Government's Reform Plans worry genealogists

The Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS) is concerned that a so-called merger of the National Archives “into” the National Library could diminish these vital heritage services.

Steven Smyrl, IGRS chairman, says that while the IGRS recognises the need for savings across the board in Irish public services, it is concerned that with two bodies under one director, competition for resources could be fierce.

“The proposed area of control is simply too vast, whether or not, as the Government proposes, both institutions are to retain their separate identities. The Government’s plan is further complicated by reference to the possible sharing of services between the National Library and the National Museum which could dilute the services still further.”

Smyrl acknowledges that there are savings to be made through the pooling of public services resources. “Conservation and administration are just two such areas that immediately spring to mind, but while libraries and museums might appear to be similar they are actually very different service providers.

“Staff trained in the care and control of archive materials require quite different skills to those working in a library and economies of scale will not be found by requiring flexibility from staff to work across borders in the proposed new set-up. It is crucial that specialist knowledge and training be recognised as essential in service delivery at national institutions. The historians, academics, researchers and genealogists using them rely heavily upon the staff’s expertise and knowledge.

“The IGRS welcomes the Government’s initiative to see where savings can be made but advises caution if irreparable damage to public service is to be avoided.“

Look-up service

A number of member have offered to provide look-ups for other members. Click here to see a list of resources and request a lookup.

Exciting 14^th century discovery

Vice Chairman, Mary Casteleyn has made an exciting discovery of a tombstone in county Kilkenny. Read more.

IGRS in the media

‘Capital D’, RTE’s weekly programme for news about Dublin people and places, showcased the Irish Genealogical Research Society and it 75^th anniversary on 5 May 2011. The item on the show featured conversations with the IGRS chairman and vice-chairman, Steven Smyrl and Mary Casteleyn, talking about the history of the organisation and illustrated with images from records from its important and extensive library. Also, Gay Conroy, an IGRS committee member, spoke about the recent rediscovery of her Limerick ancestor Ellen O'Callaghan’s diary. It dates from the 1830s and comments about dinner with Daniel O’Connell and the Limerick’s Coronation parade for Queen Victoria!

The item on the IGRS appears in the programme at 19 mins and 37 seconds.

75^th Anniversary Symposium – 1 October 2011

Please note that the Library will not be open on the day of the Symposium.

Some Irish comings and goings - Aspects of Irish Migration at Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly

There will be four speakers:

• Dr. Declan Downey and Dr. Thomas O'Connor, who will talk about the Wild Geese and the Flight of the Earls at the beginning of the 17^th century.
• Dr. William Roulston will talk on the Scots Planters in 17^th century Ulster.
• Dr. Breandán Mac Suibhne will talk about the Irish Presbyterians who left Ulster to go to America in the 18^th century.

For further details and to make bookings – Click here

75^th Anniversary Reception

On Thursday, 31 March the Chairman of the IGRS met with the new Irish Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan TD, to present him with a portfolio of material gathered by the IGRS Ireland Branch relating to his family history. The documents, covering census returns, parish records, valuation lists and newspaper clippings traced his family in the Listowel area of Co. Kerry back to the early years of the nineteenth century. During the following press conference the Minister spoke about his plans to release data from the 1926 census, something long lobbied for by both the IGRS and the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations.

Later that evening Fergus Gillespie, former Chief Herald of Ireland and current President of the IGRS, played host at a reception held at the National Library of Ireland, Dublin, at which the guest of honour was the President if Ireland, Mrs. Mary McAleese. At this event President McAleese was presented with a decorated certificate (produced by the Genealogical Office, Dublin) recording her election to the Fellowship if the IGRS, the final paragraph of which noted: “As President of Ireland Mrs. McAleese declared that ‘Building Bridges’ would be the chosen theme of her Presidency. Over the past fourteen years she and her husband, Martin McAleese, have successfully built bridges linking together many disparate communities across the island of Ireland, eloquently utilising innovative and meaningful forms of communication. Furthermore, she has recognised the vital importance of maintaining contact with the worldwide Irish family. She has reached out to those citizens forced by circumstance to make their homes away from Ireland, while also demonstrating the on-going commitment of the Irish people to the descendants of those who left Ireland generations ago, who nevertheless retain a longstanding affection and affinity with the land of their ancestors. President McAleese’s term of office has been a resounding success and one that her successors will ever aspire to emulate.” Read the full text of the President's speech.

