Wednesday 31 March 2021

Take five*: Recent news in brief for Irish genealogists

It's been a tough month for me, one way or another, and I've been getting behind with posting news. To catch up, and give myself a bit of breathing space, I've come up with a condensing formula where I'll give you the nuts and bolts of five news stories and send you off to find out more for yourselves.

Normal service should resume shortly.


National Archives of Ireland publishes new 5-year strategy

Last week, the National Archives of Ireland launched a new strategy to set the direction for its organisation over the next 5 years.

The new strategy, set out in its document Shaping Our Future in the Information Age, identifies the priorities that will guide its work over this period. They include a new state-of-the-art archive repository, a digital transformation programme, a new framework for records management across government, a commemorations and outreach programme, and building the capacity of the National Archives as a fit for purpose, dynamic and innovative organisation.

Publication of the document (click image to download) came just days before the last tranche of archive material was transported off-site from the NAI's long-time warehouse behind Bishop Street. (The NAI's new archive repository, meeting international standards for the storage of archives, will be unveiled in 2022.)


The online British Newspaper Archive hits another milestone

The BritishNewspaperArchive.co.uk has raced through another milestone, after its overnight upload took the total number of historical newspaper pages in the database to more than 42million.

After a particularly busy March, when no less than nine new Irish titles joined the line-up, the archive holds some 210 Irish newspapers.

Some 152 of these titles were published in places now in RoI, and 58 published in counties now in Northern Ireland.

The entire database is available at the dedicated BNA site and as part of certain FindMyPast subscription packages. It is known as the Irish Newspaper Collection in the latter.


The Dictionary of Irish Biography is now free to explore

The online Dictionary of Irish Biography (DIB), a project of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), has moved to an open access model, making it free to search, view and explore.

First published in 2009, the DIB now holds almost 11,000 biographies spanning 1,500 years of Irish history. The RIA describes it as telling ‘the island’s life story through the biographies, at home and overseas, of prominent men and women born in Ireland, north and south, and the noteworthy Irish careers of those born outside Ireland.

Researchers can browse by name for individuals and contributors, or search by keywords, such as placenames, and use filters such as religions and field of recognition/career.

The dedicated site is at https://dib.ie.


2nd edition of Credentials for Genealogists published

A new edition of Credentials for Genealogists: Proof of the Professional, by Paul Gorry FIGRS, MAGI, has been published.

The 244-page paperback, by a highly-respected Member of Accredited Genealogists Ireland, was first published in 2018, and sparked much debate among those working (or aspiring to do so) in the genealogy industry into the topics of standards, experience, qualifications, and credentials for professional genealogists.

The book also explores the availability (or otherwise) of such credentials around the world.

While previously available to purchase only through an independent bookshop in Ireland, the new edition is now available for purchase through Amazon, as follows:

Amazon UK | Amazon.com | Amazon Australia |
Amazon Canada

 


The treasures of Trinity College Dublin's iconic Library are to go virtual
 

Virtual Trinity Library is opening up the unique and distinct collections of the Library of Trinity College Dublin, catalysing research and safeguarding the Library's treasures for generations to come. 

This ambitious, multi-year initiative aims to catalogue, conserve, digitise and research these unique collections of national importance making them accessible to a global audience, from schoolchildren to scholars.

The ambitious digitisation project is centred on the Library of Trinity College's most prized collections across nine representative categories. The nine themes are:

  • Dublin for Children's Literature: Trinity's Collections of Children's Literature
  • Europe's Diverse Heritage: From Ussher's Library to the Fagel Library
  • Global Culture: Papyrus and Objects
  • Ireland's Creative Legacy: Performance, Creative Arts and Architecture Archives
  • Ireland's Experiments & Great Discoveries: Mathematical, Scientific & Map Collections
  • Ireland's Literary Heritage: Literary Archives
  • Ireland's Medieval History: Medieval Manuscripts
  • Ireland's Religious & Political Evolution: Religious, Legal, Political & Military Collections
  • Trinity's Scholarly Contribution to the World: Trinity Icons

Click on the image above to view the website and introdutory video.


* I hear the drums.

