Friday 29 July 2022

Irish Newspaper Archives adds the Roscommon Herald

Great news for researchers with connections to County Roscommon. The Dublin-based Irish Newspaper Archives has added the complete historical archive of the Roscommon Herald.

That's 160+ years of regional news stories and features that your ancestors may well have read and discussed with family and friends. Maybe they're even mentioned in a report.

But the archive won't only offer the past. Current editions of the paper, which is the highest selling title in the area, will also be available. In total, this new online holding gives you 24,509 editions/169,468 pages to explore.

Just as well there's a long weekend ahead!

Tuesday 26 July 2022

Two-week summary of English, Scottish & Welsh genealogy updates

Below is a three-week summary of newly released and updated family history record collections for England, Scotland and Wales from the major genealogy databases. (Previous summary, 8 July.)

My 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 (£££ subscription); shared with FindMyPast Ultimate and Pro subs

FindMyPast

UPDATED COLLECTIONS


Ancestry

FamilySearch

FindMyPast

TheGenealogist
  • Map Explorer National Tithe Record Collection for England 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.

Monday 25 July 2022

RootsIreland adds Co Monaghan/Clogher census substitutes

RootsIreland has added more than 8,000 census substitute records to its County Monaghan database. They date from the 16th–19th centuries and include records from the Diocese of Clogher.

This diocese includes all of County Monaghan but also spreads out to cover many parishes in parts of counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Fermanagh; be sure to check out the Monaghan database if your ancestors came from these diocesan areas.

Here's the breakdown of the update:

  • 361 Inquisitions for County Monaghan dating from 1591. These list the properties held by people in Monaghan upon their death.
  • 1,435 records from Books of Survey and Distribution for County Monaghan dating from 1641. These records list the landowners of Monaghan at the time of the 1641 rising.
  • 833 records from Books of Survey and Distribution for County Monaghan dating from circa 1650s. These records list the landowners of the county.
  • 5,128 records from the index of wills for diocese of Clogher, dating between 1659-1857.
  • 631 records from the index of those who died intestate in the diocese of Clogher, 1793-1821.

To search these records, go to monaghan.rootsireland.ie and login or subscribe as required. Or see the detailed list of record sets held in the County Monaghan database, here.

GRO's Dublin research room closed for two weeks

The General Register Office's Search Room in Dublin will be closed until Tuesday 9 August. Just like that. As if the service hasn't been bad enough for the last several months, when you don't know from one week to the next which days the office will be open, now we (the customers) weren't even advised of a complete closure until it had already happened.

What a disgraceful service.

The email service will still be running, so they say today. But that's not a good enough alternative for professional genealogists who need to identify correct documentation quickly.

(Thanks to professional genealogist Claire Bradley for the tip-off.)

Wednesday 20 July 2022

Were your Irish/UK railway ancestors involved in a work accident?

The Railway Work, Life and Death Project has today released a new database featuring transcribed details of about 17,000 British and Irish railway workers who were involved in accidents while at work. The project is a joint initiative of the University of Portsmouth, the National Railway Museum, the Modern Records Centre at the University of Warwick, and the National Archives in Kew.

Casualties by hours worked prior to accident
       Source: Railway Work, Life & Death project. Click for enlarged view.

The source records include those produced by the state investigators (1900-15 and 1921-1939), applications to the Great Eastern Railway Benevolent Fund (1913-23) for assistance following an accident, and legal cases handled by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants trade union (1901-1905).

While the number of accidents occuring in Ireland were relatively small and caused injury, or worse, to fewer than 400 men, if your railway ancestor was among them you will be keen to explore the infomation provided in the free database.

Not only are the injuries, location and circumstances of the accident set out, so, too, are the findings of the investigating officials as to where the blame lay or what steps should be taken to prevent repeat accidents.

This is the first tranche of a database that will grow to include details of more than 70,000 railway accidents and the employees (and occasional members of the public) caught up in them.

Be sure to read the informative overview of the project here and then scroll down the landing page to download the database.

Tuesday 19 July 2022

Original Holmes Estate rental book goes on public display

An original Holmes Estate rental book has gone on public display for the first time at the Nenagh Heritage Centre.

