Autumn edition of Irish Roots magazine is out now

The AUTUMN issue of Irish Roots, Ireland's only independently-produced magazine dedicated to genealogy, has arrived.

As always, this edition is full of helpful articles relating to Irish genealogy resources, features about research techniques and methods, news about repositories, databases, societies, and the latest record releases, and all manner of useful information and advice to help you progress your Irish family history. Here's a run down of the main features in this issue:-

• The Truth Behind The Irish Famine - Intriguing Insights Revealed
• Local Resources For Tracing Your County Roscommon Ancestors
• Back To School; Learn About Primary Education Records In Ireland
• Leave No Stone Unturned In The Search For Your Irish Ancestors
• What's New Review - Keep Up To Date With The Latest Irish Genealogical Record Releases
• New Landmark Legislation Grants Adoptees Right To Birth Information
• And Another Thing; Genealogical Commentary By Stephen Smyrl
• Australian Irish Connections; Why 1826 Was A Very Good Year
• Letters To The Editor, Editor's Quarterly Books Selection, Readers Experience, Your Family History Queries Answered, Regular Contributors articles and plenty more!

The magazine is published in both printed and digital format, and you can choose to buy a single copy or take a one- or two- year subscription. Click the cover image above to find out more (and help yourself to a free sample to the current edition while you're at it).

RCB Library's latest acquisition of parish material comes from County Galway

The RCB Library's Archive of the Month for September is an exploration of Parish No.1218, a collection of material from the east county Galway parish of Ahascragh and the Library's most recent acquisition of parish material.

This month's online archive aims to provide an insight into the wealth of information available within parish collections and the potential they have as a source for local history and human-interest stories. Click on the link above to read the full Archive of the Month article.

Ahascragh parish church, Co Galway

The article focuses on the evolution of St Catherine’s Church, Ahascragh, by drawing on vestry minute books, account books, drawings and plans as well as the Church of Ireland Gazette (1856-2010 archives free to view here).

Early 19th century parish records describe how the parish and the wider locality was run and document the local people who were involved with its administration. The big landowning families of the time were often heavily involved with their nearest Church of Ireland parish, and this was no different for the village of Ahascragh and the families of the Barons Clonbrock (Dillon) and Mahons of Castlegar.

These names made frequent appearances in all records relating to Ahascragh from baptismal registers, church ground plans, and the register of vestrymen throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

The collection also contains a register with a record of timber given to tenants in the 19th century, which shows how records from estates could double up as parish records.

An unusual document included in the collection is a copy of a typescript account from the late Ethel L. Dillon, daughter of Luke Dillon, the 4th Baron Clonbrock. In this account, she describes the aftermath of the burning of Ahascragh Church on the night of 9th July 1922 by a group of unknown persons suspected to be Anti-Treaty republicans. The account reveals how this tragedy affected a local Protestant family during the Irish Civil War. The building was subsequently reconstructed and it continues to be open for regular public services.

Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives uploads headstone photos + transcriptions from 8 graveyards

Researchers donated eight sets of headstone photos with inscription transcriptions to Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives during August. They cover six counties across the island and all are free to view and search. Here is the list:

Stone to Patrick Fitzwilliam in Abbey Graveyard,
Arklow, Co Wicklow. Click for enlarged view.
Photo reproduced courtesy IGP Archives and Emma Cullen.

CORK Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Old Killeagh Cemetery

DONEGAL Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Glebe Cemetery, Donegal Town.

DUBLIN Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Kilbarrack Graveyard Section 3 (Finished)
Mt. Jerome Cemetery, Part 281

KILDARE Genealogy Archives - Headstones
Confey Graveyard, Leixlip (Additional)

MONAGHAN Genealogy Archives - Headstones
St. Mary's Graveyard, Scotstown*
Tydavnet New Cemetery*
*McCarron, McKenna & Sherry surnames

WICKLOW Genealogy Archives - Headstones
The Abbey Graveyard, Arklow

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.

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

• Nottinghamshire, England, CoE Baptisms, 1813-1919 (1,543,821)
• Nottinghamshire, England, CoE Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 (1,763,383)
• Nottinghamshire, England, CoE Marriages and Banns, 1754-1937 (792,590)
• Nottinghamshire, England, CoE Burials, 1813-1994 (284,904)

BritishNewspaperArchive (£££ subscription); shared with FindMyPast Ultimate and Pro subs. More than 56m pages.

• Leytonstone Express and Independent
• Surrey Independent and Wimbledon Mercury
• Jarrow Guardian and Tyneside Reporter
• Midland & Northern Coal & Iron Trades Gazette
• Haltemprice & East Yorkshire Advertiser
• Holderness Advertiser
• Halstead Gazette
• Brighton Argus
• Ilkley Free Press
• Worcester Daily Times and Journal
• Torquay Chronicle and South Devon Advertiser
• Bristol Observer
• Boston Gazette
• Andover Advertiser and North West Hants Gazette
• Liverpool Shipping Telegraph and Daily Commercial Advertiser
• Harrogate Advertiser and Weekly List of the Visitors
• Medway News
• National Independent and People's Advocate
• Derby Exchange Gazette
• Loughton and District Advertiser
• Plymouth Mail
• Falkirk Express
• Dumfries and Galloway Standard
• National Advertiser and Edinburgh and Glasgow Gazette
• Pembrokeshire Herald
• Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph

DeceasedOnline

• Leicester City, Gilroes (214,552 cremation records and burial records, both 1902–2019)

FamilySearch

• England, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Military Tribunals, 1916-1919 (14,141)
• England, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Workhouse Registers, 1879-1919 (60,953)
• England, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Marriages, 1537-1930 (394,668)
• England, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Police Staff Records, 1908-1924 (313)

MyHeritage

• England, Birmingham Burials (103,914 records, incl. cremation, from 1874)
• Scotland, Gravestones and Memorials (615,974)

UPDATED COLLECTIONS

Ancestry

• UK & Ireland, 1300s – Current (710,000 / 14,651,323 indexed entries)
• Global Find a Grave Index – Burials at Sea & Select Locations (87,367 / 13,288,732)

FamilySearch

• England, Gloucestershire Non-Conformist Church Records, 1642-1996 (17,916 / 204,346)
• England, Middlesex Parish Registers, 1539-1988 (26,875 / 5,994,781)
• Wales, Cardiganshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912 (59,285 / 142,921)

FindMyPast

• City of York Electoral Registers 1848-1938 (new total 1.76million records)
• Durham Baptisms (16,000 added)
• Suffolk Baptism Index 1538-1911 (307,000 records added from 232 churches, 1813-1900)
• Staffordshire Baptisms (141,000 records added from 28 churches)
• Staffordshire Marriages (70,000 records dating to 1560s added from 19 churches)
• Britain, Marriage Licenses (218,000 Norfolk bonds, previously browse, now indexed)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.