Wednesday 24 March 2021

RootsIreland adds more parish records for County Cork

The Mallow Heritage Centre has added more than 3,300 RC parish records to its database on RootsIreland.ie.

For an up to date list of all the Cork North East records in the RootsIreland database, click the Mallow Heritage Centre logo, right.

Additions are as follows:

  • Castlemagner Baptisms: Additions 1900-1920. Record-set now spans 1832-1920
  • Ballyclough Marriages: Additions 1923-1941. Record-set now spans 1805-1941
  • Ballyhea Marriages: Additions 1923-1941. Record-set now spans 1811-1941
  • Doneraile Marriages: Additions 1923-1941, Record-set now spans 1815-1941
  • Fermoy Marriages: Additions 1923-1941. Record-set now spans 1828-1941
  • Kildorrery Marriages: Additions 1923-1941. Record set now spans 1803-1941
  • Mallow Marriages: Additions 1923-1941. Record-set now spans 1758-1941
  • Meelin Marriages: Additions 1923-1941. Record-set now spans 1867-1941
  • Milford Marriages: Additions 1923-1941. Record-set now spans 1823-1941
  • Newmarket Marriages: Additions 1923-1941. Record-set now spans 1822-1941
  • Cloyne Marriages: Additions 1930. Record-set now spans 1791-1930

Don't forget the St Patrick's Day discount of 25% off 6-month and annual subscriptions runs until 31 March.

Tuesday 23 March 2021

Spring edition of Irish Roots magazine published

The Spring edition of Irish Roots, Ireland's only independent family history magazine, has been published and is now available in both print and digital formats

It brings, as always, a compelling mix of informative articles on genealogical and historical themes, comments and observations from industry groups and professionals, news of the latest developments and releases in Irish genealogy, and much more of interest to guide and assist researchers of Irish heritage.

The contents of this edition include:

  • Researching your Scots-Irish ancestors
  • How comprehensive are Irish civil records?
  • Discover the O Callaghan family of Co. Cork
  • Irish Australian Connections
  • Motherhood and ambiguous grief in WW1
  • The (new) Catholic Archives - An exciting endeavour
  • Using DNA to find Irish cousins left behind
  • What's New? The latest Irish record releases
  • A new resource for clergy relatives in Clonfert, East Galway
  • And Another Thing: genealogical comment and observations with Steven Smyrl
  • Nicola Morris answers your research queries
  • Letters to the Editor, Books Ireland selection, and much more.

For more information about buying single copies or taking out a one- or two-year subscription to Irish Roots magazine, click the cover image above. You'll also find a free 4-page sample of the new edition.

Monday 22 March 2021

England, Scotland & Wales genealogy: 3-week update

Below is a summary of new and updated family history record collections for England, Scotland and Wales released by the major genealogy databases over the last three weeks (for the previous summary, see 2 March blogpost).

This regular summary of releases and updates relating to British collections is designed to help family historians whose Irish ancestors migrated, temporarily or permanently, to England, Scotland or Wales.

By default, it will also be useful to anyone carrying out research in those three nations, regardless of the origin of their ancestors.

The figures in parenthesis in the New Collections section are the numbers of records/images in the new record set.

Unless otherwise stated, the figures in parenthesis in the Updated Collections section reflect the number of records added to the collection in the recent update. In some instances, the supplier has not made this figure available. Where two figures are given, the first is the number of additions, the second is the new total.

Please note that I don't usually include updates of fewer than 1,000 records.



NEW COLLECTIONS


BritishNewspaperArchive (and shared with some FindMyPast subscriptions)

Scotland's People

FindMyPast

UPDATED COLLECTIONS

Ancestry


FamilySearch

FindMyPast

FreeBMD

TheGenealogist



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.

Glasnevin burials database is up and running again

Hurrah! After six months offline, the Glasnevin Burial Records database is accessible again, allowing Irish family historians to seek out death and burial details for ancestors laid to rest in five Dublin cemeteries: Glasnevin (the nation's necropolis, which opened in 1832), Dardistown, Goldenbridge, Newlands Cross and Palmerstown.

Glasnevin Trust has been officially rebranded as Dublin Cemeteries Trust, so there's a new name, logo and identity on the equally new website: https://www.dctrust.ie/.

