Tuesday 30 August 2022

Preliminary population statistics from Census 2022 (Republic only)

The Central Statistics Office has announced more (preliminary) findings from Census 2022, which was taken in April in the Republic of Ireland. Its key findings were:

  • The normally resident population increased by 88,800 persons, the largest 12-month increase since 2008.
  • There were 120,700 immigrants, a 15-year high.
  • Of those immigrants; 28,900 were returning Irish nationals, 24,300 were other EU nationals, and 4,500 were UK nationals. 
  • The remaining 63,000 immigrants were other nationals including almost 28,000 Ukrainians in the 12-month period. 
  • More people emigrated than in recent years with 59,600 persons departing the State compared with 54,000 in 2021. 
  • There was a natural increase of 27,700 people in the State comprised of 60,700 births less 33,000 deaths.

In the last ten years, year-on-year population growth has varied between 0.4% growth (+18,800 persons) in 2011–2012 to 1.8% growth (+88,800) in 2021–2022

Regional populations
The proportion of the population residing in Dublin has increased from 27.6% of the total in 2011 to 28.4% of the total in 2022 and is now at 1,451,000 persons.

The Mid-East and South-West had the second and third highest population by region with 753,000 and 734,600 people respectively, or a 14.8% and 14.4% share of total population.

Counties of the Mid-East, South-West, and Dublin NUTS 3 regions (Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Louth, Cork and Kerry) had a 57.6% share of the total population in April 2022, or 2,938,600 persons.

In April 2022, the region with the lowest contribution to the total population was the Midland region with 310,900 persons (6.1%) followed by the Border (420,900 or 8.3%), South-East (451,900 or 8.9%), West (480,300 or 9.4%) and Mid-West (497,800 or 9.8%) regions.


Monday 29 August 2022

England, Scotland & Wales genealogy updates: 3-week summary

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, 5 August.)

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. More than 56m pages.

DeceasedOnline

FamilySearch

MyHeritage


UPDATED COLLECTIONS


Ancestry

FamilySearch

FindMyPast

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.

Friday 26 August 2022

FindMyPast uploads two new record-sets to its Irish collection

FindMyPast has added two new record-sets to its Irish collection. They are:

Genealogical Society of Ireland Journals
This collection of journals from the Genealogical Society of Ireland includes a wide variety of articles full of genealogical data, local and social history, biographies of well-known and lesser-known individuals, and other topics relating to daily life and heritage in Ireland over the centuries.

The journals, published annually since 1992, have been well indexed by FindMyPast so that you can search by name, place and subject/topic.

Examples I've looked at this morning include: Donnelly Crimes, 1879, London, Ontario | Drumlish Tenants, 1853 | The Stranger's Friend Society 1790 | The Ajax Shipwreck of 1860 | Tracing Property Ownership, Co. Cavan, an example from 1609+ | Mutiny Of The North Tipperary Militia, July 1856.

Be aware the journals (or those pages I've looked at) appear to have been scanned back to front, so that when you are reading a feature and want to continue to the next page, you have to press the 'Previous' button rather than the 'Next' button. This is irritating and could easily have been avoided. I don't know if this is a Firefox issue – it could be, but I think I might have noticed before when searching other collections. Anyway, be aware this may be an issue.

Waterford, Grand Jury Presentments 1808-1899 Image Browse
This browse collection contains Grand Jury query and account books, assize presentments and contract details throughout the 18th century.

The Grand Jury was the main arm of local government in the 18th century, with responsibility for: Roads and bridges | Lunatic asylums | County infirmaries and fever hospitals | Dispensaries | Courthouses | Gaols. Many suppliers to these institutions and buildings are named in the Presentment books, as are staff and maintenance workers.

Wednesday 24 August 2022

Donegal Archives releases Glenties Rural District Minutes 1916-18

Donegal Archives has digitised and released another tranche from the Glenties Rural District Minute Books. Split into five parts, these books cover 1916 to 1918. They were omitted from the original releases from this collection.

Click for enlarged view

With these volujmes now available, genealogists and local historians exploring the Glenties area of the county now have free downloadable access to the Rural District Minute Books from 1913 to 1925.

While these books won't include genealogical data, per se, they can provide extraordinarily rich detail about the day-to-day goings-on in the neighbourhood where your ancestors lived.

They are, however, likely to be of most interest to the more advanced level researcher.