This unique 19th-century book is full of historical and genealogical detail and maps, and has been donated to the North Tipperary Genealogy Centre (based in the Heritage Centre) by former State Solicitor Pat Treacy, who had owned it since the early 1960s. It will be on permanent display for the benefit of local historians and anyone with an interest or connections to Nenagh and its surrounding areas.

Nora O'Meara, the Centre's genealogist, has organised for copies of the original book and maps to be produced and will be passing these on to the town's branch library in Nenagh and to Tipperary County Council's Local Studies department in Thurles.

The Heritage Centre is open to the public (Tuesday–Friday, 10am–4pm) and free to visit.

You can find out more in the Nenagh Guardian's detailed report on the book's presentation to the Centre last week.

If you have ancestral connections to the area, you might like to check out an overview of the history of the Holmes Estate on landedestates.ie and search the digitised Encumbered/Landed Estates Court Rentals collection on either FindMyPast or Ancestry.

Monday 18 July 2022

Irish genealogy, history and heritage events, 18-31 July

Monday 18 July: The Door, a talk with Dr James Curry discussing a sculpture by Joe Moran installed next to Ringsend Library. The sculpture deals with domestic violence against women and was installed on International Women's Day 2008. Hosted by Dublin City Libraries, the in-person lecture will take place at Ringsend Library, Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 4. 6:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Tuesday 19 July: Daniel O'Connell and Dublin City Council, an online talk with Dr Sylvie Kleinman, followed by discussion on the Dublin Transcription Project. Host: Dublin City Libraries. Free. All welcome. 2pm to 3pm. Need to book. Details.

Tuesday 19 July: The Irish Civil War Part 2: From Béal na Bláth to Arms Dump, with Cathy Scuffil. An in-person event at Kevin Street Library, 18 Kevin Street Lower, Dublin 8. Free. 6:30pm–7:30pm. Need to register.

Wednesday 20 July: The Murder Machine, with Dr Séamas Ó Donnghaile discussing Patrick Pearse's essay on Irish education, which, he argued, robbed Irish children of their identity. An in-person talk at the James Connolly Visitor Centre, 374-376 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6DG. All welcome. 7pm. Register by email to info@arasuichonghaile.com.

Thursday 21 July: Richmond Barracks to Kilmainham Walking Tour. Meet Richmond Barracks at 11am for 75-minute guided walk exploring Dublin’s rich historical and political landscape. Tickets €10.00 adults / €8.00 conc. Need to book.

Saturday 23 July: A Graveside Commemoration of musician Edward Bunting. An in-person event at Mount Jerome Cemetery, 158 Harold's Cross Road, Dublin, with music, poetry and oration. Includes wreath laying by Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media. Hosted by the Harps Alive Festival 2022. 3pm to 4pm. Tickets essential. Donations appreciated.

Saturday 23 July: Arthur Griffith walking tour. A guided walk from Henrietta Street through to Glasnevin cemetery via Arthur Griffith's birthplace on Dominick street, with John Seery. Meet 11am outside the Tenement Museum, 14 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1. 90 Minutes. Read more on Eventbrite Booking. Tickets €11.53.

Saturday 23 July: Goldenbridge Cemetery Tour. Hosted by Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, Dublin 8 where the tour starts at 1pm (ends c2:15pm.) Price: €10.00 adults / €8.00 concession. Need to book in advance, here.

Thursday 28 July: Introduction to Research in the National Library, an online talk with Maeve Casserly introducing the library’s collections, catalogues and online sources. Host: National Library of Ireland. This event will have Irish Sign language Interpretation and live captioning. 1pm. Free. All welcome. Need to book.

Thursday 28 July: Civil War or Counter-Revolution? a talk with Dr Brian Hanley and John Dorney. In-person. Venue: The Pearse Centre, 27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. 7:30pm. All welcome.

Saturday 30 July: A celebration of recent history publications by Dublin City Council. An in-person event from 10am to 5pm. Venue: Richmond Barracks. Inchicore. Dublin 8. Price €5 / €3. All welcome.

Sunday 31 July: Women in History Tour, an in-person guided tour of Glasnevin Cemetery exploring the lives of women who played a pivotal role in Irish history. Meet in Prospect Gallery, Finglas Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 at 2pm. Booking required. Fee: €13 adult / €11 conc. Details.

