RootsIreland.ie adds Waterford death records

More than 91,000 civil death records have been added to RootsIreland.ie's County Waterford database. These records offer transcripts of all the information entered on a person's death certificate.

This new collection of Waterford records joins transcripts from 534,000 RC baptism registers and 258,000 RC and CofI marriages.

Catholic Family History Society Conference: 4 Oct 2014

The Catholic Family History Society is to hold its annual Day Conference & AGM at Salford Diocesan Archives, St. Augustine’s Hall, Grosvenor Square, All Saints, Manchester M15 6BW on Saturday October 4th 2014. This is the same venue as last year and it proved a most convenient and comfortable location.

The main programme includes two lectures:

• Tracing Catholic Ancestors (from basic to advanced), with Maggie Loughran.
  
• The Protestation Returns of 1642, with Tony Foster.
  

A Family History Help Desk will be available at lunch-time and late afternoon. Researchers are advised to bring along any documents and materials they'd like to discuss with the on-hand experts.

Cost £15.00, which includes lunch and all refreshments.

Tickets are available by cheque (made out to Catholic FHS) to: Mrs J M Smith 10 Irving Close Woodsmoor Stockport SK2 7DX, UK.

Alternatively, you can pay on arrival provided you have booked your place beforehand. No email address is available but you can book via the website Comment option.

New resources and fresh look for Cork Local Studies

The redesigned Home page

The excellent CorkPastAndPresent.ie, the standalone Local Studies website for Cork City Libraries, has been redesigned in the Library's online 'uniform', and content shifted over to the new platform.

It's a good looking magazine-styled Home page, I must say.

Further into the site, it quickly becomes obvious that redevelopment work is still ongoing; much of the content is skewed (that's my level of technical speak for 'not lining up properly').

But so far, so good. The old site had been around a while and needed an update, and I like what I see in progress.

With so many useful genealogy and history resources available, this site deserves time spent on it, so I hope they won't hurry it unnecessarily.

Recent uploads to the site include:

• 1842-3 Jackson's County & City Post Office General Directory (here)
  
• Higher definition maps for 1610, 1759, 1789, 1801, 1831, 1872 and 1952.
  

Hefty price increases introduced by FindMyPast

FindMyPast has introduced new and much increased subscription costs across its international sites and brought in monthly rates where they didn't exist before.

Turning the spotlight on the Ireland site as an example, the cost of a 12-month subscription to Ireland-only records is now €99.50, up from €59, representing a 67% increase! That's what I call a BIG increase.

The 12-month subscription to the World package now costs €149.50.

The Ireland-Britain package, which was very useful for family history researchers with ancestors hopping back and forth across the Irish Sea, has been discontinued.

The old 6-month subscription offer has also been discontinued. In its place, a monthly option has been launched (this option was previously available on some of the other FindMyPast platforms, but not .ie). For Ireland-only, this will cost €9.95; for World it will cost €14.95.

As the official FindMyPast line says, this gives family historians the opportunity to get to know the site without any long-term commitment.

I'm told that the monthly option for all 'local' packages eg the Britain option via FindMyPast.co.uk, the Australia/NewZealand option via FindMyPast.com.au will be 9.95 in the local currency. This, then, will be the headline rate. Expect to see FindMyPast adverts emblazoned with 'From *9.95' from now on, or references to 'discover your ancestors for less than *10'.

So how lies the land? It seems that, for the Ireland package via FindMyPast.ie, at least (I haven't looked beyond the Ireland costings), the increased subscription cost remains competitive. Here's a quickie comparison:

FindMyPast.ie – Ireland collection €99 per annum or €9.50 for a month. 2 week free trial linked to credit card.

Ancestry.co.uk – Premium subscription required for access to Irish records £107.40 (€129.56) annually or £12.95 (€15.62) per month. 2 week free trial linked to credit card.

Irishorigins.com - 72 hour subscription for £6 (€7.23) or £9.50 (€11.46) for a month.

Irish genealogy & history lectures/events 3–9 Feb

Monday 3 February: US Army's Dead Centre of Ulster, with Chris Wilson. Host: Foyle Branch of the North of Ireland Family History Society. Venue: Central Library, 35 Foyle Street, Derry-Londonderry BT48 6AL. 7pm. Details.

Monday 3 February: Childhood recollections of Killyleagh, wtih Zena McAllister. Host: North of Ireland FHS. Venue: Killyleagh Masonic Hall, 50 High Street, Killyleagh, BT30 9QF. Time: 8pm. Details.