Read Mary Casteleyn's response to the President's speech

Irish Times report.

Early volumes of the IGRS Newsletter

The newsletter was started by the late Michael Leader in 1982.  Shortly copies of the early volumes of the Newsletter will be available on the this web site for members with the password.  They will be added progressively here as they are converted to the appropriate format.

• Volume 1 Part 5 (Note birthbriefs not indexed)
• Volume 1 Part 4 (Note birthbriefs not indexed)
• Volume 1 Part 3 (Note birthbriefs not indexed)
• Volume 1 Part 2 (Note birthbriefs not indexed)
• Volume 1 Part 1

Download password changed in March 2011

The password on all downloads was changed in the latter half of March 2011. Current members wanting to download password protected documents please contact the society using the more information button below.

2011 Canadian New Year’s honour for a Senior Member

The Governor-General of Canada named Dr Terrence Punch as one of three Nova Scotians this year, to receive Canada’s highest civilian award, the Order of Canada. Terry’s award is for his services to genealogy. Terry is a Fellow of this Society and a frequent and knowledgable contributor to the Newsletter and Journal.

He has written several books about genealogical research in Canada, namely:

• Genealogist’s Handbook for Atlantic Canada Research
• Genealogical Research in Nova Scotia
• Erin’s Sons: Irish Arrivals in Atlantic Canada (a multi volume series of books)

Terry is also a regular broadcaster on CBC Radio’s Maritime Noon when he answers callers questions and queries about genealogy.

We wish him heartfelt congratulation on his award and we are extremely proud to have him as one of our members! Well done Terry!

1926 Census

Steven ffeary-Smyrl has made a call for early access the 1926 Census in an opinion piece in The Irish Times

Book reviews

Please note that the society has added a review of a book at : Book reviews

Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland – Lecture

Members may be interested in a lectures at the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland at 63 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.

See a full list of lectures.

Free student memberships

The Society is offering free memberships to certain full-time students. For details please click here.

Message from the retiring president

Read the message from Sir David Goodall on his retirement from the office of President of the society. The message.

An IGRS Members Discussion Group

• This new IGRS service, courtesy of Yahoo, was launched in February and is only open to IGRS members. Members who opt to join the Discussion Group will be able to post written queries or items of interest and/or post written replies and comments directly to other members in the Group.
• This means that for the first time you will be able to communicate directly with each other, discussing aspects of genealogy, exploring and resolving queries and offering advice and solutions via the Discussion Group. For the first time we will be able to use the knowledge and experience of all our members to help other members. Although this happens in the library when officers and members come face to face and queries are dealt with on a personal basis, we realised that many of you do not have this opportunity for personal contact or the chance to get to know about the genealogical expertise of other members. We hope the Discussion Group will help to fill this vacuum and that we can build a viable IGRS virtual community.
• As this is a new service it may take a little time to develop its full potential but if you would like to join please send an email with your membership number to:– info@igrsoc.org. In reply you will receive an invitation to join the Discussion Group from the moderator, Mary Casteleyn, and, well, the rest will be up to you.

Samples from the Irish Genealogist and a complete table of contents

• Some samples from family histories
• Current and past content of the Irish Genealogist

Smythe-Wood Newspaper Indexes available for download

Thanks to the sterling work of Rosalind McCutcheon, this large collection of is now indexed and available as a searchable 2MB PDF file. The focus of these records in Northern Ireland.
Click here to download series A (Note: you need the new password.)
Click here to download series B (Note: you need the new password.)

The Irish Genealogist on CD-ROM

Members will be pleased to hear that Volumes 1-8 of the The Irish Genealogist, most long since out of print, have been republished on CD-Rom by Eneclann of Dublin who can be found at www.eneclann.ie. Members can purchase a copy of the CD-Rom at half price.

Now published

A new edition of The Convert Rolls using Father Clare’s original source manuscript in the IGRS Library (Irish Manuscripts Commission). See The IGRS Millennium Project.