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2008 NewsFifteen Year Membership Certificates.22nd December 2008
IFHS Committee members Eddie Brennan and John Dyer were among the group of Society members who received their Fifteen Year Membership Certificates in 2008. The certificates were presented to Eddie and John by Hon. Chairman Gerry P Cahill following our committee meeting on 17th December last. Certificates to the other members were posted in December.
National Library of Ireland launches new manuscript research guide to women in Irish History12th December 2008 NLI recently launched their online Research Guide to Women in Irish History compiled by Dr Sonja Tiernan. The introduction to the guide states "The National Library of Ireland's holdings constitute the most comprehensive collection of Irish documentary material in the world and offer an invaluable representation of women's roles in history and heritage. Documents relating to individual women and organisations pertinent to the history of women are distributed throughout the collections of the National Library. This research guide outlines the procedure to locate sources for researching women's history which are contained in the department of manuscripts and provides a brief description and contextual background of relevant collections. It is noteworthy that sources concerning women in history may also be contained in other collections or records not specifically mentioned here." Papers available include those of Teresa Brayton (1868-1943), poet, literary nationalist and author of the old Irish song, 'The Old Bog Road, Maria Edgeworth (1768-1849) an Anglo-Irish writer, known for her children's stories and for her novels of Irish life and the Irish nationalist, Maud Gonne MacBride (1866-1953), born at Tongham Manor, near Farnham, Surrey. Copies of the guide are available to download from the NLI website at http://www.nli.ie/en/manuscript-research-guides.aspx
Irish Historic Towns Atlas5th December 2008 Irish Historic Towns Atlas No. 19, Dublin, Part II, 1610 to 1756 by Colm Lennon, published by the Royal Irish Academy in association with Dublin City Council, was launched on Wednesday, 3rd December 2008 in the Rotunda, City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2. IFHS members, Hon. Chairman Gerry Cahill and Mary Beglan attended the launch. Dublin Part I, to 1610 by Howard Clarke was published in 2002. Dublin Part II traces the growth of the city from 1610 to 1756. The histories of over 2000 sites (streets, markets, schools etc) are referenced in the extensive topographical index and explained in the accompanying essay. A composite reproduction of Rocque's plan (1756) is one of a range of maps and views presented in large format. Format: A3 format with cover, historical detail of over 2,000 sites, 22 large-format high quality maps, reconstructions and views. Cost is €30. See their web site www.ria.ie/projects/ihta/index.html Click "Buy online" for details. The IHTA have produced many atlases to date including Armagh, Belfast, Trim, Kilkenny and Kildare. Full details of all their publications are available on their web site. The IHTA is based at Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. Jennifer Moore, Editorial Assistant, spoke to the Society on October 6th 2008 to expand more on the project. IHTA 19: Irish Historic Towns Atlas No. 19, Dublin, Part II, 1610 to 1756 (2008) ISBN 978-1-904890-44-7
National Library of Ireland - Self-Service copying (Photocopying and Digital Cameras)17 November 2008 The National Library has recently announced the following changes to copying services. From Monday 10th November 2008 readers will be permitted to photograph material from the Library's Collections (Printed and Manuscript) using their own digital cameras in designated self-service copying areas in the Main Reading Room and the Manuscripts Reading Room. In addition to this, Self -Service copying - both photocopying and photography using digital cameras - will be available during normal Library opening hours including lunch time, evenings and Saturday mornings. For details of the conditions of use, exemptions, copyright guidelines and the preservation and handling guidelines for the printed collections see information sheet Self-Service Copying (Photocopying and Digital Photography). For specific terms and conditions which apply in the case of the manuscripts collection see Guidelines for Use of Digital Cameras by Readers in the Manuscript Reading Room . For full details see National Library website www.nli.ie