Under the Genealogy tab, you can learn about the archive and how to search and view records.

As previously, the database can be searched for free by name and approximate dates (+/- 10 years), but to view details of individual search results you need to set up an account and purchase credits.

I gave it a test run yesterday and the purchase system is working just fine, but I understand from the Genealogy forum of Boards.ie (a busy and helpful forum that I recommend to all Irish researchers) that the transfer of any previously purchased records to the new site hasn't yet taken place. This should happen this week.

Play gently. Remember it's new.

Friday 19 March 2021

Irish Newspaper Archives offers 40% saving

The Dublin-based IrishNewsArchives is offering a very generous St Patrick's discount.

It means you can buy a monthly or annual Silver Membership with a huge 40% saving. The Silver package gives you full access to all the 'regular' newspaper titles in the online collection. It does not include the 'Radical' papers.

To take advantage of the offer, click the image, right, to reach the subscribe page. Scroll down to find a listing of all the titles. Then sign up for the Silver package using the promotion code PatSilver40. 

Word of advice: select the silver package first, then enter the promo code. 

The discount will be available until 11:59pm on Sunday 28 March.

FindMyPast adds new collections for Clare and Dublin

FindMyPast Friday marks St Patrick's Day with two updates to its Irish collection.

The first sees the Clare Poor Law Unions Board of Guardians Minute Books join the Workhouses and Poor Law collection.

The Books are from the Corofin (1850-1922), Ennis (1849-1877 with many gaps, and 1883-1922), Ennistymon (1839 - 1924), and Kilrush (1848-1923) Poor Law Unions. Some 382,577 records have been extracted from them, naming inmates, staff and suppliers.

The collection description is worth reading, especially if you haven't previously delved into Board of Guardians Minute Books.

Already in the Workhouses and Poor Law collection are similar records for counties Donegal, Dublin, Galway and Waterford, while Workhouse Admission and Discharge Registers are also there for Donegal, Dublin and Sligo. In total the collection holds more than 3.8million entries.

The other update to the Irish collection sees the Dublin, Guiness Brewery Employees join FindMyPast.

The Guinness Archive is based in Dublin. It preserves historical records of the Brewery from 1759 to the present day. Part of that collection includes personnel records of previous employees going back to the 1880s. While this record set is an index, it provides some good detail about each employee. This includes personal information, as well as an overview of the department in which the individual worked. Some 8,697 people are recorded.

Sample transcription

Although we all think of Guinness being a Dublin-based institution, you may well find ancestors from other parts of the island in them. This is because as the company grew, its distribution requirements spread across the island, and then to the UK.

By the 1890s, the Guinness Company has established trade stores in Ballinasloe (1864), Galway (1868), Limerick (1879), Cork (1891), Belfast (1893), Carlow (1895), Longford (1908), Carrick-on-Shannon (1921), Sligo and Waterford.

They were also set up in the UK cities of Glasgow, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, London, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester, so don't rule out this record set for ancestors living outside the Irish capital just because its main base was (and is) in Dublin.

If you discover an ancestor in this index, you can contact the Archive in Dublin to find out what additional records they might hold. Some of their files provide outstanding material.

The index can also be viewed at the Guinness website, where it is free.

Thursday 18 March 2021

Tower Museum Derry saves audio visual collection

The Tower Museum in Derry has received a grant from the UK's Covid-19 Archives Fund to enable it to work on a unique, but 'at risk' audio visual collection.

The project is a partnership with the well-known Derry cameraman Vinny Cunningham of Northern Broadcast and the Museum of Free Derry. The collection will be catalogued, digitised and made available to researchers through a variety of engagement opportunities.

Bernadette Walsh, the Tower Museum Archivist, said the grant will allow the project team to focus on a collection whose historical integrity and uniqueness lies in its completeness.

"It contains mainly analogue material covering subjects as varied as protests, civil unrest, music and sporting events. It can help to tell the story of the region through visual histories.

"Vinny’s knowledge of the collection and commitment to making the collection available was integral to the development of the grant application. Much of the material, in particular the interviews and oral histories, have never been seen publicly."