Sunday 31 July: Walking tour of Moore Street, Kilrush. Hosted by Kilrush & District Historical Society. Meet at the Teach Ceoil, Kilrush, Co Clare at 3pm. Free. All welcome.

Thursday 14 July 2022

New and updated USA genealogy collections: Three-week summary

Below is a summary of US family history collections released or updated by the major genealogy databases in the last three weeks. (Previous summary list published 22 June, 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 or 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, and/or the revised total. I rarely include updates of fewer than 1,000 records.


NEW COLLECTIONS


Ancestry

FamilySearch

FindMyPast

MyHeritage


UPDATED COLLECTIONS


AmericanAncestors

Ancestry

FamilySearch


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 13 July 2022

NIFHS's DNA Summer School returns: online 22-26 August 2022

The North of Ireland Family History Society has announced its DNA Summer School 2022. It will run from Monday 22 August to Friday 26 August.

This will be the third outing for the popular event, which sees some ten 90-minute classes delivered online across five days, with a choice of genetic genealogy subjects that provides something for researchers across the experience range.

Each day has a theme. On Days 1 and 2, the focus is on autosomal DNA. Wednesday is devoted to Y-DNA and Thursday MT-DNA. The final day will cover some of the tools provided by two non-testing companies: GEDmatch and Genetic Affairs.

All the presentations will be recorded (minus the Q&A sessions that follows each talk) and made available to delegates to watch for 28 days after the Summer School closes.

You can see the list of class topics below, but do read the specific details of each session on the NIFHS Classes page here to find out the level of each class and further information of what is covered.

At just £10 each (or £80 for all 10), these classes are great value, carefully-targetted, and will be sure to fill up quickly, so don't delay in booking your place.

These are the class topics:

  • Making Progress with Autosomal DNA
  • Trees and Your Matches
  • Using the Chromosome Browser Effectively
  • Inferred Matches/Mapping
  • The Advantages of Y-DNA
  • Using Y-DNA to connect with Ancestors
  • The Advantages of MT-DNA
  • Using MT-DNA
  • Using GEDmatch
  • Unravelling Trees of Matches using AutoKinship

Monday 11 July 2022

Irish genealogy, history and heritage events, 11 - 24 July

Monday 11 July: The Civil War in Dublin, with John Dorney. An in-person event at the Richmond Barracks gymnasium, Inchicore, Dublin 8. Part of the Mondays at the Mess series. 7pm. All welcome. €5 full price, €3 concession. Tea, biscuits and chat follow talk. Book here.

Tuesday 12 July: Public Holiday in Northern Ireland. All repositories closed.

Tuesday 12 July: Building Offaly’s courthouses and prisons in the 18th and 19th centuries, with Dr Richard Butler. Hosted online by Offaly History. All welcome. 7:30pm. Free. Email info@offalyhistroy.com for zoom link.

Tuesday 12 July: The Irish Civil War Part 1: From Treaty Talks to Fire at the Four Courts, with Cathy Scuffil. An in-person event hosted by Dublin City Libraries. Venue: Kevin Street Library, 18 Lower Kevin Street Lower, Dublin 8. Free. 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Need to register.

Wednesday 13 July: Public Holiday in Northern Ireland. All repositories closed.

Thursday 14 July The new Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland. An in-person event. Venue: The British Library, Euston Road, London NW1 2DB. 7pm to 8:30pm. Admission free. All welcome. Booking required.

Friday 15 July: Wild Geese: Irish Migrants in Early Modern Europe Conference, Day 1. Venue: Room T117 (TARA Building), Mary Immaculate College, Limerick City. Host: Department of History, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. 9.30–5:30. Includes a light lunch. Free. Advance registration essential. See full programme and details. Day 2 at different venue. See below.

Saturday 16 July: Goldenbridge Cemetery Tour. Hosted by Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, Dublin 8 where the tour starts at 1pm (ends c2:15pm.) Price: €10.00 adults / €8.00 concession. Need to book in advance, here.

Saturday 16 July: Wild Geese: Irish Migrants in Early Modern Europe Conference, Day 2. Venue: Dance Limerick Space (St John’s Church), John’s Square, Limerick City. Host: Department of History, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. 9.30–5:30. Includes a light lunch. Free. Advance registration essential. See full programme and details. Day 1 at different venue. See above.