Eneclann Ltd, Dublin, launch New CD-ROM12 November 2008 World War 1 Irish Soldiers: Their Final Testament Ref: ENEC016 ISBN: 978-1-905118-07-4 This publication is a detailed catalogue of 9,000 surviving wills of Irish soldiers who died in World War 1. During the war soldiers sent to the front line were encouraged to write their last will and testament, if they did not survive these wills were registered, 9,000 of these wills are deposited with the National Archives of Ireland. These documents have never been published before, and this CD contains copious details, including an estimated 18,000+ names (soldiers, witnesses, beneficiaries and relatives) and is fully searchable. It is an essential resource for those interested in the Irish experience of WW1 as well as genealogists and family historians tracing Irish family members in the early 20th Century. To celebrate this new launch, and the hard work and dedication of the compiler, Kiara Gregory, Eneclann are offering a special launch 20% discount online. To get this discount please use the discount code "kiara" when making your purchase. This discount will only be valid until 30 November. Further details can be found on Eneclann's site at: http://www.eneclann.ie/acatalog/New_Releases.html 'Ireland's Memorial Records: World War 1 1914-18'. This title normally costs EURO 78.43 (ex VAT) To commemorate the end of World War One Eneclann are also offering a MASSIVE 50% discount on our edition of 'Ireland's Memorial Records: World War 1 1914-18'. This title normally costs EURO 78.43 (ex VAT) and contains a complete edition of the eight volume work, along with many other details. The objective of these volumes (3,177 pages) was to preserve the names of over 49,000 Irishmen who lost their lives fighting in the Great War, World War I, 1914-1918. It is the most complete record known to exist and was published in 1923. This edition is a fitting digital testament to that original aim and was launched 2 years ago by Minister O'Donoghue at the National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge. See Eneclann's web site http://www.eneclann.ie for more details. Note re Irish VAT (Sales Tax): This is charged on all customers from the European Union at 21%, but customers from North America, Australia, and anywhere outside the EU shop at Eneclann's site tax free.
Federation of Family History Societies announcement.10 November 2008 "Ancestry.ca and FamilySearch Announce Agreement to Digitize and Index Existing Canadian Censuses Initiative provides online access to a comprehensive collection of Canadian censuses Toronto, ON - Ancestry.ca, Canada's leading online family history Web site, is pleased to announce a joint initiative with FamilySearch International, a non-profit organization that maintains one of the world's largest repositories of genealogical resources. The joint initiative will allow the organizations to improve online access to a comprehensive collection of Canadian censuses. As part of the agreement, FamilySearch will digitize and index Canadian census records that Ancestry.ca has acquired. These digitized and indexed records will then be made available to Ancestry.ca members on the company's Web site, and the indexes will be available for free to the public at FamilySearch.org. The images will be free to qualified FamilySearch members and all FamilySearch family history centres. Maggie Loughran The Irish Family History Society is an Associate member of FFHS www.ffhs.org.uk www.naval-history.net7 November 2008 We recently received an email from Gordon Smith of Naval-History.Net in relation to his web site www.naval-history.net which now has the complete Royal Navy and Royal Marine casualty lists from pre-1914 to 2008, including both World Wars. These are listed both alphabetically and chronologically by ship. By including the inter-war and post-war years, providing background information and allowing for the addition of photographs of those lost, he hopes you will find these pages a valuable complement to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site. There is also considerable supporting information on battles, actions, convoys, warships, merchant ships and ship losses on www.naval-history.net. The BBC's "Who Do You Think You Are?" magazine included a review of the site in their June 2008 issue.
C.I.G.O. AGMThe A.G.M. of the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations (CIGO) is set for Tue 18 November 2008 in the Freemasons Hall, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (off Kildare Street) at 7.00. This will be followed by a talk by John Waters who recently featured on RTE's Where Was Your Family During The Famine? Programme. The Irish Family History Society is a member of CIGO.
