From its creation as the Established Church in the second half of the 16th century up to the Court of Probate Act of 1857, the Church of Ireland was responsible for legally administering some aspects of vital life events such as registering marriage bonds and licences for those people who did not want to marry by banns. These were usually registered, but mot always, in the diocese of the bride’s local parish.

Marriage Licence Bonds were an alternative to marriage banns, although both were designed to prevent clandestine marriages. Banns were read in both the bride’s and groom’s parish on three consecutive Sundays to allow anyone knowing a reason that the marriage should not go ahead to come forward. Marriage licence bonds worked slightly differently. They allowed a couple to go to court and pay a sum to sign a witnessed declaration that the marriage was free to go ahead. Before 1858 marriage licence bonds were exclusively handled by the ecclesiastical courts of the Church of Ireland.

These new additions to armagh.rootsireland.ie are the indexes of marriage licence bonds taken through diocesan and prerogative courts across Ireland. Copies were kept by the Public Records Office but many were destroyed in the explosion during the Irish Civil War in 1922. These bonds may offer a rare opportunity to find your Irish ancestors before the 19th century. Dating back as far as 1727 they are an invaluable resource for many family historians.

Each record contains a transcript of the original register. The amount of information varies, but you can find out the following about your County Armagh ancestor: Name, Name of spouse, Year of marriage.

This is an ongoing computerisation project and we have released the records for the surnames beginning with the letters from A-L. These will contain many other marriages for surnames beginning with letters between M-Z if they married someone who surname began with the letters from A-L. Most marriage bonds will appear twice in our records as they were recorded by both married parties surnames.

We hope to complete the outstanding records in the near future; however, we offer a manual search service for these non computerised records for a nominal fee and full details can be obtained contacting Armagh.Ancestry@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk

Just added to www.wexford.rootsireland.ie are the transcripts of the registers of the Catholic parish Rathangan, Co. Wexford:

Baptisms: 1803 – 1892
Marriages: 1803 – 1806 and 1813 – 1890

The Capuchin Annual was published by the Irish Capuchin Franciscans from 1930 until 1977. Although its readership was predominately Irish, its circulation was international as it was frequently sent to Irish emigrants particularly in North America and in Australia. It was a journal unique in Irish publishing containing many literary, historical, photographic, theological, biographical and artistic articles. It claimed a readership of 25,000 worldwide at the height of its success in the 1950s.
Many Irish writers, artists and educators who later rose to prominence such as Benedict Kiely, Pearse Hutchinson, Francis Stuart, Daniel Corkery, Francis MacManus, Richard J. King, Thomas MacGreevey and Augustine Martin received their first opportunities to publish with the Annual.

Throughout its publication run it maintained a very high quality of contributions by leading politicians and writers. The Annual frequently reflected a very strong nationalistic theme. The 1942 and 1966 editions of The Capuchin Annual are particularly well-known as they contained detailed articles, profusely illustrated, on the 1916 Rising. The complete collection of The Capuchin Annual is now being made freely available online solely for scholarly research at www.capuchinfranciscans.ie/capuchin-annual-1930-1977

In March of this year we produced an e-publication The Family Histories of the Seven Signatories of the Proclamation as our contribution to the commemoration of the 1916 Rising.

We are delighted to announce that it is now available to purchase as a book. Thanks are due to Kildare County Council and Merrion Press/Irish Academic Press for supporting the book and ensuring it will be there for posterity.

This book would be a lovely Christmas present. It is available from Merrion Press and bookshops including Hodges Figgis, Eason’s, Dubray Books, Barker & Jones (Naas), Farrell & Nephew (Newbridge), and O’Mahony’s.

The Proclamation of the Irish Republic is the most significant document in Irish history. The credo contained therein, to cherish ‘all of the children of the nation equally’, has come to define its seven signatories, marking a common bond in their life’s work. Their memory intensely moulded by their political activities, history can forget the diverse background from which these seven men came—family histories that touched upon twenty counties and economic environments ranging from extreme poverty to privilege.