Saturday 16 July: The burning of Birr Barracks, July 1922, a tour with Stephen Callaghan. An in-person tour starting at Thatch Restraint in Crinkill. Hosted by Offaly History. All welcome. No booking required; just turn up. 11am. Free.

Monday 18 July: The Door, a talk with Dr James Curry discussing a sculpture by Joe Moran installed next to Ringsend Library. The sculpture deals with domestic violence against women and was installed on International Women's Day 2008. Hosted by Dublin City Libraries, the in-person lecture will take place at Ringsend Library, Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 4. 6:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Tuesday 19 July: Daniel O'Connell and Dublin City Council, an online talk with Dr Sylvie Kleinman, followed by discussion on the Dublin Transcription Project. Host: Dublin City Libraries. Free. All welcome. 2pm to 3pm. Need to book. Details.

Tuesday 19 July: The Irish Civil War Part 2: From Béal na Bláth to Arms Dump, with Cathy Scuffil. An in-person event at Kevin Street Library, 18 Lower Kevin Street Lower, Dublin 8. Free. 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Need to register.

Saturday 23 July: A Graveside Commemoration of musician Edward Bunting. An in-person event at Mount Jerome Cemetery, 158 Harold's Cross Road, Dublin, with music, poetry and oration. Includes wreath laying by Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media. Hosted by the Harps Alive Festival 2022. 3pm to 4pm. Tickets essential. Donations appreciated.

Saturday 23 July: Goldenbridge Cemetery Tour. Hosted by Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, Dublin 8 where the tour starts at 1pm (ends c2:15pm.) Price: €10.00 adults / €8.00 concession. Need to book in advance, here.


Friday 8 July 2022

English, Scottish and Welsh genealogy updates: two-week summary

Below is a two-week summary of newly released and updated family history record collections for England, Scotland and Wales from the major genealogy databases. For the previous summary, see 29 June blogpost.

My 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


Ancestry

BritishNewspaperArchive (£££ subscription); shared with FindMyPast Ultimate and Pro subs

FindMyPast

UPDATED COLLECTIONS


Ancestry

FamilySearch

FindMyPast

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.

Thursday 7 July 2022

All public services at The Military Archives unavailable 11-15 July

In order to facilitate essential stock checking and internal administraion matters, the Reading Room of the Military Archives based at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines will be closed to the public from Monday 11 July to Friday 15 July inclusive.

In addtion, there will be no email or phone services available.

Normal service will resume on Monday 18 July.

Tuesday 5 July 2022

Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives: 5 more graveyards recorded

Aghada Old Graveyard, Co. Cork.
Photo courtesy of Angela Gallagher and IGPArchives.
Click image to view.

Summer has certainly arrived!

June brought in a second batch of files from volunteers to Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives, all crammed with photos of graveyards and transcriptions of headstones.

They're all free to view.

CORK Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Aghada Old Graveyard, Upper Aghada

DONEGAL Genealogy Archives - Headstones
St. Mary's (R.C.) Graveyard, Fanavolty

KILDARE Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Confey Graveyard, Leixlip

LIMERICK Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Shanagolden Cemetery, Town Centre

MEATH Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Dunderry Cemetery, Navan

Monday 4 July 2022

Irish genealogy, history and heritage, 4 - 17 July

Tuesday 5 July to Friday 19 August: Exhibition: The Public Record Office of Ireland – The Story of a Building. An exhibition of architectural drawings, elevations and plans of the ambitious building, which was finished in 1867. Never previously on public display. Hosts: National Archives of Ireland and the Irish Architectural Archive (IAA). Venue: Architecture Gallery, IAA, 45 Merrion Square East, Dublin 2. Free. All welcome. In-person. 10am to 5pm Tues-Fri. Runs to Friday 19 August 2022.

Tuesday 5 July: The Irish Civil War Part 2: From Béal na Bláth to Arms Dump, with Cathy Scuffil. The Irish Civil War:Dublin City Council Historians-in-Residence Talk Series An in-person event at Pembroke Library, Anglesea Road, Dublin 4. 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM IST. Free. All welcome but need to book. Details and booking.