Federation of Family History Societies announcement.The following announcement received from FFHS relating to WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? LIVE 2009 show will of interest to many of our members. TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? LIVE The live event format of the hugely popular BBC TV series, Who Do You Think You Are? takes place for a third consecutive year at London's Olympia on the brand new show dates of 27 February - 1 March 09 and promises to deliver the most comprehensive resource for any family historian. Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE, sponsored by Ancestry.co.uk and powered by The Times Archive, is a one-stop-genealogy-shop which showcases 200 exhibitors who collectively provide you with records, information and services for you to take your research one step further. Nowhere else will you find the level and range of expertise to help you research the lives of your ancestors as well as a mix of celebrities from the TV programme to both inspire and entertain. The show will be brimming with well-known historians each offering an insight into moments of our history in workshops as well as one-to-one sessions. Visitors can look forward to seeing new, exciting features which delve deeper into the subject including area. Here's a preview of what's in store: SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS FAMILY HISTORY SHOW with TheGenealogist.co.uk - held for the 17th consecutive year, this is the place to speak directly to family history societies from across the land. You'll also find specialist researchers and businesses who provide a rich research resource unlike any other. ASK THE EXPERTS - get a 20 minute one-to-one session with an expert. Ever felt like you wanted to speak to someone face to face who could help you with a problem? A visit to this area of the show is a must for anyone who is stuck and needs help. SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS WORKSHOPS - with over 80 seminars running during the event you'll be sure to find one to help you with your area of research. Drop into a workshop and hear from the UK's leading specialists plus overseas experts who can help you take your search abroad. Plus, a brand new Regional Workshop in association with The Federation of Family History Societies is being introduced to help you tap into knowledge from regional experts from up and down the country. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? THEATRE - here you will hear the stories from celebrities from the TV show first hand. Plus, you can quiz them yourselves as you have the chance to ask them the questions about their story! MILITARY MEMORABILIA CHECKPOINT - find out the stories and history of your military artefacts and heirlooms by the most respected experts in the UK. NEW AREAS - this year you can also expect to see areas dedicated to DNA, photography and preservation of memories, ancestral tourism and travel and International record holders. BUY 2 FOR 1 TICKETS! The Federation of Family History Societies is giving you the chance to buy two tickets for £20* - that's a saving of £20! To claim this special offer, simply call 0844 412 4629 or visit www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk and quote FFHS241 If you wish to book for a group of 10 people or more, you can buy two adult tickets for £16* - just quote FFHSGROUPS * £2 transaction fee applies. 2 for 1 offer ends 20th February 09. On Door standard entry tickets priced at £20 each. Workshops and theatres are included in the ticket price but entry is provided on a first come first served basis and is subject to availability. The Irish Family History Society is an Associate member of FFHS www.ffhs.org.uk
Update on National Archives 1911 Digitisation Project.The following notice was recently added to NAI web site. "The records for 1911 are being digitised first, then those for 1901. The 1911 Census records for Antrim, Down and Kerry will now be placed online in December, rather than October, as previously hoped. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused, and thank you for your patience. Publication of the other counties will follow, in the order listed below, between then and mid-2009. More precise timescales will be posted when available." See National Archives website for future updates http://www.nationalarchives.ie
Barack Obama's Irish ancestors - the Kearneys4 August 2008 Visit Eneclann's web site http://www.eneclann.ie/Research/genealogy_Obama_family_history.html for details of their extensive research into Barack Obama's Irish links to the Kearney family from Moneygall Co. Offaly. Working back from known information of Falmouth Kearney, Obama's 2nd great-grandfather, Eneclann has taken the family tree back to c1698.
Federation of Family History Societies announcements22 July 2008 The following announcements received from FFHS relating to British and U.S. research will of interest to many of our members.
Certificate in Local History 2008-200911 July 2008 The Certificate in Local History, run by the National University of Ireland Maynooth, will be offered at Dublin City Library & Archive, Pearse St., Dublin 2, beginning this autumn. The course runs from mid September 2008 to end April 2009 and the tutor is Dr. Seamas O Maitiu.
Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations is petitioning the Government to open the 1926 Irish Census.11 July 2008 "CIGO has long called for the early release of the Republic's 1926 census returns. These returns constitute the first snapshot of the Free State's population only four years after the creation of the State. Eighty-two years have elapsed since the census was compiled and few people from that time are now still living. Also, the data that was recorded in 1926 cannot be deemed 'sensitive' in terms of the information recorded in contemporary census records. CIGO argues that as the 1926 census holds vital genealogical information for so very many people born in Ireland before the commencement of civil registration, then these records should now be made available to the public. There is certainly a precedent for this as the 1911 census (which covers all of the island of Ireland) was first made available at Dublin's Public Record Office of Ireland (now the National Archives) in 1961 - only 50 years after it was compiled! The Genealogical Society of Ireland is also firmly behind the campaign to get the 1926 census returns released to the public and as such has announced that it is to propose the publication of a parliamentary Bill providing for such access. The Bill is likely to be initiated through the Seanad (Senate and the Upper Chamber) of the Houses of the Oireachtas (the Republic's parliament). This move is very much in-line with CIGO's own policy and - in addition to CIGO's current negotiations with the Central Statistics Office (the body which controls access to all census records created since the foundation of the State) - we will be supporting GSI's Bill. Obviously - with only a slim chance of success - the campaign needs all the support it can harness and CIGO implores all those with an interest in Irish genealogy to support both it and GSI in anyway they can. Everyone who is interested in this issue can help the success of the campaign by signing CIGO's petition which is to be presented to Brian Cowen TD, the Taoiseach [Prime Minister] of Ireland." For more details see http://www.cigo.ie/campaigns_1926.html To support the '1926 Census' campaign see CIGO's on-line petition which can be found at:www.petitionspot.com/petitions/1926C The Irish Family History Society is a member of CIGO.
Federation of Family History Societies announcements.11 July 2009 The following announcements received from FFHS relating to British research will be of interest to many of our members.
Military Archives - temporary closure22 June 2008 The Military Archives will be closed until further notice, due to staff training and stocktaking. Any inconvenience caused to researchers is deeply regretted. Queries should be addressed by post to: Military Archives, The General Register Office (Northern Ireland)6 June 2008 With effect from 1st June 2008 the General Register Office (Northern Ireland) www.groni.gov.uk has increased its fees as follows:
The National Library of Ireland allows public access to Roman Catholic parish registers for Cashel & Emly, Cloyne and Kerry.28 May 2008 The National Library announced recently that access is now available to their microfilm copies of Roman Catholic parish registers from the dioceses of Cashel & Emly, Cloyne and Kerry. While access to Cloyne and Kerry was allowed subject to permission from the Diocese, access was not allowed at all to the Cashel & Emly registers. For further details see www.cigo.ie The National Library have updated their Family History - Parish Registers Guide, while is available on their web site, to denote this change. The online listing of the parish registers and their microfilm call numbers has been updated to show the call numbers for all parishes including Kerry and Cashel & Emly. See NLI web site www.nli.ie under Family History.
The Times (London) www.timesonline.co.uk/archive Limited Free access.15 May 2008 At the recent Who Do You Think You Are Show held in London in May 2008 the new Times online archive was launched. The online archive covers the period 1785 to 1985. The Times digital newspapers has been available for many years in Libraries, Universities and such like. The newly re-designed web-site is now aimed at the general market and includes many articles of historical interest. Over the next months, The Times will be adding post-1985, as well as The Sunday Times from its launch in 1822. For a limited period of time, all of the Times Archive will be free. However, it is necessary to register with Times Online to view articles that you have searched for.