The Tower Museum is one of 25 organisations to have been awarded grants of up to $50,000 by the Fund, which is administered by The National Archives in Kew, London. The Covid-19 Archives Fund provides support for short-notice work to secure vulnerable analogue and born-digital records across the United Kingdom. It is intended for the benefit of archives at risk that might otherwise be dispersed or lost without intervention. It particularly focuses on records not protected by legislation (such as charity and private records). The Tower Museum is the only archive outside Great Britain to have received one of its grants.

Wednesday 17 March 2021

New Irish Genealogy Resources 2021 ebook published

Happy St Patrick's Day to one and all! 

In the absence of any parties, parades or the normal fun and nonsense associated with Ireland's annual day in the limelight, I've marked the date by publishing a new edition of my popular New Irish Genealogy Resources ebook. Like all the previous editions, this 130-page booklet aims to provide you with links to most if not all the Irish genealogy records released since 2011. 

That's when researching Irish heritage had started to became a real possibility for the thousands of people around the world who wanted to discover their ancestors. Indexed collections started to pour out of archives, commercial databases, and other repositories. It was hard to keep up with them all for several years, and still is, even though the pace has slowed.

So, if you think such a handy aide memoire to the many hundreds of collections we can now readily access from our own homes (and a good few that we still can't) would help your research, find out more by clicking on the front cover image above.

Monday 15 March 2021

What a week! Another two Irish news titles join BNA

All this week, the online British Newspaper Archive blog will be celebrating St Patrick's Day with theme-specific news sourced from their huge holding of nearly 42million pages of historical Irish and British titles.

In addition, two more titles have joined the line-up, ending a 7-day update spree that has seen nine new papers take their places in the archive (see 9 March blogpost and 11 March blogpost).

The latest papers and their planned holdings are as follows:

  • Evening News (Dublin): First published in January 1859 as a three-times-a-week newspaper, this independent title aimed to attract a Catholic audience across the island. The holding, when complete, will span 1859 to 1864.
  • Bassetts Chronicle: Published by George W Bassett in Limerick, this paper started life as the twice-weekly Southern Chronicle. Its circulation was mainly across Limerick and Tipperary. It adopted the name of its founder in 1875 when it became a daily paper, but became a weekly in 1885. The BNA holding will run 1863–1885.

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.

Thursday 11 March 2021

Four more Irish titles join British Newspaper Archive

It's only a matter of two days since the BritishNewspaperArchive.com (BNA) turned its digitisation machines back to Irish titles and uploaded three more publications (see blogpost), and along come another four today! And there are still more approaching the better end of the upload pipe.

Today's quartet of new titles are:

Online BNA collections are automatically shared with FindMyPast's Irish Newspaper Collection (PRO package).



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.

Wednesday 10 March 2021

FamilyTreeDNA offers 25% saving on Family Finder test

To mark St Patrick's Day, Family Tree DNA is offering a 25% saving on its autosomal dna test, Family Finder.

The discount reduces the cost of the kit from US$79 to US$59, plus shipping.

FTDA has added a further 60* 'populations' to the company's myOrigins mapping tool, which gathers detail of population clusters in your dna to determine an ethnic and geographic breakdown of where your ancestors came from.

The discount will expire at close of play on the big day itself: Wednesday 17 March. Click the image, right, to find out more and save yourself $20.

As far as I can see, it's only Family Finder (not the Y-dna or mt-DNA products attracting the discount at the present time.

Ancestry uploads seven new Irish collections

1724 sample from the Exchequer Court of Equity Bill Books
You can always tell when St Patrick's Day is approaching!

Ancestry has uploaded seven Irish record-sets to its database, adding more than five million records to its Irish collection. I've listed them below, together with a figure of the number of indexed entries in each record set. 

Unfortunately, I'm tied up today, so I don't have time to briefly describe each set, but five of the seven should be recognised as they are already online on the National Archives of Ireland's free Genealogy website, or other commercial databases.

As far as I'm aware, the first two record sets in the list are making their online debut.

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.

Tuesday 9 March 2021

Three more Irish titles join BritishNewspaperArchive

It's been a long time since an Irish title was added to the online British Newspaper Archive (BNA), and inevitably, when one came along, three arrived at the same time.