Wednesday 6 July: The Rebel Doctor: Kathleen Lynn, with Mary McAuliffe. Host: Áras Uí Chonghaile | James Connolly Visitor Centre, 374-376 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6DG. An in-person event (will be recorded). 7pm. Register by email to info@arasuichonghaile.com.

Saturday 9 July: Why you want Quaker ancestors, with Claire Bradley. An online event hosted by the Irish Genealogical Research Society. Non-members welcome. Free. 2:30pm to 5pm. Need to register.

Saturday 9 July: Arthur Griffith walking tour – a walk from Henrietta Street to Glasnevin cemetery, with historian John Seery. 11am to 12:30pm. Ticket: €11.53. Need to book.

Sunday 10 July: Trilangue: Ireland and Québec in Music and Film. An in-person event at Station House Theatre, Clifden, Co Galway. 8pm. Tickets start at €16.87. Live music and dance performance and film screening. Booking.

Monday 11 July: The Civil War in Dublin, with John Dorney. An in-person event at the Richmond Barracks gymnasium, Inchicore, Dublin 8. Part of the Mondays at the Mess series. 7pm. All welcome. €5 full price, €3 concession. Tea, biscuits and chat follow talk. Book here.

Tuesday 12 July: Public Holiday in Northern Ireland. All repositories closed.

Tuesday 12 July: Building Offaly’s courthouses and prisons in the 18th and 19th centuries, with Dr Richard Butler. Hosted by Offaly History. All welcome. 7:30pm. Free. Email info@offalyhistroy.com for confirmation of whether the event will be in-person at Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co Offaly, or online.

Wednesday 13 July: Public Holiday in Northern Ireland. All repositories closed.

Friday 15 July: Wild Geese: Irish Migrants in Early Modern Europe Conference, Day 1. Venue: Room T117 (TARA Building), Mary Immaculate College, Limerick City. Host: Department of History, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. 9.30–5:30. Includes a light lunch. Free. Advance registration essential. See full programme and details. Day 2 at different venue. See below.

Saturday 16 July: Goldenbridge Cemetery Tour. Hosted by Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, Dublin 8 where the tour starts at 1pm (ends c2:15pm.) Price: €10.00 adults / €8.00 concession. Need to book in advance, here.

Saturday 16 July: Wild Geese: Irish Migrants in Early Modern Europe Conference, Day 2. Venue: Dance Limerick Space (St John’s Church), John’s Square, Limerick City. Host: Department of History, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. 9.30–5:30. Includes a light lunch. Free. Advance registration essential. See full programme and details. Day 1 at different venue. See above.

Friday 1 July 2022

Free in-person genealogy consultations back at National Archives

Great news! The National Archives of Ireland (NAI) has announced that its free in-person Genealogy Advisory Service is back up and running again after the covid pandemic.

Genealogist Advisory Service is back!     
Photo courtesy NAI via Twitter

This happy development means that researchers can now turn up on Mondays to Fridays between 10am–1pm and 2pm–5pm for a consultation at the Bishop Street archive*. The service is primarily intended to help researchers at the start of their family history journey, but assistance is also available to those with more advanced queries.

Whatever the query, all visitors need a Reader's Ticket.

The service is run by an external panel of professional genealogists, all holding credentials from Accredited Genealogists Ireland. It is run on a first-come, first-served basis (no appointments), so be prepared to wait.

*The building closes each day between 1pm and 2pm.


20% discount on annual subscriptions to RootsIreland's database

RootsIreland.ie is offering a 20% saving on a 12-month subscription to its 23-million-Irish-records database until midnight on Thursday 14 July*.

Offer runs until 14 July

The database holds the most complete and most accurate set of Roman Catholic parish records available online, as well as numerous Church of Ireland (Anglican), Presbyterian, Baptist (and other denominations) records, civil records, census records, headstone inscriptions and census substitutes.

Records are added continuously. So far this year, more than 57,000 records from counties Monaghan, Tipperary, Westmeath, Galway and Kerry have been uploaded, and more will be along soon.

The database is managed by the Irish Family History Foundation, which has has a network of 34 genealogy centres acrosss the island with an unparalleled amount of local knowledge. This can be invaluable to those tracing their ancestors and is a service no other providers can offer to such a high standard.

By taking out a subscription to RootIreland you are helping these centres to continue to provide a world-class service and securing many Irish jobs.

* Irish Summer Time.