The image, right, is from the Minutes dated 28 October 1916. It records the delivery from a legal firm representing one Bryan O'Donnell (and others) of Stranakirk who were claiming compensation following the destruction of an 'iron and wooden bridge' they owned, and how the Councillors decided to approach the issue. Another entry suggests the matter was subsequently passed on to the local authority's solicitor.

NLI to host 8-week online Irish genealogy beginners' course

The National Library of Ireland will be running an eight-week Beginners Genealogy Research course starting on Wednesday 14 September. The course will be aimed at researchers who are new to Irish family history and to those who have a little experience but feel they need an in-depth foundation to progress their research.

Professional genealogist and historian Sean Murphy MA will once again be the tutor for this course and all classes will be held on Zoom on Wednesdays from 2pm to 4:15pm (Dublin time). The final class will be on 2 November.

The course fee is €100.

Places are limited in number, and they usually fill up well in advance of the start date, so if you feel this may be the right course for you, contact Brid O'Sullivan at bosullivan@nli.ie for more details and to book.

Tuesday 23 August 2022

Ancestry adds 1.2m entries to Ireland, UK & Global FindAGrave indexes

Ancestry has updated its many FindAGrave Indexes. Those for the UK & Ireland are as follows:

UK & Ireland, 1300s – Current:
More than 710,000 entries have been added in the four months to 18 August. In total, the collection now holds 14,651,323 indexed entries. Of these, just under one million (973,916) relate to Ireland ie the deceased may have been born in Ireland, died in Ireland or both.

There appears to be no distinction made between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as all counties across the island have some coverage.

Global, Find a Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current
This collection has been updated with more than half a million entries over the last four months. It now holds a total of 13,288,732 records. Of these, 23,794 are indexed with details of a birth, death or burial in Ireland.

I've not studied this 'Global' record-set very deeply but I can't work out exactly what criteria are supposed to be used when the volunteer researcher chooses to record an entry in this collection and not another. In many cases, the place of death is known but the place of burial is uncertain. In other words, the researcher has not found a grave or marker, which doesn't seem to readily fit within the site's concept. In other examples, the place of birth and burial may be known, but the death itself took place somewhere else.


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 22 August 2022

Latest developments at the Irish Registry of Deeds Index Project

The volunteer-managed Irish Registry of Deeds Index Project has seen several updates over the last few weeks, as well as noting news of recent developments to the site and guidance for those involved in the transcriptions of memorials. Here's an overview:

Latest stats:
The main index, as of a couple of weeks ago, stands at 498,373 indexed records from 51,960 memorials of deeds.

Townland Index
A recent milestone saw volunteers complete the transcription of the townland index for County Kildare 1708-39. If you were thinking of volunteering to help maintain this progress, for Kildare or any other area, take a look at the county-by-county coverage.

Quality control and database improvements
Nick Reddan, the manager of the site, says that while the number of new entries joining the main site has slowed a little recently, he and other volunteers have been improving the quality of the main database by correcting some errors. In addition, the team has been focussing on adding links to each indexed entry direct to the image of the respective memorial held on FamilySearch. Any indexed entry for a memorial in books 200 and below now has a direct link.

Script changes
The scripts behind the Browse-by-Name and Browse-by-Number pages needed to be changed. While they now look a little different, they operate in the same way as previously.

Colour photos of memorials
The newly-launched Virtual Record Treasury released online colour images of Registry of Deeds Transcription books numbers 1–30. Some volunteers find these easier to transcribe than the black and white images held on FamilySearch, so Nick has tweaked individual index entries to include a link, where relevant, to the Virtual Records Treasury images. He explains this further, here.

Pages missing from FamilySearch's collection
Nick has written a brief note to draw attention to the fact that the FamilySearch image-set of the original memorial transcription books does not include every page. You can see the missing page numbers and an explanation for how this may have occurred here or via the FamilySearch navigation aids tab.


Thursday 18 August 2022

AGI to deliver the Certificate in Family History Research for City Colleges

Accredited Genealogists Ireland (AGI), the accrediting and representative body for professional genealogists across the island of Ireland, will (once again) be delivering the Certificate in Family History Research course in collaboration with City Colleges, Dublin this autumn.

The ten-week course will be presented (live) online by AGI members, all of them recognised experts in their field, on Thursday evenings from 29 September.

Students will be introduced to the building blocks of genealogy: Civil, Church and Census records, and then guided through land surveys, historical newspapers and other important groups of resources.

Each evening session will include time for questions and discussion, and regular practical workshops and minor projects will help to reinforce the research principles students have been taught. In the final weeks each student has the opportunity to compile their own miniature genealogical report with the professional edge they learned during the course.

