Programme of Free Presentations
Presentation Sponsors
There will be a programme of free presentations every day at the event. Places cannot be booked and are available on a first-come-first-served basis. If you are interested in a particular presentation, it is recommended that you arrive at the presentation area comfortably in advance of its advertised time.
The programme subjects and times are subject to change. It is therefore advisable that you regularly visit this page between now and the opening of the event to note if there is a presentation which interests you. The 2012 schedule will be published in due course - the listing below is from last year and gives people a good guide to the diversity.
Presentation Schedule from 2011
Friday, 15th October
12:30pm: Northern Ireland: The Black Hole of Genealogy?
Dr Ann McVeigh of the Public Services team will also be giving a Powerpoint presentation explaining what sources are available for the north of Ireland and how to start your research. This talk is aimed mainly at those just starting to trace their Northern Irish ancestors. There will also be the chance to see a sneak preview of our new, purpose-built PRONI Headquarters, due to open in Titanic Quarter, Belfast, early in 2011.
By Dr. Ann McVeigh of the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland
1.30pm: Forthcoming Resources for Irish Family History
Tracing land ownership using property and valuation records.
Brian Donovan, Eneclann
2.30pm: The Buried Secrets of Glasnevin Cemetery
By Historian & Author in Residence for Glasnevin Trust, Shane MacThomais
3.30pm: An Explanation of ‘Joint use of the kitchen'
Joint use of kitchen is often a stipulation in Irish wills to ensure that the widow was properly looked after, after the death of her husband.
Aideen M Ireland, Head, Reader Services, National Archives of Ireland
4.30pm: Researching the Census Records: An Enjoyable Leisure Pursuit?
Catriona Crowe, The National Archives of Ireland
7.00pm: Exhibition Closes
Exhibition closes at 7.00pm approx.
Saturday, 16th October
12pm: Finding Your Family: Tracing Land Ownership Using Property Records
Rachel Murphy, Eneclann
1.00pm: The Origin and Development of Irish Surnames
This presentation covers:
- The time period when surnames were introduced, a process which evolved over two to three hundred years
- A brief synopsis of what Ireland was like from the tenth to the thirteenth century
- The reasons why the introduction of surnames became necessary
- The factors and influences that led to their formation for example, elements of kinship/family ties, the patronymic system - Mac and O; occupational influences, church influences and factors such as physical or personality traits and characteristics
- A brief look at English surnames and the influences that dominated there and the comparisons and contrasts with Ireland
- The Anglicisation and distortion of Irish surnames over the centuries
- Examples of all of the above
Mary Sullivan, Cavan Genealogy
2.00pm: Researching the Census Records : An Enjoyable Leisure Pursuit
Catriona Crowe, The National Archives of Ireland
3pm: Daniel O’Connell: Liberator or Demagogue?
Editor Tommy Graham will be hosting the latest in an ongoing series of History Ireland Hedge Schools, lively round-table discussions with historians and well-known personalities. Tommy will be joined by Patrick Geoghegan,TCD and Newstalk’s ‘Talking History’, Kevin Whelan, director, Keough Naughton Notre Dame Centre, Dublin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD and Shane Mac Thomáis,Glasnevin Trust to discuss the topic: Daniel O’Connell: liberator or demagogue?
Please note: this discussion will take place in the Main Presentation Theatre and NOT the genealogy/family history presentation area.
4.00pm: An Explanation of ‘Joint Use of the Kitchen'
Joint use of kitchen is often a stipulation in Irish wills to ensure that the widow was properly looked after, after the death of her husband.
Aideen M Ireland, Head, Reader Services, National Archives of Ireland
6:00pm: Exhibition closes at 6pm approx.
Sunday, 17th October
12 Noon: Researching the Census Records: An Enjoyable Leisure Pursuit
Catriona Crowe, The National Archives of Ireland
1.00pm: An Explanation of ‘Joint Use of the kitchen'
Joint use of kitchen is often a stipulation in Irish wills to ensure that the widow was properly looked after, after the death of her husband.
Aideen M Ireland, Head, Reader Services, National Archives of Ireland
2.00pm: How Do You Think, Who Do You Think You Are? Is Done?
Fiona Fitzsimons, Eneclann
3.00pm: How to Go About Tracing Your Irish Ancestors
John Hamrock specialises in Irish family history research and is the founder of Ancestor Network Limited (www.ancestor.ie). He holds a Diploma and a Certificate in Genealogy/Family History (First Class Honours) from the National University of Ireland, UCD Dublin. He has written a book, Tracing Your Roscommon Ancestors, which was published by Flyleaf Press (www.flyleaf.ie) in Dublin in 2007 in addition to a number of other articles and book reviews on Irish genealogy. He is a Director of the Genealogical Society of Ireland, the Irish Genealogical Research Society, the Association of Professional Genealogists.
John Hamrock, Board Member of the Genealogy Society of Ireland
4.00pm: How to Research Your Family at the General Register Office in Dublin
The single most important record group for Irish family history research is civil registration - birth, marriage and death records. Eileen Ó Dúill guides the beginner through birth, marriage and death records at the General Register Office Dublin research room explaining the records and how best to conduct your GRO research.
Eileen Ó Dúill, CG, is a certified genealogist specializing in international probate genealogical research. She is Council member of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland and board members and International Trustee of the Association of Professional Genealogists (USA) 2007-2010. With her APGI colleagues, Eileen is a course tutor on the Independent College's Diploma in Family History (Genealogy) course. Eileen co-authored Irish Civil Registration- Where Do I Begin? with Steven ffeary Smyrl, MAPGI and is a constant user of the GRO.
Eileen Ó Dúill
6.00pm: Exhibition closes at 7pm approx.
Historical photographs courtesy of The National Archives of Ireland
