Introduction to Irish Family History

Overview

Overview

This evening course will run subject to sufficient numbers applying. Family History isn’t just about the past: learning about our origins allows people to get down to the granular details of our ancestors’ lives. It enables people to construct their own family narrative and their personal identity. This lectureonly module is taught through a series of eight lectures per term over two terms by Fiona Fitzsimons & Brian Donovan of the Irish Family History Centre (Eneclann). The course covers a broad sweep of Irish history (1650s to 1950s), and is deeply rooted in the sources. The focus is on the records generated by churches, central and local government, enterprises, families and individuals; exploring what section of the Irish population is documented in these records, and how to interpret the evidence. Where record collections were destroyed, do any collateral records survive that contain relevant information? The fee includes free access to the largest Irish collection online, www.Findmypast.ie as well as free access to EPIC and the Irish Family History Centre in CHQ. It will also provide support for all participants to construct a simple family history portfolio over sixteen weeks, including creating a family profile; research to collect documentary evidence; building a family tree; and writing a simple report.

Date, Time, and Place

Mondays 6-7 p.m. This course will be taught live on Zoom; classes will not be recorded.

Duration

This lecture-only module comprises of one lecture per week for eight weeks over two terms (16 lectures in total) commencing in September 2021 and recommencing in January 2022.