For more information, download the Course Plan for Autumn 2022 (Word doc). To apply, contact City Colleges at www.citycolleges.ie or by phone to 00 353+ (0)1 416 0034.

Wednesday 17 August 2022

The Clare Champion takes its place in the online Irish News Archive

The Clare Champion is the last addition to the Irish Newspaper Archive.

This important regional weekly title launched in 1903 and is widely regarded to be the Banner County's leading news publication. It is a firm favourite with genealogists for its birth, marriage and death notices.

So far, the Archive's newest holding spans 1950 to 2012. The Dublin-based owners of the database are actively trying to source editions from the earlier period (1903 to 1949) and I'll keep you informed of any developments on this front.

Written in the Landscape, a digital exhibition from the National Folk Collection

To mark National Heritage Week, Ireland's island-wide festival of all-things heritage, the National Folklore Collection (NFC) has completed a project based on its online resources. 

The result is a digital exhibition, downloadable as a pdf, called Written in the Landscape – Stones in Irish Folk Tradition.

Natural stone features such as cromlechs, dolmens, stone circles and stone heap memorials have been the subject of many aspects of folklore, from folk practice and beliefs to legends and songs. 

As such, they appear in the vast collection of local lore gathered by the Irish Folklore Commission and its successors from 1935 and held today by the NFC at University College Dublin.

To view the Written in the Landscape exhibition, click the image above.

Monday 15 August 2022

Four-week summary of new and updated US genealogy collections

Below is a summary of US family history collections released or updated by the major genealogy databases in the last month. (Previous summary list published 14 July, 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


AmericanAncestors

FamilySearch

FindMyPast
MyHeritage

UPDATED COLLECTIONS


AmericanAncestors

Ancestry

FamilySearch
MyHeritage

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 August 2022

Ireland's network of FamilySearch Affiliate Librairies grows to 13

Before this summer, there were only two Family Search Affiliate Libraries in Ireland: Dublin City Library & Archive in Pearse Street, and Central Library in Waterford City's Lady Lane.

As we approach the end of the season, we have a cool thirteen, with all ten branches of Fingal Libraries, plus the Local Studies & Archive in Swords, having received Affiliate status. Library card holders are now able to access nearly all FamilySearch.org databases from branch computers. No charge. No fuss.

The difference between accessing FamilySearch.org from your personal device and searching via an Affiliate Library terminal is that you can access to a portion of FamilySearch's digitised microfilms that researchers cannot view via regular Internet access.

The FamilySearch wiki suggests the Affiliate computer will give you up to an additional 400 million records. So, if your regular computer is showing the camera icon with a key symbol above it alongside the name of the collection you want to search, you probably need to visit an affiliate library. Check with the library before travelling, though, as it's possible access to that particular collection may be available only at a Family History Center (FHC).

IrishGenealogyNews spoke to Amy Hanley about the new arrangements at Fingal Libraries. She says the process was really very simple. Once the local authority had agreed that all the branches within the area would benefit from Affiliate status, a specific terminal at each location had to be identified and its static IP addresses shared with FamilySearch. Then the formal contract was drawn up and signed, and that was it. There were no costs to the local authority. As Amy noted, Affiliate libraries don't have all the services of an FHC. However, they can help bridge most of the gap. Additionally, Fingal Libraries have much longer and more convenient hours of opening compared with the nearest FHC at Glasnevin is open only on mid-week-mornings.

Affiliate libraries also receive a monthly e-newsletter subscription for reference staff to stay abreast of what’s new and the latest tips and tricks for supporting family history patrons.

FamilySearch's listing and world map of FHCs and Affiliate Libraries have still to be updated with the 11 latest additions to the network. In the meantime, you'll find addresses and contact details for the Fingal Libraries branches here, and details for the Local Studies & Archives here.

(Currently, there are only three FHCs in the Republic of Ireland: Cork, Glasnevin and Limerick. In Northern Ireland there are four: Belfast, Coleraine, LondonDerry and Portadown.)


Many historical record collections accompanied in the catalogue by a
camera-with-key icon are available to view at a FamilySearch Affiliate Library


Wednesday 10 August 2022

National Library of Ireland adds two late openings per week

The National Library of Ireland has added two evening openings to its weekly timetable.