The Family Histories of the Seven Signatories is an indispensable genealogical history that uncovers the disparate lives that came together through the will for Irish independence. Thomas Clarke and James Connolly were born in England and Scotland respectively, their families having emigrated in the years after the Great Famine, an experience shared by many generations of Irish people before and since. Thomas McDonagh and Patrick Pearse had immediate English forebears. The signatories’ pasts from before they were born were an essential component in determining their ideas – each firmly their own – of an Irish republic. Their extended histories, fully disclosed within the pages of this book, are a riveting realisation of the complexities that defined nineteenth century Ireland and the lives of the seven signatories whose pasts reveal the many-faceted draw towards rebellion.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Éamonn Ceannt
2. Thomas Clarke
3. James Connolly
4. Seán Mac Diarmada
5. Thomas MacDonagh
6. Patrick Pearse
7. Joseph Plunkett

About the Author
Paul Gorry has had a lifelong interest in family history.  He has worked as a professional genealogist since 1979 and he is a Member of Accredited Genealogists Ireland.  As well as conducting research for clients, his work has involved advice to individuals on their own research, tutoring, lecturing, record editing, conference organising and writing.  He was joint author (with Máire Mac Conghail, MAGI) of Tracing Irish Ancestors (1997).  He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Genealogists (London) in 1999 and as a Fellow of the Irish Genealogical Research Society in 2005.

Ulster Historical Foundation

Telling, since 1956, the story of the people of Ulster

We are pleased to announce that details for the Foundation’s Tracing your Irish Ancestors family history conference  in June 2017 are now available.

Running from 14-21 June 2017, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors will offer a brand new programme which will appeal to both the dedicated family historian and those who may wish to spend time taking in the spectacular scenery and historical sites.

New for 2017

This year’s conference will include a guided tour of both the Knowth and Newgrange (visit confirmed) passage tombs at Bru na Boinne; a tour of south Antrim including a trip to Carrickfergus Castle, one of the best preserved medieval structures in all of Ireland; a visit to Ireland’s only accessible rope-bridge at Carrick-a-rede; a visit to Barons Court, the finest private home in Ireland; as well as the Hill of the O’Neills – the ancient capital of Ulster!

The extensive programme of tours throughout the week will also take you through rolling countryside to sites of international renown from the Giant’s Causeway and Dunluce Castle on County Antrim’s wild Atlantic coast to the haunting Kilmainham Gaol and Trinity College Dublin with its Old Library and the Book of Kells Exhibition.

New Irish Genealogy Essentials Course

Delivered by the Foundation’s expert staff a major new addition to our programming for 2017 includes an Irish Genealogy Essentials Course. This course will offer delegates, prior to the start of the conference, two and a half days of intensive learning, with practical demonstrations using relevant websites and other electronic resources.

Our programme is all about helping you to trace your roots

Assisted personal research in the archives with the help of the Foundation’s experienced genealogists, talks, tours and sightseeing are all part of the eclectic, friendly and fun mix of Tracing Your Irish Ancestors.

The Foundation has many years’ experience in hosting family history events and Tracing Your Irish Ancestors promises to be a truly memorable week.

‘Early Bird’ offer – register now for excellent savings

We are currently offering a special ‘Early Bird’ registration offer: sign up to attend our Summer Conference before the 28th February 2017 for only £799.99! (The price after 31st January will be £849.99).

