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How to Search:
• To find events organised by a particular Branch, for example Lisburn Branch, search for ‘Lisburn Branch’.
• To search for a particular type of Event, search for ‘talk’, ‘outing’, ‘DNA school’, ‘AGM’, ‘quiz’, etc.
• To search for a particular Event or Speaker, search the name, or part of the name.
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To see all the available Events within a particular month, switch to the ‘Month‘ view.
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Case Studies – with Martin McDowell and Anne Johnston
These case studies will show you how effective strategies can lead to successful outcomes. Practical examples using autosomal, Y and X DNA will give you hints and tips that you can use in your own research. Book your place.
with Martin McDowell
Y-DNA testing is now a commonly used tool to explore a patrilineal line. This action plan will provide a straightforward approach to interpreting your results and then applying that information to a male surname line. Book your place.
with Janine Cloud
Janine is from Family Tree DNA so who better to tell us about Big Y testing and the Discover tool? This presentation will be a fascinating insight into how it all works and what you can learn from FTDNA’s ever-improving presentation of Y-DNA results. Book your place.
with Jonny Perl
Jonny is the creator of DNA Painter, the go-to site for chromosome mapping, calculating relationships from shared cMs and much much more! He will bring us up to date on developments on the site and give us hints and tips on how to use some of the tools he provides. The last time Jonny spoke at our DNA Summer School, it was a sell-out so don’t miss out! Book your place.
with Anne Johnston
There is a lot to learn about DNA and it can be easy to pick up incorrect information. This class will go over some common misconceptions about DNA – it is your opportunity to make sure you are not inadvertently on the wrong track. Book your place.
with Jim Bartlett
Jim is an expert on autosomal DNA, particularly “Segment-ology”. He has worked for many years on identifying how segments can be attributed to particular ancestors and why it matters. He is going to guide us through the concept of this and give practical examples for you to adapt to your own research. Book your place.
with Martin McDowell
Having an ongoing plan for your DNA research can be the key to solving specific problems and it can help you to confirm existing lineages. This class will show you when and how to use target testing to uncover better matches and achieve your aims. Book your place.
Talk for NIFHS Killyleagh Branch, Townlands of Killyleagh by James Hanna, Monday 4 September 2023 @ 8:00 pm.
Visit and talk with NIFHS Foyle Branch, Fahan Historic Graveyard by John Thompson, Saturday 9 September @ 11:00 am TBC.
Members Night "Welcome to the Society" – The Benefits for NIFHS Newtownabbey Branch, Monday 11 September 2023 @ 7:00 pm.
On-site at the Mill – Please just turn up and say “hello”.
Online via Zoom – Please book using this link: https://forms.gle/Nm172DD1YL3twrZN6
Talk for NIFHS Lisburn Branch, A Virtual Tour Of The Major Archives by Nathalie Bodle, Tuesday 12 September 2023 @ 7:30 pm.
New Season Opening Night | Tyrone Branch : an informal get-together to start of the new season, on Tuesday 12 September 2023 @ 7.30 pm.
Catchup with friends and hear about their research findings.
The Annual General Meeting of the Society will be held
on Saturday 16 September 2023 at 2.30 pm
in the Allstate NI Building, 10 Mays Meadow, Belfast BT1 3PH
(adjacent to Lanyon Place Railway Station)
Talk for NIFHS Larne Branch, on The Lusitania: One Family's Story by Colleen Waters, Monday 18 September 2023 @ 7:15 pm.
Hybrid event: on site & on Zoom.
Workshops for NIFHS Belfast Branch, Tuesday 19 September 2023 from 1pm-4pm pm in East Belfast Visitor Centre.
Talk for NIFHS Belfast Branch, Dating Old Family Photos by Stephen Gill, Tuesday 26 September @ 7:30 pm. Zoom meeting.
Talk for NIFHS Causeway Coast & Glens Branch, GRONI Records by Kathie Walker, Tuesday 26 September 2023 @ 8:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Ballymena Branch, Researching the McMaster Family by James McMaster, Thursday 28 September 2023 @ 7:15 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Foyle Branch, Historic Houses of the North West and their Secrets by Ken McCormack, Monday 2 October @ 7:00 pm.
Due to Central Library closure, this meeting was moved from 18 September to 2 October to obtain a new venue. The meeting may be on Zoom only. Further information to follow.
Talk for NIFHS Killyleagh Branch, My Family Tree by Anne Morrisey, Monday 2 October 2023 @ 8:00 pm.