Monday 3 February: Merchants, builders and princely mansions: Dublin’s nineteenth-century expansion, with Dr Susan Galavan. Host: Royal Society of Antiquities of Ireland. Venue: Helen Roe Theatre, 63 Merrion Square, Dublin. 7:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Tuesday 4 February: The 'Dublins' in War and at Peace: The Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association Archive, with Dr. Mary Clark. Host: Irish Society for Archives. Venue: Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144, Pearse St, Dublin. Admission Free. Wine Reception. All Welcome. Time: 6:30pm.  Lecture is preceded by the AGM of the Irish Society for Archives at 6pm.

Wednesday 5 February: Family trees - How GRONI can help them grow, with Alistair Butler. Venue: PRONI, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. Part of PRONI's Overlooked Archival Sources lecture series. Admission is free but you need to book by email.

Wednesday 5 February: Battle of Clontarf 1014 – Irish History and Legend, with Professor Colm Lennon. Host: Old Dublin Society. Venue: Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin. 6:30pm. For details see Clontarf.ie or email.

Thursday 6 February: The National Collection of Northern Ireland publications, with Joan Crooks. Host: North of Ireland FHS Belfast Branch. Venue: Holywood Arches Library, Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 1NT. 7:30pm. Details.

Thursday 6 February: The Wreck of the Neva - Convict Ship from Cork to Botany Bay, with Cal McCarthy. Host: Blarney & District Historical Society. Venue: Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál (Blarney Secondary School), Blarney, Co. Cork. 8pm. Open to all. €3.

Thursday 6 February: How commercial DNA testing can pinpoint your Galway origins, with Dr Tyrone Bowes. Venue: Galway City Museum. 7pm–8pm. Free. Phone +353 (0)91 532460 to book.

Thursday 6 February: Local emigrant stories of South Galway, with IrelandXO. Bradleys Bar, Labane, Co Galway. 8pm.

Thursday 6 February: Holy Larceny: Sacred relics and their thefts, with Professor Salvador Ryan. Venue: Johnston Central Library, Farnham Centre, Cavan Town. 7:30pm – 8:30pm. Free. All welcome.

Saturday 8 February: Surnames of County Fermanagh, with Marion Maxwell. Host: North of Ireland FHS. Venue: Enniskillen Library, Halls Lane, Enniskillen, BT74 7DR. 2:15pm. Details.

Saturday 8 February: A Journey of Remembrance 2014-2018 will launch in Cobh. It is a Cork Centenary Project to honour Irishmen and women who fought in World War 1 1914-1918. Venue: Commodore Hotel, Cobh. An Exhibition will be held from 10 am – 5pm with a formal opening and lecture at 12 noon.

Saturday 8 February: Death customs in Mayo/Burial Registers, with William Lyons. Venue: National Museum of Ireland (Country Life), Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo. 2pm. Free. No booking required.

Sunday 9 February: The Leitrim Famine rentals - a case study, with Mel Farrell. Host: The Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses – Estates. Venue: Strokestown Park House, Co Roscommon. 3pm. Free. All welcome. No booking required. Enquiries: +353 (0)71 9633013.

Latest uploads to Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives

A good number of updates from Ireland Genealogy Projects (IGP-web) in the second half of January! These are the latest files now available through IGPArchives:

1787 headstone, Bonamargy Friary, Co. Antrim
Photo: Carl Maguire

ANTRIM Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Bonamargy Friary Graveyard

CAVAN Genealogy Archives - Memorial Cards
Memorial Cards of Irish who died in Brooklyn, NY

DONEGAL Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Stranorlar, Parish Church Graveyard
Fintown Cemetery, Inishkeel (Additional Headstones)
Conwall Graveyard, Letterkenny
Templedouglas, Conwal Civil Parish

DUBLIN Genealogy Archives - Church Records
Asst. Marriages from St. Kevins C. Of I.

DUBLIN Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Deansgrange - West, Part 5

FERMANAGH Genealogy Archives - Church
Finner Church Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths to 1899
Clabby (CiO) Baptisms 1862-1874

FERMANAGH Genealogy Archives - Census Substitutes
Morpeth Roll - Enniskillen Names - 1841

FERMANAGH Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Derryvullan North Parish Church
Rossory Parish Church Cemetery (Additional headstones)
Ardess, St Mary and Ardess Church Cemetery (Additional headstones)
Mullaghdun (CoI) Parish Church Cemetery (Additional headstones)

LOUTH Genealogy Archives - Memorial Cards
Additional Memorial Cards

MAYO Genealogy Archives – Memorials
Hollymount Churchyard Memorials
www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/ire/mayo/cem.htm

