Transcriptions of Kilmurry Ibrickan's Roman Catholic marriage registers, 1839–1845 have been added to the Clare County Library's Local Studies website. Two indexes have been created, one arranged by Groom's surname, the other by Bride's surname. They are free to view.
They've been transcribed by Marie Crowley of Derry, who's already worked her way through the baptism registers for 1839–1880. I assume she's now intending to work through the marriage register.
UPDATE - 8 June: Marie is working at quite a pace. She's already added all marriages to 1850!
Wednesday, 1 June 2016
Tuesday, 31 May 2016
Dúchas adds Cavan & Longford material to Schools' Collection
More than 200 schools in County Cavan and over 70 schools in County Longford took part, resulting in a combined total of 85 manuscript books full of folk legends, weather lore, local history, proverbs, pastimes, trades and crafts... all collected from the children's local communities. Each entry records the name of the student's informant – typically grandparents or older members of their family or neighbours.
The Cavan and Longford stories join folklore material already online from counties Dublin, Mayo, Donegal, Waterford, Galway, Leitrim, Kildare, Kerry, Sligo, Limerick, Monaghan, Laois, Kilkenny, Louth, Tipperary and Clare. Material from the remaining eight counties is scheduled to be online by the end of this year.
When the three-year digitisation project ends, the online Schools' Collection will consists of over half a million pages recorded by around 50,000 primary school pupils in the 26 counties.
Public holiday, 6 June: opening/closing arrangements
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| Monday 6 June is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland |
The National Archives of Ireland (and its free Genealogy Service) will be closed on Monday 6 June, reopening at 9:15am on Tuesday 6 June.
The National Library of Ireland's Reading Room will operate to normal weekend hours (Saturday 9:30am to 12:45pm; Sunday closed). Neither the Reading Room nor the free Genealogy Service will be available on Monday 6 June.
Exhibitions at the National Library of Ireland will be open on Saturday and Sunday as usual (Kildare Street: Saturday 9.30am–4.30pm; Sunday: 1:00pm–5:00pm. National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar: Saturday 10am–4.45pm; Sunday: 12pm–4.45pm). Bank holiday Monday opening will be from 12pm to 5pm only at both locations.
Dublin City Library & Archive will be closed on Saturday 4 June and Monday 6 June, as will all branch libraries in the Republic.
The General Register Office Research Room at Werburgh Street, Dublin, will not open on Monday 6 June. It will reopen at 9:30am on Tuesday 7 June.
The Research Room of the Representative Church Body Library will be closed on Monday 6 June, reopening at 9:30am on Tuesday 7 June.
NOTE: This bank holiday applies only in the Republic; Northern Ireland institutions (as all in the UK) will be working to normal hours, having had their early summer holiday the previous week.
Monday, 30 May 2016
FamilySearch restricts access to image-only collections
Some bad news this morning. You'll remember that I highlighted a few weeks ago (see blogpost) that Griffith's Valuation Surveyors' Books – the same House, Tenure, Field and Quarto Books we've been waiting to appear on the National Archives of Ireland's Genealogy website – were available as a free image-only collection on FamilySearch.
Fellow blogger and ProGenealogist Joe Buggy followed up on his Townland of Origin blog about other Irish collections held in a similar format by FamilySearch, notably Tuam Will Books (1858–1901) and the Irish Reproductive Loan Records (1804–1886).
I attempted to get some response from FamilySearch about these image-only records, hoping to receive a list of collections now online in this format. I heard nothing and was about to follow up when I received notification from two separate sources over the weekend that the Valuation Books are no longer accessible online and can be viewed only at LDS Family History Centers. The same is true of the Irish Reproductive Loan Funds collection.
As of this morning, the Tuam Will Books are still available for browsing, but I'd expect that access to be 'switched off' fairly soon, too, so get in there quickly if these records hold potential for your ancestral research.
This is a very disappointing step by FamilySearch.
UPDATE 31 May 2016: These Valuation Books are destined not only for the National Archives of Ireland's Genealogy website but also for FindMyPast's database. On both websites they will be free to access. The National Archives of Ireland has confirmed to me this afternoon that it did not request FamilySearch to remove public access to these records.
UPDATE 6 June 2016: See statement from FamilySearch explaining its reason for withdrawing (temporarily) access to these images.
Fellow blogger and ProGenealogist Joe Buggy followed up on his Townland of Origin blog about other Irish collections held in a similar format by FamilySearch, notably Tuam Will Books (1858–1901) and the Irish Reproductive Loan Records (1804–1886).
I attempted to get some response from FamilySearch about these image-only records, hoping to receive a list of collections now online in this format. I heard nothing and was about to follow up when I received notification from two separate sources over the weekend that the Valuation Books are no longer accessible online and can be viewed only at LDS Family History Centers. The same is true of the Irish Reproductive Loan Funds collection.
