Alice Rogers

502-564-1792 ext. 4476

Alice.Rogers@ky.gov

A day-long Irish genealogy seminar at the Kentucky Historical Society features two international genealogy experts. On Tuesday, May 17, Brian Trainor and Fintan Mullan from the Ulster Historical Foundation, Ulster, Ireland, will address how to access available sources and the unique issues involved in researching Irish/Scots-Irish genealogy.

The seminar will include the following topics:

·         “Introduction to Irish and Scots-Irish Family History Research”

·         “Annotations to Irish Church Records with Particular Focus on Catholic Records”

·         “Irish and Scots-Irish Research: ‘Not Always at the Bottom of the Pile’”

·         “Searching For Your Ancestors in Ireland: A Professional Guide”

·         “Using the Internet and CD-ROMS for Irish Genealogy”

·         “Emigration from the North of Ireland to North America in the Eighteenth Century”

·         “The Great Famine in Ireland and Emigration to North America, 1845-1856”

The presenters have long-ranging experience in tracing Irish/Scots-Irish family history. Trainor is currently Research Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation.  Formerly Director of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and Chairman of the Irish Manuscripts Commission, the has also held a lecturing post in history at Queen’s University, Belfast, and a fellowship with the Institute of Historical Research, London.  Educated at St. Columb’s College, Derry and Queen’s University, Belfast, he holds a 1st Class Honors degree in history and has been awarded a Doctorate of Letters from the University of Ulster and a Doctorate of Law from the National University of Ireland.

Mullan is currently Executive Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation.  He is also currently a director of Irish Genealogy Limited and the Irish Family History Foundation, and is a committee member of the Northern Ireland Publications Resource (NIPR).  He has spoken widely in the USA about Irish family-history research, including the Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, and in more than 22 of the lower 48 states.  He has also been featured in Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.  He was educated at Queen’s University, Belfast.  He has a bachelor’s degree in Irish politics and philosophy, and a master’s degree in organization and management.

The workshop is sponsored by the Kentucky Historical Society and will be held at the Kentucky History Center, 100 W. Broadway in Frankfort on Tuesday, May 17, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration fees are $35 for Kentucky Historical Society members and $40 for all others. Attendance is limited. Preregistration and payment are required by May 12.  The fee includes workshop handouts, continental breakfast, luncheon, afternoon refreshments, and a complimentary ticket to the Kentucky Historical Society museums.  For more information, contact Joanie DiMartino at (502) 564-1792 ext. 4467.

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An agency of the Kentucky Commerce Cabinet, the Kentucky Historical Society, since 1836, has provided connections to the past, perspective on the present and inspiration for the future.  KHS operates the Old State Capitol, Kentucky Military History Museum and its headquarters, the Kentucky History Center.   Since 1999, the thirty-million-dollar History Center has welcomed almost one million visitors.   For more information about the Kentucky Historical Society and its programs, visit the Web at http://history.ky.gov or call (502) 564-1792.