The new additions, which are now available to search at both the dedicated BNA website and (if you have the right subscription) in the Irish Newspaper Collection at FindMyPast, are as follows:

Bankrupt & Insolvent Calendar, 1846-1866. Published in Dublin, this weekly paper proudly stated on its masthead that it was "read by Bankers, Insurance Companies, Merchants, Manufacturers, Members of the Legal Profession, and Capitalists generally in Ireland, England and Scotland and thus presents a valuable opportunity for advertising."

Ulster Football and Cycling News, 1889–96. This paper was published in Belfast on Fridays with 16 pages. In addition to reports of sporting events, it carried adverts for hotels, drinks, tobacco, pain relief ointments and medication, leisure entertainments and events, and sports outfitters. It also published future race and match fixtures.

Belfast Weekly Telegraph, 1872-1929. A more traditional title than the two mentioned above, the Belfast Weekly Telegraph was published in Arthur Street, Belfast, and carried national and international news as it affected the northern counties, as well as local news.



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.

Monday 8 March 2021

Ancestry DNA: St Patrick's Day Sale for US researchers

USA-based researchers can take advantage of a St. Patrick’s Day discount on Ancestry DNA's testing kit. This is the most popular autosomal dna test available in the consumer market, and can be taken by both men and women.

It's a saliva test... no blood!

The discount brings a reduction in price from US$99 to $59, plus tax and shipping. To order, click the Buy Now button above.

The St. Patrick’s Day Sale will end at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday 17 March.



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.

New & updated US genealogy records: 4-week summary

Below is a summary of US family history collections that have been released or updated by the major genealogy databases in the last four weeks. (The previous summary list was published on 10 February, see blogpost).

My regular summaries are designed to help family historians whose Irish ancestors emigrated, temporarily or permanently, to the United States.

By default, they should also be useful to anyone carrying out research in the US, regardless of the origin of their ancestors.

The figures in parenthesis in the New Collections section are the numbers of records/images in each new record set, if provided by the database.

Unless otherwise stated, the figures in parenthesis in the Updated Collections section reflect the number of records added to the collection in the recent update, if a number has been clearly noted by the supplier. I do not include updates of fewer than 1,000 records.


NEW COLLECTIONS


AmericanAncestors

Ancestry

FindMyPast

MyHeritage


UPDATED COLLECTIONS


AmericanAncestors
  • Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920 (426,500+ names added) from parishes:
    Gate of Heaven in South Boston
    St. Leonard of Port Maurice in Boston
    St. Gregory in Dorchester
    Our Lady of the Assumption in East Boston
    Sacred Heart in East Boston
    St. Bernard in Newton
    St. Andrew the Apostle (Forest Hills)
    St. Joseph, East Boston
    St. Mary Star of the Sea, East Boston

Ancestry

FamilySearch
  • Some 72 US collections have been updated in the last month. Rather than create an excrutiatingly long blogpost, I'll simply direct you to the FamilySearch.org update page. On the right hand side of the landing page, beneath 'Historical Record Collections', click the blue 'Last Updated' column title twice. You'll now see the most recently updated collection at the top of the list. (You need to be signed in to reach this page.)

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.

Sunday 7 March 2021

25% discounts on RootsIreland.ie subscriptions

RootsIreland, the online database of the Irish Family History Foundation, which manages a network of 34 heritage centres across the island, is offering a 25% saving on its 6-month and 12-month subscriptions.

The database holds Ireland's largest set of online Roman Catholic church records, many of them from registers running until at least 1900, as well as Protestant, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist and other smaller denominations.

In addition, it holds civil records, census records and substitutes, headstone inscriptions and miscellaneous localised record sets. In total, it offers access to 23 million records, and it is continually growing.

In 2020 alone, more than 500,000 records were uploaded, with new records being added from counties Limerick, Clare, Sligo, Kerry, Wicklow, Westmeath, Kilkenny, South Dublin, Armagh, North Mayo and Cork.

The database is organised by county. To see what records each county collection holds (they can differ significantly), use this handy Online Sources widget.

To take advantage of this generous offer, which will run until 11:59pm on Wednesday 31 March, see the subscription page.