As of this morning, the Tuam Will Books are still available for browsing, but I'd expect that access to be 'switched off' fairly soon, too, so get in there quickly if these records hold potential for your ancestral research.
This is a very disappointing step by FamilySearch.
UPDATE 31 May 2016: These Valuation Books are destined not only for the National Archives of Ireland's Genealogy website but also for FindMyPast's database. On both websites they will be free to access. The National Archives of Ireland has confirmed to me this afternoon that it did not request FamilySearch to remove public access to these records.
UPDATE 6 June 2016: See statement from FamilySearch explaining its reason for withdrawing (temporarily) access to these images.
Irish genealogy and history events, 30 May – 12 June
Monday 30 May: Public holiday in Northern Ireland. PRONI and all libraries closed. Reopening Tuesday.
Tuesday 31 May: The class, background and role of women in the 1916 Rebellion, with Dr Ann Matthews. Host and venue: Castletown House, Celbridge, Co Kildare. €5, includes refreshments. 7:15pm. Booking required: T (0)1 628 8252 or E castletwon@opw.ie. 8pm. Lecture held in the Hunting Room.
Tuesday 31 May: Launch of 100 Islandmagee seamen, an exhibition. Host and venue: Gobbins Visitors Centre, Middle Road, Islandmagee, Co Antrim. Runs until 28 June.
Wednesday 1 June: 1916: Revolution & Recollection, an exhibition presenting items from Galway County Council Archives. Venue: Clifden Library, Market Street, Clifden, Co Galway. Throughout June during library opening hours. Free.
Wednesday 1 June: Shock, Shell Shock and the 1916 Rising, with Professor Brendan Kelly. Part of the Remembering 1916 lunchtime lecture series at the Ulster Museum. Venue: Lecture Theatre, Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB. 1–2pm. Free. All welcome. Booking.
Friday 3 June: Irish women and the fight for Irish independence, an evening of history, poetry, music. Hosted by St Patrick's Birmingham. Venue: The Spotted Dog, 104 Warwick Street, Birmingham, UK. Free. All welcome. Details.
Friday 3 June to Sunday 5 June: Genealogy on the Cutting Edge conference. Host: Ontario Genealogical Society. Venue: Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Excellent programme includes what's new in Irish research, dna, technology and the world of genealogy Details.
Monday 6 June: Public holiday in Republic of Ireland. Most libraries and archives closed. Reopening Tuesday.
Monday 6 June: The merchant seamen of Sailortown, Belfast, 1918, exhibition launch and talk with David Snook (irishmariners.ie). Host and venue: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. Free. 1pm. Details.
Wednesday 8 June: Mapping the Rising, with Dr John Borgonovo and Mr Charlie Roche using new maps to explore various aspects of the 1916 Easter Rising. Part of the ‘Atlas of the Irish Revolution’ lecture series. Hosts: University College Cork and National Library of Ireland. Venue: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Free. All welcome. Starts 7pm. No booking required. Details.
Friday 10 June: Researching the Rising Workshop, with Dr Emma Edwards. Advice on researching the collections of theh NLI. Host and venue: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Suitable for anyone looking to embark on a research project or to enhance research skills in navigating the catalogue, accessing the various collections and interpreting the sources. 11am. Free. Need to book. Details.
Saturday 11 June: FindMyPast's Irish family history records, with Brian Donovan. Host: Manchester Histories Festival's Celebration Day. Venue: Manchester Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester UK. Free, but need to book tickets. 12pm to 12:45pm.
Saturday 11 June: Genealogy for advanced researchers, with Audrey Leonard, John Schade and Lois Mackin. Host: Irish Genealogical Society International. Venue: Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS) Library, 1185 Concord St N, South St Paul, MN, USA. 10:30am. $15 IGSI members/$20 non-members. Details.
Tuesday 31 May: The class, background and role of women in the 1916 Rebellion, with Dr Ann Matthews. Host and venue: Castletown House, Celbridge, Co Kildare. €5, includes refreshments. 7:15pm. Booking required: T (0)1 628 8252 or E castletwon@opw.ie. 8pm. Lecture held in the Hunting Room.
Tuesday 31 May: Launch of 100 Islandmagee seamen, an exhibition. Host and venue: Gobbins Visitors Centre, Middle Road, Islandmagee, Co Antrim. Runs until 28 June.
Wednesday 1 June: 1916: Revolution & Recollection, an exhibition presenting items from Galway County Council Archives. Venue: Clifden Library, Market Street, Clifden, Co Galway. Throughout June during library opening hours. Free.
Wednesday 1 June: Shock, Shell Shock and the 1916 Rising, with Professor Brendan Kelly. Part of the Remembering 1916 lunchtime lecture series at the Ulster Museum. Venue: Lecture Theatre, Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB. 1–2pm. Free. All welcome. Booking.
