland. 10am to Noon, in the Society's Library. Price: £10. Booking.

Saturday 23 November: The Irish Land Agent and the Great Famine: Management practices and challenges, with Dr Ciaran Reilly. Host and venue: Newry and Mourne Museum, Bagenal's Castle, Castle Street, Newry, Co Down BT34 2BY. £3. Noon. All welcome.