Researchers can access the Main Reading Room and the Microfilm Reading Room (7-8 Kildare St.), and the Manuscripts Reading Room (2-3 Kildare St) at the following times:

  • Monday, Thursday & Friday, 9.30am–5pm
  • Tuesday & Wednesday, 9.30am–7pm

The Reader's Ticket Office will have just one 'late' opening each week, as follows:

  • Monday – Friday: 10.30am–12.30pm & 2pm–3pm
  • Tuesday only: 5pm–7pm

The Family History Research Room's opening hours are unchanged. It will continue to operate from Monday to Friday at 9.30am–5pm. Although the Room itself will not be open during the evening sessions, visitors will be able to access genealogy e-resources on computer terminals in the Main Reading Room and Microfilm Reading Room from 5-7pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Please note:

  1. All researchers accessing the rooms noted in bold above require a Reader's Ticket.
  2. Free family history consultations are available Mondays to Fridays by appointment only. Email familyhistoryappointments@nli.ie.
  3. The 'late' evenings will continue beyond August.

Tuesday 9 August 2022

RootsIreland adds Armagh records spanning the 17th-20th centuries

RootsIreland.ie has added a bundle of 26,210 records dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries to its County Armagh database. 

They include 8,300 baptisms, marriages and burials from four congregations, about 5,149 headstone inscriptions from twelve burial grounds, and more than 7,000 miscellaneous items consisting of rolls, land valuations, rentals and lists.

Check out the details of this update by clicking the Armagh Ancestry logo, or see a full menu of online sources available in the Armagh database here.

Galway Archives digitises Loughrea Board of Guardians' Minutes

Galway County Council Archives has digitised and released the Board of Guardian (BoG) minutes for 1853-1868 for the Loughrea workhouse (GPL2/). They join the 13 volumes of earlier minutes, dating from 1839-1852, that were made available online in 2020

These can all be freely accessed as downloadable pdfs from the Galway CC Digital Archive.

In total, there are 102 volumes in the Loughrea BoG Minute Books collection, so there is still some way to go before it will be completed.

However, the descriptive list for this collection is very useful to researchers; it includes not only a brief history of the union and its workhouse, but also several appendices of interest, particularly a list of those staff members and of inmates who held a certain level of authority within the institution.

There were ten workhouses in County Galway in the second half of the 19th century. BoG Minute Books for seven of them – Ballinasloe, Clifden, Glenamaddy, Gort, Mountbellew, Portumna and Tuam – have been digitised and indexed by FindMyPast, where they can be searched in the Workhouses and Poor Law collection.

The Council does not hold any Minute Books for Oughterard PLU. This means the Minute Books for 1869–1922 for Loughrea Union and the 1866-1922 books for Galway Union are the only elements of this collection still awaiting digitisation.

Friday 5 August 2022

Two new Co Waterford record sets join FindMyPast's Irish collection

Today's release of records from FindMyPast sees two new collections from County Waterford.

Waterford Poor Law Union Board Of Guardians Minute Books

This collection of 38,500 records comes from the Kilmacthomas Union. They're very varied. You may find entries naming your ancestors relating to members of staff, suppliers of goods and services, inmates making special requests, perhaps requesting emigration or clothing, or notes recording prohibited behaviour, marriage to another inmate, and other items of daily activity.

Ireland, Waterford, Dungarvan Town Commissioners Records 1851-1922

The Town Commission was established in 1854, and was responsible for government activity such as the maintenance of roads, harbours, markets, waterworks, sanitation and housing and regulating the markets. These records cover the years 1851-1922, and documents everything from staff and suppliers, assistance requests, fee payments, or deserted and orphaned children. The details may include details of your ancestor's trade or occupation or financial arrangements.

The collection holds 47,256 records.

A busy 10 days for English, Scottish & Welsh genealogy updates

Below is a 10-day summary of newly-released and updated family history record collections for England, Scotland and Wales from the major genealogy databases. It's been a busy time. (Previous summary, 26 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

  Ancestry


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

Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery
  • Database now online Details of the patients and staff from Hartwood Asylumn (North Lanarkshire, Scotland) buried 1895-1952. (1255)

MyHeritage

UPDATED COLLECTIONS


Ancestry

FamilySearch

FindMyPast

Railway Work, Life & Death (RWLD)

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 4 August 2022

Project launches to preserve education documents compiled in 1824

A project to conserve, digitise and publish online a collection of archival documents relating to education provision in the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin* from 1824 is underway. It is being managed by the Delany Archive, which is based at Carlow College, St Patrick's, with the support of a Heritage Council Community Grant. 

In 1824, an inquiry began into Irish education. It involved the gathering of detailed information about schools all over the country including their location and date of establishment, the number of pupils, average attendance, fees paid, curriculum and books used, a description of the school’s accommodation and more.

