IFHS Journal 2025
Following on from his November talk (part 1), Michael Foley will give a presentation on how to bring all of your family research – the records, the stories, the family trees, and the photos together into a beautiful book – the story of your family that you can hold in your hand and share with your family. It’s easier and cheaper than you think, made with standard Word and PowerPoint software, and printed in your local print shop. If you can type with two fingers you can do it!
Michael developed an interest in photography while studying Philosphy in UCD then later got a job in the Education Department in UCD teaching trainee teachers about Audio Visual Aids, culminating in directing his own department offering audiovisual services college-wide in UCD. In that he also led EU funded research programs into the potential of interactive classrooms for sharing knowledge remotely.
In 1997 his work caught the eye of the World Bank Institute in Washington DC and he was invited to work on developing a global system of knowledge sharing using satellites, videoconferencing, and online learning which became known as the Global Devlopment Learning Network (GDLN).
While traveling to build the partnership of the GDLN for the Bank he indulged his interest in photography in his spare time to wander the streets of developing countries to document local life there – with a special interest in faces. His work forms part of the World Bank Art program’s permanent collection, and he has exhibited in the National Press Club in Washington in his own exhibition “Faces of South Asia”.
The US Library of Congress holds photos of his from Afghanistan and Pakistan. In retirement he has become deeply interested in Family history and continues his interest in photography.
