Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Launch of www.roscommonhistory.ie Website

Congratulations to Liam Byrne on the launch of the most impressive website on County Roscommon, www.roscommonhistory.ie. The site contains wonderful photographs which are very easy on the eye. The website is very well laid out and organised. There is excellent content on books, manuscripts, and other social and historical aspects of County Roscommon. The content is written with good humour and is a treasure for local historians and genealogists.

As was mentioned in an earlier blog, bona fide researchers can contact Liam to visit the Roscommon History archives. Liam can be contacted at
roscommonhistory@eircom.net. With so many excellent photographs and examples of old manuscripts relating to County Roscommon on the site, most of the 250 MB for the site has been used up and Roscommon History is looking for sponsors to help fund future upgrades.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Ancestor.ie now posted on Cindy's List website

http://www.cyndislist.com/new0208.htm

Ancestor.ie is now included on Cindy's List of Genealogy sites on the internet.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Liam Byrne of Roscommon Historical Research

After publishing Tracing Your Roscommon Ancestors, I have learned of more and more local archives, repositories and local history sources in County Roscommon with amazing collections of sources which I hope to include in the second edition.

I have also met people like Liam Byrne in County Roscommon who are passionate about preserving documents for future generations.

Liam is the founder and manager of one most interesting archives in County Roscommon called 'Roscommon Historical Research.' Bonafide, experienced and serious researchers and social historians are welcome to contact Liam to arrange to visit his archive. Readers can contact this writer if they would like to contact Liam to arrange a visit the Roscommon Historical Research Archives. There is hope that Roscommon Historical Research will launch a website (www.roscommonhistory.ie) later this year with a catalogue of its holding and digital images of the manuscripts it holds.

Roscommon Historical Research has nearly 600 books, periodicals and local newspapers (not just county newspapers) relating to Roscommon (and Athlone, even though it is in Westmeath), which would be of interest to those chasing their ancestors in the area. The archives also hold a large collection of maps and documents, the earliest dating from 1706, to the late twentieth century, many of which are of interest to family historians, including wills, marriage settlements, indentures, correspondence, legal documents etc. There are maps, made for the sale of several large estates in the north of the county and a collection of O.S. maps with hand written notes of local history interest, for the south of the county. There are also photocopies of other material still in private hands.

While most of the collection is not yet catalogued, there is a partial listing for some of the material in the collection (for the website). Some of the interesting materials include billheads, postcards, legal documents, and postal stationary.

Liam has also written three articles for Roscommon Life and with copies of some of the manuscripts held in the archival collection. In addition, there are lists for Roscommon GAA books and a collection of GAA general ephemera (tickets etc.), and a listing of business, private and public telephone directories. There are also "year lists" for published books etc. for the county from 1998 to 2007.

Liam is also the editor of The Rindoon Journal which is published by the St. John's Parish Heritage Group. This is a must have publication for those interested in the local history and family histories of this part of Roscommon bordering Lough Ree.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Link to Dear Myrtle's Podcast interview with John Hamrock on 11 February 2008

http://podcasts.dearmyrtle.com/2008/02/12/dearmyrtles-family-history-hour-12-feb-2008.aspx

Dear Myrtle Podcast

John Hamrock talks to Myrtle's listerners about how US researchers should get started on their Irish Family History. National Library of Ireland, Roman Catholic Church records, before 1858 Church of Ireland (Episcopal) Dublin and the many public records lost in fire of 1922 except for locally held documents. Also Tithe Applotment Books, Griffith’s Valuation and the Hearth Tax (mainly Eastern Counties). John specializes in Irish family research. He is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and holds a Diploma and a Certificate in Genealogy/Family History (First Class Honours) from the National University of Ireland, UCD Dublin. John’s book Tracing Your Roscommon Ancestors is a comprehensive guide for those tracing families in County Roscommon, where common family names include Kelly, McDermot, Beirne, Regan, Flanagan, O'Connor, McDonagh, and Quinn. It is filled with information on what the records contain, and how and where they can be accessed. It is well-illustrated with maps and with examples of the types of records to be found. It also has an extensive listing of references to estate records and also to family histories. This interview starts 27 min. 33 seconds into the podcast.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Dublin City Library and Archive Talk

John Hamrock will be speaking at the Family History Day at Dublin City Library and Archive, Pearse Street, on Saturday 29th March. The library normally invites five speakers, three in the morning and two after lunch, each talk lasts about 35 to 40 minutes with 5 to 10 minutes for questions. There is usually an audience of 80 or 90 people and there is a great buzz as like-minded individuals get to meet each other and share experiences and ideas.

John will be speaking on the topic 'Some Undiscovered Repositories for Tracing Roscommon Ancestors.' This will be includes in the Dublin City Library and Archive Spring brochure.

John Hamrock's book, Tracing Your Roscommon Ancestors, Flyleaf Press, Dublin, 2007, will be availabe for sale at the library on the day. Hopefully some of you can attend.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

St. Patrick's Day, 17 March 2008

As we are fast approaching St. Patrick's Day, 17 March 2008, we should make a resolution to begin or to update our Irish family history information files. With more and more information available on the internet one can concentrate on that medium or one can make the effort to visit the local library or contact a professional genealogist to delve into one's Irish family history