Friday 3 June: Irish women and the fight for Irish independence, an evening of history, poetry, music. Hosted by St Patrick's Birmingham. Venue: The Spotted Dog, 104 Warwick Street, Birmingham, UK. Free. All welcome. Details.
Friday 3 June to Sunday 5 June: Genealogy on the Cutting Edge conference. Host: Ontario Genealogical Society. Venue: Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Excellent programme includes what's new in Irish research, dna, technology and the world of genealogy Details.
Monday 6 June: Public holiday in Republic of Ireland. Most libraries and archives closed. Reopening Tuesday.
Monday 6 June: The merchant seamen of Sailortown, Belfast, 1918, exhibition launch and talk with David Snook (irishmariners.ie). Host and venue: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Titanic Boulevard, Belfast. Free. 1pm. Details.
Wednesday 8 June: Mapping the Rising, with Dr John Borgonovo and Mr Charlie Roche using new maps to explore various aspects of the 1916 Easter Rising. Part of the ‘Atlas of the Irish Revolution’ lecture series. Hosts: University College Cork and National Library of Ireland. Venue: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Free. All welcome. Starts 7pm. No booking required. Details.
Friday 10 June: Researching the Rising Workshop, with Dr Emma Edwards. Advice on researching the collections of theh NLI. Host and venue: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Suitable for anyone looking to embark on a research project or to enhance research skills in navigating the catalogue, accessing the various collections and interpreting the sources. 11am. Free. Need to book. Details.
Saturday 11 June: FindMyPast's Irish family history records, with Brian Donovan. Host: Manchester Histories Festival's Celebration Day. Venue: Manchester Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester UK. Free, but need to book tickets. 12pm to 12:45pm.
Saturday 11 June: Genealogy for advanced researchers, with Audrey Leonard, John Schade and Lois Mackin. Host: Irish Genealogical Society International. Venue: Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS) Library, 1185 Concord St N, South St Paul, MN, USA. 10:30am. $15 IGSI members/$20 non-members. Details.
Friday, 27 May 2016
FindMyPast releases Jutland and Loan Fund records
This week's FindMyPast Friday sees the database enhanced with the following records of interest to Irish family historians.
Ireland, Poverty Relief Loans 1821-1874: This important collection was launched early last year (see blogpost for more detail) with nearly 700,000 records, mostly originating along the western seaboard of Ireland. It's now been updated with an additional 5,000 records, apparently, but no information has been provided about where or what the additions relate to.
British Royal Navy & Royal Marines, Battle Of Jutland 1916 Servicemen: This collection totals more than 38,000 records of Royal Navy/Marine servicemen who took part in the Battle of Jutland (31 May to 1 June 1916), the largest naval battle of WW1. Some 1600 men born in Ireland are included in the collection, nearly a third of them recorded with a birthplace in County Cork.
The collection – created from various records held by the National Archives in Kew, London, and Naval and Military Press, and held in FindMyPast's Britain and World packages – typically hold name, birthplace, date of birth, physical description, original occupation, details of the ships on which they served (and dates), and conduct reports. Some also have photographs; I don't know if it's just the Irish records, but in a random search of around 25 records, I haven't found any with photos.
Ireland, Poverty Relief Loans 1821-1874: This important collection was launched early last year (see blogpost for more detail) with nearly 700,000 records, mostly originating along the western seaboard of Ireland. It's now been updated with an additional 5,000 records, apparently, but no information has been provided about where or what the additions relate to.British Royal Navy & Royal Marines, Battle Of Jutland 1916 Servicemen: This collection totals more than 38,000 records of Royal Navy/Marine servicemen who took part in the Battle of Jutland (31 May to 1 June 1916), the largest naval battle of WW1. Some 1600 men born in Ireland are included in the collection, nearly a third of them recorded with a birthplace in County Cork.
The collection – created from various records held by the National Archives in Kew, London, and Naval and Military Press, and held in FindMyPast's Britain and World packages – typically hold name, birthplace, date of birth, physical description, original occupation, details of the ships on which they served (and dates), and conduct reports. Some also have photographs; I don't know if it's just the Irish records, but in a random search of around 25 records, I haven't found any with photos.
Thursday, 26 May 2016
Quickie 20% discount offer on FindMyPast World subs
FindMyPast is offering another of its FLASH discounts. As always, grab the discount and sign up to a subscription without delay – the reduced price will expire on Saturday 28 May at midnight.
This 20% discount is for all new 12-month subscriptions, whether you choose the World option or the 'local' collection option ie Ireland, Britain, USA, and Australia. Only the World option (purchased through any of the FindMyPast territories) and Britain option include the 1939 National Register of England and Wales.