MAYO Genealogy Archives - Memorial Cards
New Memorial page added

OFFALY (Kings) Genealogy Archives - Memorial Cards
Additional Memorial Cards

WATERFORD Genealogy Archives - Memorial Cards
New Memorial Page added

WATERFORD Genealogy Archives – Memorials
Kinsalebeg Churchyard Memorials

WEXFORD Genealogy Archives - Memorial Cards
Memorial Cards - FARRELL

WICKLOW Genealogy Archives - Church Records
Kilcommon (C.of I.) 1817-1844 - Assorted Names
Dunganstown, Burials - TYNDALL, CHAPMAN 1863-1942
Enniskerry, St.Patricks, Burials - JOHNSTON 1906-1942
Burials at Wicklow Parish Church (CoI) JENKINSON,

WICKLOW Genealogy Archives - Memorial Cards
Memorial Cards (Additional Cards added)

PRONI shows its romantic side

Since Valentine's Day is now just around the corner (as you may have noticed from the big red lovehearts adorning practically every shop window in the high street) PRONI's gone soft and found a romantic theme for its February document of the month.

Here's the story:

In 1935, a native of Seattle, USA, attempted to take charge of Cupid by writing to the Lord Mayor of Belfast seeking an “Irish colleen” for a wife.

This would-be suitor was quite specific in his requirements for a bride who would “join him in the journey of life”. Assuring the Lord Mayor that he was “well enough fixed” financially, he also provided the names of three referees that would vouch for his character.

Brett Irwin from PRONI’s Private Records’ team, who picked the document of the month, said: “I was drawn to the letter because I loved the idea of the Lord Mayor of Belfast’s duties including wife-finding! This is definitely added value for rate payers.”

Maggie Smith, Director of PRONI said: “It is testament to the diverse range of records held at PRONI that a ‘Lonely Hearts’ letter was found in the seemingly unlikely location of a box
of Belfast Corporation papers.

“We hold over three million records in PRONI and I would encourage everyone to visit PRONI and delve into the records. You never know what you might uncover.”

Unfortunately, PRONI has been unable to ascertain if the Lord Mayor responded to the request!

In the PRONI catalogue, the letter is contained in a Local Authority file with the PRONI reference LA7/3/A/40. The document is open to the public and available to view at PRONI.

Or just click the images to read the letters.

Tracing Irish Ancestors: UHF's workshop tour of USA

The Ulster Historical Foundation's annual workshop tour of the USA gets underway in just six weeks.  Foundation Executive Director Fintan Mullan and Research Officer Gillian Hunt will be presenting lectures on Irish and Scots-Irish research in several states, as follows:

Saturday 8 March: Denver CO
The Wales Ireland Scotland England (W.I.S.E.) Family History Society. Seminar programme (pdf).

Monday 10 March: Des Moines IA  Full day seminar.
Iowa Genealogical Society. Seminar programme.

Tuesday 11 March: Lincoln NE
Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society. Seminar programme (pdf).

Wednesday 12 March: Bolingbrook IL
The Plainfield Public Library and the Fountaindale Public Library Genealogy Club. Details.

Thursday 13 March: Chicago IL
The Newberry Library. Details.

Saturday 15 March:  Memphis TN
Tennessee Genealogical Society. Seminar programme.

Sunday 16 and Monday 17 March: Boise ID
Boise State University. Venue: Boise State BoDo (301 S. Capital Blvd.)Details.

Thursday 20 March: Greensburg PA
The Westmoreland County Historical Society. Details

Friday 21 March: Philadelphia PA
The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. Details.

Saturday 22 March: South Orange NJ
Co-sponsored by the Friends of the South Orange Public Library, South Orange Historical and Preservation Society, New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission, and PIPE – Seton Hall Irish Society. Details.

(This listing was updated on 4 March, with the addition of New Jersey.)

FindMyPast Ireland offers free trial to all packages

FindMyPast Ireland is currently running a Free 14-Day Trial to all their records.

And not just the Irish collection of more than 76 million records, either!

You can choose a free trial to any of their packages – World, Ireland & Britain, or Ireland.

As with most free trials, you need to register and to provide financial details. After your free trial ends, the membership package you trialled will come into operation unless you cancel before the 14 days expires. Cancellation is easily done via the website.

Gaelic Ireland presents prize-winning original research

Gaelic Ireland (c. 600–c. 1700): politics, culture and landscapes is a collection of four essays that won the ‘Irish Chiefs’ Prize. This competition was sponsored by the Standing Council of Chiefs and Chieftains, and was designed to encourage original research into Ireland's Gaelic past. It was not open to professional historians teaching at a third level institute.

The term ‘Gaelic Ireland’ in this anthology applies to the whole sweep of the historic period during which Irish was the language of a large portion of the ruling classes as well as the people of Ireland, from the fifth century to the slaughter of chieftains at the Battle of Aughrim in 1691.

It explores not only the political history of the period but also the wider culture, literature, law, beliefs and traditions.

Edited by Katharine Simms and published by Wordwell, the book costs €25.00.
ISBN : 978 1 905569 79 3