IFHS Journal 2025
Speaker: Des Murtagh
Des has worked as a genealogist for over ten years and has had a longstanding interest in history and family heritage for many, many years. He is a member of Accredited Genealogist Ireland (AGI) as well as several other genealogy and historical organisations.
Throughout his working life, he has gained experience across all sectors of the education system, from primary to third level and holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Dublin City University (DCU).
His professional and academic experience has provided him with strong expertise in research methodologies, data analysis and report writing. In addition, he uses other skills he has developed in video production, IT and website development.
Finally, he is committed to assisting local community groups within his local area with his skills, providing assistance by offering IT support and promoting positive initiatives through digital media and social platforms.
Attendance for members is free, just mail info@ifhs.ie to register, non-members can buy tickets in the Shop.
The IFHS will have a stand at The Family History Show in Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool. This is a chance to meet up with any members in the area and to attract new members to join us!
This talk will be presented by Kay Caball. Kay is a native of Listowel, Co. Kerry. She studied Genealogy at the University of Limerick and is a Council Member of the Kerry Archaeological & Historical Society.
She researches and blogs through MyKerryAncestors.com. Kay’s publications include The Kerry Girls: Emigration & the Earl Grey Scheme (2014), Finding Your Ancestors in Kerry (2015) and The Fall of the Fitzmaurices: The Demise of Kerry’s first Family (2020).
As part of the controversial Earl Grey Scheme, Kay tells the true story of the Kerry girls who were shipped to Australia from the four Kerry workhouses of Dingle, Kenmare, Killarney and Listowel in 1849 and 1850. Leaving behind scenes of destitution and misery, the girls, some of whom spoke only Irish, set off to the other side of the world without any idea of what lay ahead.
Speaker: Cathy Scuffil
Dublin born and reared, Cathy’s interest in local history started at an early age. She holds an honours Business and Management degree and a Masters in Local History from Maynooth University. An abridged version of her master’s thesis was awarded the silver medal by the Old Dublin Society (2018). Cathy was involved in a range of community events during the 1916 Rising centenary commemorations and recently
retired as Historian in Residence in Dublin City Council’s South Central Areas. She is currently a tutor in local studies and a consultant historian for a range of projects working to promote the use of archives and other resources.
Our history often hides in plain sight. We travel roads, pass laneways and street-signs without appreciating the events that may have happened here in the past. A photograph found in an archive illustrated just this, as Local Historian, Cathy Scuffil investigated the background to the image, taken in the Dolphin’s Barn area of Dublin just over a century ago using a range of archival and family history sources. Join Cathy as she explains her findings and reveals the fascinating story behind the image and the links to local, national and international events.
There will be 2 sessions during the day to try and suit as many of of members as possible re time zones.
Session 1: 10am Dublin time
Session 2: 4pm Dublin time
The purpose of the meet ups is to discuss members’ queries regarding their research so do please send in any queries in advance so we can prep some answers to help get the discussion started.
Speaker: Claire Bradley
Claire Bradley is a professional Irish genealogist working with both paper records and genetic genealogy. She holds a Certificate in Genealogy from University College Dublin and a Masters in History of the Family from the University of Limerick. Claire is passionate about teaching people how to research their own ancestry. She teaches a beginners’ adult education course now running for 15 years covering all the Irish major sources in Dublin and regularly lectures both in person and online to a wide range of family history and historical societies in Ireland and countries with Irish diasporas. Her website is www.cbgenealogy.ie.
Speaker: Dr Ruth McManus
Speaker: Dr Caroline Adams
Topic: Palaeography
Dr. Caroline Adams is a freelance archivist, palaeographer and historian. Presently she teaches palaeography online, including Manuscript Mondays once a month with Mandy Geary. Until 2014 she was Senior Archivist at West Sussex Record Office, and after that ran her own research business, Key to the Past. She holds a professional archives diploma, and undergraduate and masters degrees in local and landscape history, and her PhD was on the progresses of Elizabeth I. Her current research is on Elizabethan Sussex.
This class will be a practical demonstration of palaeography utilising 16th century examples. It will be interactive and will be of great value to anyone researching in older documents trying to decipher the scripts.
Note that this class is scheduled for 90 minutes.
A tour of 14 Henrietta Street. at 10am, followed by a visit to the Registry of Deeds at 12.30pm.
Speaker: Anne Johnston, NIFHS
Topic: DNA Projects