Join us in June and learn about the dramatic history of Ulster and the lives of your Irish ancestors. You will be very welcome. For more information please visit:

Tracing Your Irish Ancestors, 14-21 June 2017 – www.ancestryireland.com/family-history-conference/summer

If you have any queries, please email: enquiry@uhf.org.uk

 Ulster Historical Foundation

 

Testimonials from 2015 and 2016 conference attendees

If you are wondering whether to engage UHF’s services or attend one of their conferences I can assure you that you’ll experience absolute quality. I attended the June 2016 UHF conference and to sum it up – I attended a genealogy holiday. If you want to: meet like-minded people, have professional research assistance, eat really well, enjoy field trips that will show you the things that make Ireland amazing, meet new friends from around the world and enhance your own genealogy knowledge – this is a high quality conference you won’t be sorry you spent money on! On top of all that the staff at UHF are friendly, know their stuff, well organised and prepared to accommodate your last minute change (if they can). My only complaint is that it ended! But, I’ve already decided that I’m going to attend another one in a few years time. Yes, it’s that good!  Davina Hughes. Waipa, New Zealand

Great conference UHF! It was very Informative, well organized, friendly, and fun. Looking forward to my next one. Suzanne Billings, Pennsylvania, USA

Excellent program for both researchers and tourists. I enjoyed the research and my wife likewise the tours. A most friendly and informative staff. Greatly enjoyed interacting with the staff especially the very delightful historical commentaries delivered as only the Irish can. The attendees bonded well with our shared interest in Irish genealogy and a great time was had by all. Thanks UHF!  Andy and Jackie Moore, Illinois, USA

What a wonderful week this was, I cannot believe just how many places that we all visited together, thank you so much to everyone involved in all the hard work for giving us such a wonderful time, I also met up with many new friends. Kay Howard, Essex, England

 

For the third year running, The Genealogy Event has come to Limerick. Sponsored by RootsIreland.ie, it offered a wealth of up to date information on researching your Irish ancestors using familiar genealogical resources, but also some lesser known sources. The genealogy conference was held in the picturesque location of Adare, County Limerick and organiser Bridget Bray, a Canadian lady with roots in Limerick, offered attendees the opportunity to take their research further by connecting with fellow research enthusiasts and professionals working in the field of Irish genealogy.

In addition to the two day conference, Bridget Bray, organised a reception night and social evening events, including a visit to an Irish county house and a whiskey tasting session.

Talks and one to one consultations were offered by RootsIreland member centres over the two day event. Brian Mitchell of Derry Genealogy Centre presented a case study on tracing the Irish roots of Mary T. Fisher, a lady’s companion in Boston in the 1880s. Catriona Crowe of Limerick Genealogy spoke about the importance of property valuation records when tracing a family history and Aoife Ryan, also of Limerick Genealogy explored handwriting interpretation. Over the two days, attendees had the opportunity to discuss their research with genealogists from RootsIreland in one to one consultations.

And the good news is that The Genealogy Event returns to Adare in 2017! For further details, please see www.thegenealogyevent.com. In the meantime if you would like some advice or assistance in research your Irish ancestors please contact Limerick Genealogy or any of the Roots Ireland genealogy centres. Contact details for each centre can be found at www.rootsireland.ie.

Offaly History launched an online catalogue for archives in August which is available at www.offalyhistoryarchives.com. It is a work in progress and many more archival descriptions will be added to the database as soon as collections have been catalogued.

It also hosts, in conjunction with Offaly County Council’s Heritage Office and with the kind permission of Lord Digby of Minterne, Dorset, digitised images from the Digby Irish Estates Papers, the originals of which remain in Dorset. This is a marvellous resource for researching 19th and early 20th century Offaly. Over 1000 images of rental accounts for the Geashill Estate 1857-1872 are already online, with many more to come in the months ahead.

Offaly History and Offaly Heritage Office would like to acknowledge the support of the Heritage Council for sponsoring both the initial digitisation of the rental volumes and the ongoing archives work in Offaly History.

Further details please contact:

Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Telephone: 057-9321421
Opening hours 9-4.30 Mon-Friday Office and Family History
Thursdays 7.30p.m.- 10.30 p.m. Library evening
Web site: www.offalyhistory.com Email: info@offalyhistory.com