Thursday 4 March 2021

AncestryDNA discount for Mother's Day (Ireland & UK)

Ancestry DNA is available with a 25% saving for researchers based in Ireland and the UK. It's flagged for Mother's Day, which is celebrated on Sunday 14 March in these two countries (other countries mark the day in early summer).

The discount reduces the cost of the testing kit from £79 to £59, plus shipping. You can buy via either the Ancestry UK site, or the Ireland DNA gateway page.

Whichever you choose, the cost is stated in British Pounds. (I've not known this before – usually the Ireland pages gives the price in euros.)

Either way, shipping is extra and you should order on or before Monday 10 March to ensure delivery by Mother's Day.

The offer will end at 11:59pm on Wednesday 31 March.


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.

Wednesday 3 March 2021

Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives: February updates

Donnelly, Feeney and Danellwee headstone
in Drumcliffe Cemetery, Sligo.
Photo courtesy IGP-Archives & Kev Murray.
Click for larger view
.
A varied range of material was donated to Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives last month, as you'll see from the summary below.

FERMANAGH Genealogy Archives - Church Records
Lisnaskea Marriages (CoI) 1845-1921

GALWAY Genealogy Archives - Land
Encumbered Estate of Michael J. Brown Esq. partial, 1855

MAYO Genealogy Archives - Land
Encumbered Estate of George R Acton & Sheffield Betham, Trustees of Henry Shawe & Conyngham Jones, 1859

ROSCOMMON Genealogy Archives - Obits & Funerals
Funeral Entries: Jones, McDermott & O'Naughten (1636-39)

SLIGO Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Drumcliffe Cemetery - Pts 3 & 4 (Transcriptions added)

TIPPERARY Genealogy Archives - Church Records
Fethard Parish Baptisms (R.C.) 1817

Tuesday 2 March 2021

English, Scottish & Welsh genealogy collection updates

Below is a summary of new and updated family history record collections for England, Scotland and Wales released by the major genealogy databases over the last three weeks (for the previous summary, see 12 February blogpost).

This regular summary of releases and updates relating to British collections is designed to help family historians whose Irish ancestors migrated, temporarily or permanently, to England, Scotland or Wales.

By default, it will also be useful to anyone carrying out research in those three nations, regardless of the origin of their ancestors.

The figures in parenthesis in the New Collections section are the numbers of records/images in the new record set.

Unless otherwise stated, the figures in parenthesis in the Updated Collections section reflect the number of records added to the collection in the recent update. In some instances, the supplier has not made this figure available. Where two figures are given, the first is the number of additions, the second is the new total.

Please note that I don't usually include updates of fewer than 1,000 records.

NEW COLLECTIONS


> BritishNewspaperArchive (and shared with some FindMyPast subscriptions)

FindMyPast


UPDATED COLLECTIONS


Ancestry

FamilySearch

FindMyPast

Free BMD


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.

Monday 1 March 2021

IrishNewsArchive.com redevelops website and database

The family-owned Irish Newspaper Archive has redeveloped its website and database. The process hasn't been without some difficulties over the last week or so, but the transfer to the new platform is now completed.

The redesigned platform offer a more user-friendly experience to customers, with much more precise information about each newspaper, including which editions are available in the archive. It will also provide a more secure website, as well as additional self-service online features.

The archive consists of over six million pages of newspaper content from titles North and South of the Irish border. Collectively, these papers span more than 279 years of publication. You can see the full list of titles here; Green text indicates titles accessible online, while Black text identifies those titles searchable only in public libraries and other partnered sites.

To help existing subscribers and new customers become acquainted with the new version of the site, some how-to videos are being created. The first, introductory, video can be viewed below or on YouTube.


Irish genealogy, history & culture events, March 2021

Monday 1 March: Denis Burkitt: His Life’s Work in your Bowels, with Dr Hubert Curran. Host: Killyleagh Branch, North of Ireland Family History Society. Free, but need to register. 8pm. All welcome. See Facebook. Email Killyleagh@nifhs.org for zoom link.

Tuesday 2 March: Key Sources for Genealogy - Title Deeds and the PRONI Land Registry Archive. Host: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. 2pm-3pm. Free but need to register.