To claim your discount, click one of the flags or currencies below and enter the discount code 12FLASH20. OFFER HAS EXPIRED.
This 20% discount is for all new 12-month subscriptions, whether you choose the World option or the 'local' collection option ie Ireland, Britain, USA, and Australia. Only the World option (purchased through any of the FindMyPast territories) and Britain option include the 1939 National Register of England and Wales.
To claim your discount, click one of the flags or currencies below and enter the discount code 12FLASH20. OFFER HAS EXPIRED.
 | FindMyPast Ireland Subscription price after discount: World €143.60 / Ireland €91.60 |  | FindMyPast USA Subscription price after discount: World US$191.60 / USA&Canada US$91.60 |
 | FindMyPast UK Subscription price after discount: World £124.76 / Britain £95.96 |  | FindMyPast Australia/NZ Subscription price after discount: World AUS$191.60 / Australia AUS$91.60 |
New website launches for digitised Tipperary material
Primary source material - most of it consisting of C19th Rate Books for the Poor Law Unions of Cashel, Nenagh and Thurles - is now available, free of charge, in a series of downloadable pdfs. So, too, are Irish Tourist Association Reports on the county's parishes dating from the first half of the 1940s, and a number of miscellaneous items.
The Rate Books cover various dates from the 1840s to the late 1870s. Librarian Mary Guinan Darmody told Irish Genealogy News that the Rate Books now available from the website cover only a small portion of what is held by the Archive. "At this stage, we've chosen to digitise a selection of volumes to give a good spread of material produced between Griffiths Valuation and the 1901 Census. There's a lot more to follow and my colleagues John O'Gorman and Dr Pat Bracken will be continuing to digitise material and uploading it to the new website at regular intervals."
Among the selection now available for download is a number of Burial Rate Books from the Poor Law Union of Nenagh. As far as I'm aware, Burial Rate Books related to obligations on local ratepayers for an additional charge to fund the interment of those who died in the workhouse.
You can read the library's report of the new website's launch here.
Genealogy on the Cutting Edge: Toronto, 3-5 June
The Genealogy on the Cutting Edge conference will present three days of inspiring lectures, workshops, displays, and other learning opportunities on a wide range of topics from Friday 3 June to Sunday 5 June.
There are also hands-on research excursions arranged for the day prior to the start of the conference.
The detailed programme can be viewed here, but I'd just like to call out a lecture that will be of particular interest to Irish family historians. It's 'What's New in Irish Records' and will be presented on the Sunday morning by Dr Maurice Gleeson.
Maurice organises the Genetic Genealogy Ireland conference, which is held as a distinct feature of Back To Our Past each year in his childhood hometown of Dublin, so it's no surprise to find he's also presenting three lectures on DNA and taking part in a dna-themed panel. Busy man is Maurice, and an excellent speaker!
Early release of 1926 Irish census gets another hearing
It's been more than three years since the early release of the 1926 Census of Ireland has been a serious topic of conversation among Irish genealogists. After a couple of years of high hopes that the necessary digitisation could be undertaken and the records released as part of Ireland's 1916 centenary celebrations, most family historians had accepted by mid-2013 that, despite good intentions, the (then) Government could not force through the facilitating legislation.
The dust settled.
Some have decided to not let it lie there. A Private Members Bill (PMB) was introduced to the Dáil on Monday by Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh.
Despite a change of name (to the Statistics (1916 Rising Centenary) Bill 2016), the proposed PMB doesn't seem to offer any new ideas for challenging the seemingly non-negotiable stance of the Central Statistical Office concerning confidentiality. The PMB also repeats a notion that the records should be afforded Special Heritage Status – a suggestion that didn't work any lubricating magic on the CSO's position on a previous outing.
If this PMB succeeds, I'll be delighted, but I won't be getting my hopes up. I suggest others don't either.
You can find out more about the background to the campaign for the early release of the 1926 census, and view a sample of the census return form filled in by householders 91 years ago, on my website, Irish Genealogy Toolkit.
The dust settled.
Some have decided to not let it lie there. A Private Members Bill (PMB) was introduced to the Dáil on Monday by Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh.
Despite a change of name (to the Statistics (1916 Rising Centenary) Bill 2016), the proposed PMB doesn't seem to offer any new ideas for challenging the seemingly non-negotiable stance of the Central Statistical Office concerning confidentiality. The PMB also repeats a notion that the records should be afforded Special Heritage Status – a suggestion that didn't work any lubricating magic on the CSO's position on a previous outing.
If this PMB succeeds, I'll be delighted, but I won't be getting my hopes up. I suggest others don't either.
You can find out more about the background to the campaign for the early release of the 1926 census, and view a sample of the census return form filled in by householders 91 years ago, on my website, Irish Genealogy Toolkit.
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