The Foundation’s move to the Corn Exchange – An update from the Executive Director

Our recent move to new offices in the Corn Exchange is already helping to transform the Foundation’s ability to engage with those who we exist to serve. And it is increasing our ability to interact more with the general public, who are curious about their history.

In the short time that we have been operational in the new premises we have already been able to host three events with an international dimension:

A presentation by representatives of the Maine Ulster-Scots Project who discussed their archaeological dig in Somersett, Maine – a settlement of Ulster immigrants dating from the early eighteenth century.

A visit by representatives of Ancestry’s ProGenealogists team (from Salt Lake City and Dublin).

A morning exploring Ulster ancestral research with a group of family historians who are currently touring with the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO).

This is in addition to the already increasing number of personal research consultations that we are providing for local people and overseas visitors interested in their Ulster roots.

This is why the Foundation sought to move to the city centre – to be more accessible to our users and so we can continue to develop more practical partnerships with kindred organisations (e.g. The Belfast Charitable Society (Clifton House), Linen Hall Library, Tourism Northern Ireland, and of course the other organisations with which the Foundation shares the building).

Moreover we have made it easier for ordinary folk to use the services and benefit from the knowledge of the Foundation’s team in the new offices. The central location is easing the burden on our team of volunteers, some of whom are disabled, and for whom the old unit at Malone Road was a less than perfect location.

Furthermore, the installation of a new elevator in the building will soon be completed meaning our accessibility for disabled visitors will be enhanced ensuring the Foundation’s staff can welcome everyone who wishes to call.  It also means we have been able to increase the number of intern and placement opportunities for local students, and have had expressions of interests already about the possibility of providing summer internships for some overseas students.

Therefore we would like to offer a huge note of thanks to everyone who has helped to support the move through practical assistance or by €˜’buying a brick’. Your generosity is greatly appreciated by the volunteers, staff, and trustees. It has enabled the Foundation to open a new chapter in our history, in the sixtieth anniversary year since the organisation was established.

The fundraising contributions have made it possible to complete the move and install most of what we need. We are a little short still of where we would like to be – to date we have raised £27,875, leaving a shortfall of £2125, thus if you think you can help by making a donation, we would be delighted to have you join our band of supporters.

It has been a busy 3 months since we moved to the Corn Exchange (at the end of January 2016), and we have had some fun bringing order to the chaos of storage crates – the joy and despair of moving – with which anyone who has moved house will be familiar.

You can see how we are progressing by visiting our updated photo gallery of images related to the move. And do revisit from time to time, as you will see other important developments taking shape – including the installation of our new library.

Thank you again for generously supporting our fundraising, we hope you can see the positive change and improvements the relocation is already bringing to the work of this charitable organisation.

Best regards
Fintan Mullan
Executive Director
www.ancestryireland.com

The 14th Annual Historic Houses of Ireland Conference will take place on the 9-10 May 2016 at Maynooth University.

The theme of the conference is The Country House and Landed Estate in Time of Revolution and the conference will also include the launch of the CSHIHE and Maynooth University Library exhibition ‘1916 and the Irish Country House: Rebellion and War’. (http://historicirishhouses.ie/news-and-events/14th-annual-historic-houses-ireland-conference)

The Programme and Booking Form are now available at https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1WSkAvkaV4jNEFPSFBVUWdrRGs

Niall and the Stone of Destiny

Niall and the Stone of Destiny is the first fully-illustrated children’s book about legendary Celtic High King, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Embark on an exciting journey, following Niall through his boyhood adventures and quest to become High King of Ireland. This well-researched historical fiction is designed to engage a younger generation of Niall’s descendants in their Irish heritage and ancestry. Niall and the Stone of Destiny is a heroic tale with more than a dozen vivid-color, full-page illustrations. This story is sure to capture the interest and imagination of all readers, especially children ages 6 – 11.

Who is Niall?

Niall Noígíallach, translated in English as Niall of the Nine Hostages, was the renowned High King of Ireland during the late 4th and early 5th centuries, AD. Niall and the Stone of Destiny is a historical fiction inspired by the 2006 DNA discovery made by Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland that gives evidence of Niall’s nearly 3 million descendants worldwide.