Tuesday 2 March: Boundaries, Borders and Map-making, with Dr Liam Campbell. Host: Heritage from Home series, Libraries NI. 1-2pm. Free. Online. For details, email heritage.talks@librariesni.org.uk.

Tuesday 2 March: Traditional Irish Cottages and Folk Customs, with Marion McGarry. Host: Ulster Architectural Heritage. 7pm. Free. Need to book.

Wednesday 3 March: 5 Top Tips for Analysing your DNA, with Anne Johnston. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society. This class will run from 7pm to 8pm. You need to book before 7pm on Tuesday 2 March. Cost: £10. Open to members and non-members. Details.

Friday 5 March: The Ballykinlar History Hut Project at Down County Museum, with Mike King. Host: Heritage from Home series, Libraries NI. 1-2pm. Free. Email to book your place and to receive zoom details: heritage.talks@librariesni.org.uk. All welcome.

Friday 5 March: Medieval Ecclesiastical Heritage in East Galway, with Dr Christy Cunniffe. Host: Irish Workhouse Centre's First Friday Talks series. 8pm. Tickets €5. Register here.

Friday 5 March: Family Tree Maker Basics and Benefits, with Imelda McVeigh. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society. This class will be held from 2pm to 3pm. You need to book before 7pm on Thursday 4 March. Cost: £10. Open to members and non-members. Details.

Saturday, 6 March: The Advantages of MT-DNA, with Martin McDowell. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society. This class will be held from 11am to Noon. You need to book before 7pm on Friday 5 March. Cost: £10. Open to members and non-members. Details.

Monday, 8 March: DNA Family Matching Tool, with Martin McDowell. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society. This class will be held from 11am to 1pm. You need to book before 7pm on Friday 5 March. Cost: £10. Open to members and non-members. Details.

Monday, 8 March: Rebel Irishwomen, an online talk by James Curry to mark International Women's Day. Host: Drumcondra Library. Free. 7pm. Email drumcondralibrary@dublincity.ie for details on how to watch.

Monday, 8 March: In Her Words - International Women's Day Event. Host: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. 7pm to 8pm. Free. All welcome. Register.

Monday 8 March: Dating your Family Photographs, an online workshop with Jayne Shrimpton. Host: Heritage from Home series, Libraries NI. All welcome, but you need to book your place by email to heritage.talks@librariesni.org.uk. 1-2pm. Free.

Monday 8 March: 'Excuse me dearest Madam I did not send this sooner’ – women's networks and recipe exchange in the NLI collections, with Dorothy Cashman. International Women's Day 2021. Host: National Library of Ireland. Online talk. 7pm. Free, but need to register.

Tuesday 9 March: Key Sources for Genealogy - The World of the Street Directory. Host: PRONI. 2pm-3pm. Free but need to register

Tuesday 9 March: An Archive for Everyone: PRONI Information Session. Host: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. 7pm to 8pm. Free, online. Details and registration.

Wednesday 10 March: German combat motivation on the Eastern Front during the Second World War, with Dr Tom Thorpe. Hosts: Antrim and Down Branch of the Western Front Association and PRONI. 8pm to 9pm. Free. All welcome. Need to register

Wednesday 10 March: To leave or to remain? Southern Irish Protestants and the partition of Ireland, with Dr Marie Coleman. Host: Libraries NI. 2:30pm to 3:30pm. All welcome. Free, but you need to book by email to heritage.talks@librariesni.org.uk.

Thursday 11 March: Virtual Exhibition Tour of Yeats: The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats. Host: National Library of Ireland. Online at 11am. Booking required, but event is free and everyone is welcome. Booking.

Thursday 11 March: Lost Potential? The Rejection of the 1923 Education Act, with Noel Lindsay. Host: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. 2pm free register

Friday 12 March: W B Yeats: Folklore and Fairy Tales. Host: National Library of Ireland. Online at 2pm. Booking required, but event is free and everyone is welcome. Booking.

Friday 12 March to Thursday 18 March: St Patrick's Festival. As St. Patrick’s Day cannot be celebrated together this year, Festival organisers have set up a dedicated TV channel, accessible globally, at www.stpatricksfestival.ie where more than 100 events can be streamed in real time. The events include a virtual parade, walking tours, archive tours, musical performances, dance, storytelling, poetry, comedy, and much more. Programme here.

