History Center to Host Eighth Annual Irish Genealogy Workshop
The Detre Library & Archives at the Heinz History Center will host its annual “Irish Genealogy Workshop” featuring experts from the Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday, March 22 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Smith family reunion, c. 1914. Smith and Stonecipher Family Papers and Photographs, 2018.0152. Detre Library and Archives, Heinz History Center.
During this day-long workshop, which will be offered both in-person and virtually, experts Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt will present an in-depth look at the rich genealogical sources found in Ireland and Northern Ireland for beginners and seasoned genealogists alike. Mullan will be on site at the History Center in Pittsburgh, while Hunt will participate remotely from Belfast. The workshop will feature live Q&A sessions and interactive networking opportunities, offering the chance to foster connections between attendees and expert speakers.
Live presentations include:
Introduction to Irish and Scots-Irish Family History Research
Using Printed Sources for Irish Family History: Newspapers, Street Directories, Ordnance Survey Memoirs and British Parliamentary Papers on Ireland
Early Nineteenth-Century Land Records: Tithe Applotment Books, Tithe Defaulters, Freeholders’ Registers, First/Townland Valuation
Irish Education and School Records: A Valuable Alternative to Non-Available Census Records for Nineteenth Century Research
Special access to recordings of the lectures will be made available to attendees following the workshop.
Participants can also hear from experts with the History Center’s Detre Library & Archives, the Westmoreland Historical Society, and other local genealogical societies, who will be available to share best practices and tips.
This workshop is offered in partnership with the Westmoreland Historical Society, which preserves and interprets the history of Westmoreland County.
The in-person program is SOLD OUT, but slots remain for online participants. Admission is $30 for members of the Heinz History Center, Westmoreland Historical Society, and Ulster Historical Foundation Guild members and $40 for non-members.
Please register online.
About Fintan Mullan
Fintan Mullan is the executive director of the Ulster Historical Foundation. Working with technology partners, Fintan was a pioneer in the creation of online resources for Irish research and has maintained the Foundation’s prominence in digital database developments for Irish genealogy. As executive director of the Ulster Historical Foundation, Fintan has managed the production of over 100 publications, including the popular Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors and has lectured extensively on Irish history and genealogy in the U.S. and in Canada, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.
About Gillian Hunt
Gillian Hunt is the research officer with the Ulster Historical Foundation and is responsible for the management of the Foundation's many genealogical activities. As well as managing the genealogy side of the Foundation's work, Gillian carries out research for clients and is a hugely experienced user of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and the General Register Office. She regularly teaches courses in Northern Ireland and gives talks on family history in the rest of Ireland, the U.K., and the U.S.
Gillian has been with the Foundation since 2001, and received a degree in History (BA Hons, 1998) and a Masters in Historical Studies (MA, 2000) from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Health and Safety
At the request of the speakers and in the interest of public health, in-person attendees must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon arrival, along with proper identification. Social distancing and masking will be enforced.
For more information on the museum’s health and safety measures, please visit our website.
The Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in Pennsylvania, presents American history with a Western Pennsylvania connection. The History Center and Sports Museum are located at 1212 Smallman Street in the city’s Strip District. The History Center’s family of museums includes the Sports Museum; the Fort Pitt Museum in historic Point State Park; and Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, a National Historic Landmark located in Avella, Pa., in Washington County. More information is available at www.heinzhistorycenter.org.