Report on Annual General Meeting 2008.15 May 2008 The IFHS held it's AGM on Saturday 5th April in the Dublin City Library & Archive, Pearse St. Dublin, which was well attended. The Hon. Chairman, Mary Beglan read the minutes of the 2007 AGM followed by the Chairman's report. Mary updated the meeting with the current position regarding various matters. As we are all aware the Dublin 1911 census went live in December 2007 and the remaining counties are due over the course of the next two years. The General Register Office Research Room has now moved to Lr. Abbey St. The indexes are now available once again on open access; however the 5 day limit on photocopies still applies. The Irish Family History Foundation's website www.irish-roots.ie was officially launched in March aboard the ship "Jeannie Johnston" on Dublin Quays. Patricia Moorhead and Mary Beglan attended the launch. Mary asked about the lack of a search facility on parents' names when she was advised that this was scheduled to be looked at in April. Some recent changes were announced with regard to the Registry of Deeds. With effect from May 1st 2008 there will be no charge for a daily search of public records prior to 1970; however the cost of a copy memorial will increase from EURO 12 to EURO 20. Mary Beglan advised that IFHS had recently registered a new domain address (www.ifhs.ie). She advised the meeting that we are currently in the process of setting out our requirements with an IT specialist and expect to progress this over the coming few months. The Hon. Treasurer, John Heueston followed with the Hon. Treasurer's report, when he gave a detailed report on the Society's finances. Last year John spoke on the withdrawal of the Credit Card facility. He told how the PayPal facility, which was set up last December by our webmaster Ian Johnston, was working well with many members renewing online, as well as a number of new members. The election of Officers for 2008-2009 and committee then took place. Gerry Cahill was elected Hon. Chairman for the coming year, taking over from the outgoing Chairman Mary Beglan who held the position for the past five years. Mary has taken on the position of Editor of the Society's various publications. The Office Bearers for the year 2008/9 are:
Committee:
During the Any Other Business section of the meeting a number of questions and comments were made including news of the IFHS web site. Mary Beglan advised that that we hope to include a Member's only section which we are currently unable to do on our free web page. The A.G.M. was completed at 12.30 approx. A number of us had a light lunch upstairs in the Dublin City Library Café and enjoyed chatting with our fellow members. Others enjoyed lunch at a nearby café at St. Andrew's Resource. As always a special thank you also goes to the Dublin City Library & Archives for allowing us the use of their premises and for their help throughout the morning. Finally we thank all our members who attended the A.G.M.
1901 Census of County Clare CD-ROM by Society of Australian Genealogists.10 May 2008 The Society of Australian Genealogists (http://www.sag.org.au/) recently advised us of their new CD-Rom which provides a fully searchable transcription of the 1901 Census of County Clare, Ireland. Details of more than 112,000 individuals are included. Advanced search features allow searches by name, occupation, age, county of birth, place of enumeration and much more - 38 searchable fields! For Windows 98, XP and Vista. Special pre-publication price of AUS$35, includes GST and ordinary post within Australia. Available at this special pre-publication price ONLY if order is received by 31 May 2008. Author requests help:1 May 2008 We have received the following in an e-mail from Mr Turtle Bunbury: "I am presently writing a history of the Dublin Docklands from Sheriff Street to the Pigeon House. I wonder if you or your members might be able to recommend persons familiar with this area who I might talk to in coming months. If you would rather give them my phone number or email, that would be fine by me. Best wishes, Turtle Bunbury" Turtle Bunbury Mr Turtle Bunbury is a best-selling author, scriptwriter, travel writer and historical consultant based in Ireland. His next book 'The Irish Pub' will be published by Thames & Hudson in September 2008. His most recent book 'Vanishing Ireland' was shortlisted for the Easons Irish Published Book of the Year Award 2007. National Library of Ireland's Strategic Plan 2008-201016 April 2008 The National Library has recently launched its Strategic Plan 2008-2010. Hard copies of the plan are currently available in the National Library and can also be downloaded in PDF in English and Irish from the Library's website
New parish registers available at Dublin City Library & Archive Pearse St, Dublin 2.16 April 2008 On the 29th March 2008 Dublin City Library announced that additional parish registers were added to their databases at their Pearse St. premises. These registers are in addition to those previously available in the Library and on the Dublin Heritage web site www.dublinheritage.ie for the present it will be necessary to visit the Library to view these records. The additional Parish registers available are:
National Library of Ireland - Self Service Photocopying now available.16 April 2008 The National Library recently introduced Self-Service Photocopying on Reading Room Floor. The service is available to readers subject to (i) the provisions of the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 (details available in the Library) and (ii) the following exceptions:
While readers may not themselves photocopy any of the material described above, it may be possible to have the material scanned or photographed by Library staff. Staff are happy to advise on alternative forms of copying. All items must be examined by a member of the Library's reprographics staff before being copied. Registry of Deeds - Changes in Fees effective 1st May 2008.16 April 2008 Various changes to the Land Registry Fees come into effect from 1st May 2008. Of those of direct interest to genealogists are: General search, without limitation, each day, by each member of the Public against all indexes prior to 1970 Nil. (This was previously €6 per day) For every certified copy of a memorial or application €20.00 (This was previously €12 each) For full details see Land Registry web site IFHS recently received this exciting news from CIGO: Dublin's Glasnevin Cemetery to go 'On-Line'13 March 2008 Glasnevin Cemetery, once known as Prospect cemetery and which opened in 1832, is well known to the folk of Dublin as the last resting place of many of its deceased citizens. It covers a vast area of over 120 acres in which over the years there have been approximately 1.2 million burials. Although there is no rule barring non-Catholics from being buried there, it has generally been used only by the capital's Catholic citizens. Non-Catholics have generally favoured Mount Jerome Cemetery, on the Southside of the city, which was first opened in 1836. Recently, one of CIGO's Executive Liaison Officers (Steven Smyrl) was asked by Glasnevin to give it the benefit of his experience about what genealogists would expect to obtain from an on-line service allowing access to the Cemetery's computerised registers. Having done their homework about modern practices relating to releasing data on the Internet, Glasnevin hopes it will be ready during the coming weeks to launch the service. It will be a pay-per-view service and all funds raised from it will be used to maintain the cemetery. Given that the vast majority of the Cemetery's plots are family graves, the records - which stretch back 175 years - record invaluable information about Dublin families. In light of the lack of 19th century census records for the capital, this information is all the more precious. See also www.cigo.ie
National library of Ireland. www.nli.ie Irish Times Digital Archive available to readers.25 February 2008 Readers can now gain full access to the Irish Times Digital Archive in the Library's reading rooms. The fully searchable Digital Archive contains exact reproduction of all editions published by the Irish Times from 1859 onwards. There is also a Text Archive which contains [Note. The Irish Times Digital Archive is also available in Dublin City Library & Archive, Pearse St., Dublin and in public libraries] Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Web site re-launched17 January 2008 PRONI's web site (www.proni.gov.uk) was re-launched in early January 2008. They have undertaken a comprehensive redesign of their website. In addition to the Ulster Covenant and Freeholders databases previously available the web site now includes the 1858-c.1920 Will Calendars Index. The index to wills is based on the entries in the will calendars which summarised every will proved and all letters of administration granted. There are over 148,000 entries. This is the first phase of a project to index and digitise all the early wills that were proved in the District Probate Registries of Armagh, Belfast and Londonderry from 1858 to c.1900. It provides a fully searchable index to the will calendar entries for these 3 District Probate Registries with the facility to view the entire will calendar entry for each successful search. The second phase will link the index entries to both the will calendar entries and the copy wills on the History of Probate page. Other additional features as detailed in their News archive are:
There is also useful information and contacts for overseas visitors planning a trip to PRONI.
Electronic catalogue. eCATNI PRONI is planning a phased launch of its electronic catalogue to begin in Spring, 2008. Fifteen Year Membership Certificates11 January 2009 IFHS Committee members Patricia Moorhead (left) and Mona Germaine-Dolan (right) were among sixteen Society members who received their Fifteen Year Membership Certificates in 2007.
Journal of the Irish Family History Society Volume 23 2007.10 January 2008 The 2007 journal was posted to Ireland members on Friday 4th January 2008 and the remainder were posted on Wednesday 9th January. We regret that we were unable to issue before Christmas as usual. A group of volunteers came in especially to pack the journals last week and many thanks to them for doing so.
Copies of the journal are available to non-members. See Publications page for details |
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