The author has a Kickstarter Campaign to help raise funds to print the first edition of the book. Here is the link to the campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1195848313/niall-and-the-stone-of-destiny

The ALLEN y-DNA Project & The ALLEN Guild of One Name Studies

The Allen DNA Project is partnering with the Allen Guild of One Name Studies in an exciting new Research Endeavor. The Allen DNA Project is a USA based group, but is very interested in expanding our membership to a world-wide audience by actively seeking out Allens from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Mainland Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or anywhere else on the planet.

Additionally, any spelling variation of the Allen surname is welcome: Allan, Allyn, Allin, etc.
To this point, FREE yDNA 37 marker tests will be made available to any males carrying the Allen surname and residing outside the United States who are willing to join the project and participate in the testing. The only requirement for a free yDNA test is a known Allen/Allan (any spelling) lineage to at least the participant’s Great Grandfather Allen/Allan (any spelling) in any country. Additionally, The Allen DNA Project is setting aside a specific Sub-group within the Project with a full commitment of assistance from Allen Project Co-Administrator Dr. Eric Allen who will be overseeing this specific International Sub-group.

Guild of One Name Studies: http://one-name.org/name_profile/allen/
Allen DNA Project: https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/allan/about/background

Direct Contacts:
Mr. Chris Allen: cdpallen@gmail.com
Dr. Eric Allen: ericallen@alton.k12.mo.us

Westmeath Genealogy has added 36,000 new records to its online database at www.westmeath.rootsireland.ie. The new records include Mullingar death records, Westmeath Gravestone inscriptions and various baptisms and marriages between the years 1900 to 1920.

The full list of available sources for the Westmeath Genealogy Centre can be viewed at http://westmeath.rootsireland.ie/generic.php?filename=sources.tpl&selectedMenu=sources

Rootsireland.ie is the highest ranked Irish website in the annual Genealogy in Time Top 100 Genealogy Websites survey. Rootsireland.ie listed at No. 56. This is great news for our service which is run by county genealogy centres, family histories societies and volunteers throughout Ireland.

According to Genealogy in Time “Since we began this list five years, it has become the gold standard for genealogy lists. Part of the reason is the care and attention we put into the process to create an independent, objective list. We start by compiling an extensive list of genealogy websites from around the world. We then used the services of Alexa (the internet traffic people) to help us rank actual internet traffic to each website.

Internet traffic can be a tricky thing to measure. It is more than just the number of visitors to a website. Other important considerations include the amount of content consumed by a typical visitor to the website and the amount of time spent at the website. Thus, our rankings are based on a combination of three factors: visitors, content and time. The result is an objective and independent ranking of the top 100 genealogy websites.”

See more at: http://www.genealogyintime.com/articles/top-100-genealogy-websites-of-2016-page01.html#sthash.nsaM5mwI.dpuf

You are invited to The Genealogy Event in Limerick on Friday, 2 September and Saturday, 3 September 2016, sponsored by www.RootsIreland.ie

For more information and tickets please see www.TheGenealogyEvent.com

Operating as a writer and sometime market gardener from his ancestral base, Maidenhall, Bennettsbridge, Hubert Butler worked as a teacher while exploring Eastern Europe and the Balkans. His essays established him as “Ireland’s Orwell”, our greatest essayist since Jonathan Swift – another noted Kilkenny man. In the first documentary on Butler’s work, Bandit Film’s Johnny Gogan traces the writer’s journey through Stalinist Russia of the early 1930s, through pre-war Vienna – where Butler worked to smuggle Jews into Ireland – to his exposure of the hidden genocide of half a million Orthodox Serbs in World War II.

An inaugural Kilkenny Gala Screening of this documentary will take place in the Set Theatre on Saturday April 16. It is a central element of the golden jubilee celebrations that weekend to mark the 50th anniversary of Rothe House being opened to the public for the first time.

Having purchased the property in the early 1960s, Kilkenny Archaeological Society renovated the 16th century townhouse and opened its doors on the 17 April 1966. ‘A group of very motivated people showed remarkable foresight and ensured the protection of this unique building’ says Grace Fegan, Executive Manager of Rothe House Trust. ‘Fifty years later we have so many people to thank and Hubert Butler is one of them.’

Using recently declassified documents, this highly visual and expansive film explores and adds creditable substance to the assertion that Butler “was fifty years ahead of his time” and “one of the great Irish writers”.

A red carpet reception will begin at 7.00 p.m. with the screening beginning at 7.30 p.m. Introduced by the film maker, the documentary will be followed by a brief discussion featuring special guests. Tickets are €25 each and are available from Rothe House. tel. 056 7722893 and Langton’s.