Various information about teachers that may be of interest to family historians is recorded, including name, age, religious denomination and where they themselves received their education.

The original documents submitted to the inquiry no longer exist. Fortunately, the then Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, Dr James Warren Doyle, requested his parish clergy to create duplicate copies. A clever chap was Dr Doyle (aka JKL); 34 of these still exist, covering many parishes in the diocese. These surviving documents will be available at The Delany Archive by mid-September.

In the meantime, an online lecture will be held for Heritage Week on the topic of education during Dr Doyle's time as Bishop of the Diocese, which spanned 1819–1834. This will be presented by Dr Thomas McGrath, the College’s Registrar and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

It will take place online, 7pm to 8pm, on zoom, and is free to attend. You can register here.

* Covers County Carlow and parts of counties Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford. See map.


Wednesday 3 August 2022

An Garda Síochána releases online photo archives, 1922-2022

An Garda Síochána has launched its Garda Centenary Online Photographic Archive 1922–2022 as part of its current centenary celebrations.

Twenty years ago, thousands of historical photographs captured by the unit formerly known as the Garda Photographic Section were discovered and work began on their conservation and restoration.

The images were on fragile glass plate negatives, mainly 6X4 inch in size, and had been placed in storage in 1979. It required painstaking work to digitise them.

A brochure was produced to support the launch.
Download your own copy by clicking the image above. 44Mb pdf.

These significant photographs, which document important periods both in Irish history and in the evolution of An Garda Síochána through the decades, have never before been available to view, free of charge, by the public.

Speaking at the launch, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: “The foundation of An Garda Síochána as Ireland’s unarmed, national police and security service was a pivotal moment in Irish history, and the photographs now available on our online archive ensure that they are in permanent record for generations to come.

"It is our hope that the public and those who had loved ones involved in An Garda Síochána can flick through these photographs and be reminded of times gone by. We hope that those who are retired or serving in An Garda Síochána will recognise former colleagues and friends."



FindMyPast: 20% saving to mark Family History Month down under

August is National Family History Month (NFHM) in Australisia. Founded and managed by the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations, the annual campaign sees events taking place across Australia and New Zealand and many local and regional groups present lectures, help motivate beginners and generally celebrate the many different aspects of researching ancestors.

To mark this popular annual celebration of genealogical research, FindMyPast.com.au is offering a 20% saving across its range of subscriptions. 

Like NFHM, the discount will be available right through to Wednesday 31 August.

You can take advantage of this offer by clicking the Claim Offer button in the image. On the landing page you'll find the discount has been applied for each subscription package and you can take your pick, via the slider, from the one-month or 12-month options.

 

Birth Information & Tracing Act comes into effect in October

A public information campaign was launched last month with the aim of ensuring that the public is well informed on the new Birth Information and Tracing law, which comes into effect in October.

A booklet explaining the Act should be landing on your doormat soon; a copy will be delivered to every household in Ireland, while thousands more copies will be distributed to people living overseas through Ireland’s network of embassies. Distribution started on 25 July. Delivery may take some weeks to achieve.

In the meantime, The Adoption Authority of Ireland has released a video (see below), explaining what this new landmark legislation means for people who were adopted in, or from Ireland.

The new law provides legal entitlement to full and unrestricted access to birth and early life information for any Irish person who was adopted, boarded out or had their birth information illegally registered, or who otherwise has questions in relation to their origins.

It also establishes a tracing service to facilitate contact between adoptees and birth parents and other relatives according to the preferences they register on the new Contact Preference Register (CPR).

The CPR, operated by the Adoption Authority of Ireland, opened for applications at the start of July. This Register empowers people to record their preferences in relation to contact with others and the sharing and receiving of information.

In October, Information and Tracing services under the legislation will open. From this time, applications for records can be made to the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.

The Adoption Authority estimates that 100,000 people — adoptees, birth parents and other relatives — are impacted by the new legislation, with many of them living outside of Ireland.

Launching the video, Patricia Carey, CEO of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, said: "Thousands of birth parents left Ireland to rebuild their lives in other countries. We hope this video helps to reach them and adult adoptees — no matter where they live – and lets them know they are now able to find out about their origins."

The video is available to watch here.

Tuesday 2 August 2022

9,000 Catholic parish records from Kerry join RootsIreland.ie

RootsIreland has added some 9,000 new Roman Catholic baptismal and marriage records to its County Kerry database. They are as follows:

  • Firies RC baptisms, 1827-1894 (7963 records)
  • Firies RC marriages, 1830-1893 (1310 records).