Monday 15 March: 100th anniversary of The Great Brunswick Street Ambush, with Cathy Scuffil and Liz Gillis. Host: Dublin City Library & Archive. Free webinar. 7pm. All welcome. Register.

Tuesday 16 March: Key Sources for Genealogy - The Making of the Census 1901 and 1911, and online talk. Host: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. Free. 2-3pm. Need to register.

Tuesday 16 March: 'An Irish Odyssey’, a virtual tour of Irish historic houses in film and music, followed by a live panel discussion. Host: Attingham Trust. Free, but donations welcomed. Online. 6:00-7:30pm. Booking required.

Tuesday 16 March: Civil records: the gateway to the past, with Sandy O’Byrne MAGI. Host: National Archives of Ireland. Online zoom lecture. Free. Details and registration. 7-8pm.

Wednesday 17 March: St Patrick's Day!

Thursday 18 March: From Turmoil to Truce: Photographs of the War of Independence, an online exhibition tour. Host: National Library of Ireland Photographic Archive. Free. 11am. Booking essential.

Friday 19 March: Emigration to Australia and New Zealand, with Mike McKeag. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society. This class will be held from 2pm to 3pm. You need to book before 7pm on Thursday 18 March. Cost: £10. Open to members and non-members. Details.

Friday 19 March: W B Yeats: Folklore and Fairy Tales. Host: National Library of Ireland. Online at 2pm. Booking required, but event is free and everyone is welcome. Booking.

Saturday 20 March: OUTing the Past - Festival of LGBT History. Host: PRONI. 2pm to 4pm. Free but need to register

Monday 22 March: English colonialism and the Leix-Offaly Plantation, with Dr Diurmuid Wheeler. Host: Offaly History. Zoom lecture at 7:30pm. Free but need to book your place by email to info@offalyhistory.com.

Monday 22 March: Book Launch: Women and the Decade of Commemorations, and discussion with editor, Oona Frawley, and contributors. Zoom 7pm–8pm. Free, but need to book. Details.

Monday 23 March: Civil records: the gateway to the past, with Sandy Byrne, MAGI. Host: National Archives of Ireland. Free. 7pm. All welcome to this online lecture exploring the civil registration system. Need to book your place. Details.

Wednesday 24 March: Rebel Irishwomen, with James Curry. Host: Ballymun Library. Free, online talk at Noon. Email ballymunlibrary@dublincity.ie if you’d like to book a place.

Wednesday 24 March: Getting Started Workshop - Using Online Resources. Host: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. Free. Fully booked.

Wednesday 24 March: The Blackstairs Mountain Region - An Illustrated History, with Dr Kevin Whelan. Host: Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society. Online. 8pm. Details and zoom link.

Thursday 25 March: The evolution and character of 'Irishtowns' and 'Irishstreets' in the urban communities of medieval Ireland, with Dr Sparky Booker. Hosts: The Ulster Society of Irish Historical Studies (USIHS) and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. Free. 7pm. All welcome but you need to register.

Saturday 27 March: Using X Matches in your DNA Research, with Anton Rea. 11am–Noon. Host: North of Ireland Family History Society. Cost: £10. Open to members and non-members. Details and booking.

Tuesday 30 March:‘That demesne belonged to me before you came over with Cromwell’: agrarianism and the burning of Big Houses in the War of Independence, 1920-21, with Professor Terence Dooley. Host: National Library of Ireland. Online talk. 7pm. Free, but need to register.

Tuesday 30 March: Irish Genealogy Workshop, with Ulster Historical Foundation. Hosts: Westmoreland Historical Society and Heinz History Center. 9:00am-1:30pm (ET). $20 non-members / $15 members of UHF, WHS and History Center. Need to register.

Wednesday 31 March: Lived lives: The Irish Queer Archive, with Elizabeth Kirwan. Host: National Library of Ireland. Online talk. 7pm. Free, but need to register.

Wednesday 31 March: Virtual Exhibition Tour of Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again. Host: National Library of Ireland. Online talk. 1pm. Free, but need to register.