For an up to date list of online sources for Kerry, click the logo above. To search the database, go to kerry.rootsireland.ie and login or subscribe as required.

July additions and updates to Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives

Photos and transcriptions of headstones from six burial grounds have been added to the free-to-access Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives database. They are from four counties: Cork, Donegal, Dublin and Limerick, and have all been donated by volunteers.

  St Columba's Church and Graveyard, Massmount, Co Donegal.
Photo courtesy of Angela Gallagher and IGP Archives.
Click for larger view.

Additionally, the July updates included extracts transcribed from the Minutes of an 1858 parliamentary Select Committee Enquiry into the level of Destitution in Gweedore, Magheraclogher and Carrick.

The text document lists some 70-odd households visited, stating the name of each person interviewed and a list of all his or her belongings ie bedsteads and other furniture, number of blankets, ownership of any livestock including horses and donkeys, sacks of potatoes, oats etc, and clothing.

When the condition of the house or person suggests extreme poverty, this is also noted.

This latest set of extracts joins eight similar sets in the IGP Archives dealing with poverty and poverty 'relief' in County Donegal.

They have been transcribed from the Enhanced Parliamentary Papers of Ireland collection held on DIPPAM, and all have been contributed by researcher Mary Heaphy over the last year or so.

CORK Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Holy Rosary Cem. (R.C.) Midleton - Pt. 4
Old Killeagh Cemetery

DONEGAL Genealogy Archives - Miscellaneous
Destitution in Gweedore - Magheraclogher & Carrick (Finished)

DONEGAL Genealogy Archives - Headstones
St. Columba's Graveyard, Massmount

DUBLIN Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Mount Jerome Cemetery, Parts 279 & 280

DUBLIN Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Kilbarrack Graveyard Section 3

LIMERICK Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Holy Cross Cemetery, Athea, Part 1

Paul Gorry elected a Fellow of Accredited Genealogists Ireland

Professional genealogist Paul Gorry has been elected a Fellow of Accredited Genealogists Ireland (AGI), the accrediting and representative body for professional genealogists in Ireland set up in 1986.

Paul Gorry, FAGI
Paul's career in professional genealogy began aged 19 in 1979 when he became a freelance genealogist attached to the Genealogical Office, then based in Dublin Castle. With a number of other professional colleagues, he went on to found Hibernian Research, Ireland’s first independent Irish genealogical company, in 1980, and seven years later formed his own genealogy firm – Gorry Research – which has proved to be hugely successful.

Paul’s ability to ‘Think Big’ allowed him, in pre-Internet days, to set up the first Irish Genealogical Congress, which met in Dublin in September 1991.

It saw several hundred delegates from around the world descend on the city for six days.

On offer were more than 60 lectures exploring different aspects of Irish genealogy. Each was presented by an acknowledged expert in their field.

By anyone’s estimation it was a stunning success and so much so, it was repeated a further three times, with the last being held in September 2001.

There were many other significant achievements over the years, among them:

  • Helping found the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations (CIGO), and serving as its chairman in 1995/96
  • Being elected a Fellow some two decaades ago of the London-based Society of Genealogists
  • Being a founder Member of AGI, as well as a former President (2007-2009)
  • He is a Fellow and Vice-President of the Irish Genealogical Research Society
  • Being a founder member of the West Wicklow Historical Society in 1980.

Paul is also the author of many articles and several books, including:

  • Tracing Irish Ancestors, with Máire Mac Conghail MAGI, published in 1997
  • Baltinglass Golf Club, 1928-2003, 2003
  • Baltinglass Chronicles, 1851-2001, 2006
  • Seven Signatories: Tracing the Family Histories of the Men Who Signed the Proclamation, 2016
  • Credentials for Genealogists:Proof of the Professional, published in 2021 and now in its second edition.

In announcing Paul’s Fellowship, President of AGI, Nicola Morris, described his more than four decades of contribution to both AGI and the wider world of Irish genealogy as one which embraces such superlatives as “outstanding, sustained, scholarly, generous, consistent, and exceptional."

She said: “He has served as Hon Secretary, Vice-President, and then President, he's run sub-committees, sat on panels, been an AGI rep at other events; he’s drafted reports, website text, news items; he’s resolved problems, and worked on new initiatives to expand the membership and/or heighten AGI’s profile. He’s been a mentor, a cheerleader, and a source of endless encouragement to many in AGI. By any measure, his Fellowship is well deserved.”

And so say all of us!

Many congratulations, Paul.