NIFHS Research Centre Open Day for NIFHS Belfast Branch, Saturday 7 October 2023, time TBC
Talk for NIFHS Newtownabbey Branch, Surnames of County Antrim by Dr Brian Turner, Monday 9 October 2024 @ 7:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Lisburn Branch, Manuscripts and Monuments: Traces From The Lisburn Area, 1100-1800 by Dr Glynn Kelso, Tuesday 10 October 2023 @ 7:30 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Tyrone Branch, Searching for Sgt Dorris by Ralph Freeman, Tuesday 10 October 2023 @ 7:30 pm.
Research visit with NIFHS Foyle Branch, to Public Record Office (PRONI) Belfast, Thursday 19 October, time TBC.
Talk for NIFHS Belfast Branch, Tracing Your County Tyrone Ancestors by Vincent Brogan, Tuesday 24 October @ 7:30 pm.
Zoom meeting.
Talk for NIFHS Larne Branch, Discover Your Scottish Ancestors by Chris Paton, Wednesday 25 October 2023 @ 7:15 pm.
Hybrid event: on site & on Zoom.
Talk for NIFHS Ballymena Branch, Wikitree by Anne Johnston, Thursday 26 October 2023
Talk for NIFHS Foyle Branch, Historical Ghost Stories For Halloween by Ken McCormack & John Thompson, Monday 30 October @ 7:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Killyleagh Branch, Searching the Killinchy Area by - Anne Bryant & Ed Mahary, Monday 6 November 2023 @ 7:30 pm. Zoom meeting.
The talk The Reas of Annacloy by Eddie Rea will be postponed to a later date.
GRONI: We Know Who You Are! Kathie Walker. Hybrid Meeting
This talk explains what the General Register Office (GRONI) does, and it’s not just printing certificates! Kathie then delves into her family tree to show how to search the records when the information is not quite as it seems.
Kathie Walker is the Deputy Registrar General of GRONI. She is also a keen family historian so, as this will be her last official talk before her retirement, please attend to hear her insider tips!
Talk for NIFHS Lisburn Branch, The Importance Of Townlands by Roddy Hegarty, Tuesday 14 November 2023 @ 7:30 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Tyrone Branch, Transcription of Cappagh Parish Book 1 - how it was done and what we found, Tuesday 14 November 2023 @ 7:30 pm.
Zoom meeting.
Talk for NIFHS Foyle Branch, History of City of Derry Airport by Richard Doherty, Monday 20 November 2023 @ 7:00 pm.
Temporary Venue – Minor Hall, 2nd floor main building, Magee University, Derry
Hybrid event: on-site & on Zoom.
Talk for NIFHS Larne Branch, Frances Anne Vane Tempest, Lady Londonderry: 19th Century Entrepreneur, Industrialst & Influencer by Mary Watson, Monday 20 November 2023 @ 7:15 pm.
Hybrid event: on site & on Zoom.
Premises alterations in progress.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Image Credit: Work in progress icons created by Freepik – Flaticon
Talk for NIFHS Belfast Branch, Catherine O’Hare Schubert : From the Mournes to the Rockies – A Mourne Heroine by Donna Weir, Tuesday 28 November @ 7:30 pm. Zoom meeting.
Talk for NIFHS Causeway Coast & Glens Branch, A Pictorial tour of Antrim & Down through the eyes of Lord Mark Kerr by Anne Casement, Tuesday, 28 November 2023 @ 8:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Ballymena Branch, Emigration to Canada by Ray Fynes, Thursday 30 November 2023 @ 7:15 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Foyle Branch, Strange Things I’ve Found In Books by Ken Thatcher, Monday 4 December 2023 @ 7:00 pm.
Hybrid event: on-site & on Zoom.
Member’s Night NIFHS Killyleagh Branch, Monday 4 December 2023 @ 8:00 pm.
Christmas Social for NIFHS Newtownabbey Branch, Monday 11 December 2023 @ 7:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Lisburn Branch, Christmas in Lisburn Through The Years by Aaron McIntyre, Tuesday 12 December 2023 @ 7:30 pm.
Christmas Party with Quiz for NIFHS Belfast Branch, Tuesday 12 December @ 7:30 pm in St Donard’s Church Hall, Beersbridge Road, Belfast
Talk for NIFHS Killyleagh Branch, Researching Old Photographs by Alison Tait, Monday 1 January 2024 @ 8:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Newtownabbey Branch, From Russia with Love – What happened thirty years ago by James Houston, on Monday 8 January 2024 @ 7:00 pm.
Often current events can prompt us to revisit our personal experiences of history or travel. Branch member, James Houston, will share his memories about travelling to Russia 30 years ago. It was a time of change after the fall of the Berlin Wall and, as well as touching on politics and trade, James will talk about enduring memories, occasional jeopardy and cultural surprises such as the world-renowned Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.
James grew up in England and recalls the ever present Cold War. Having come to live in Northern Ireland, he has become a keen family historian and student of Irish history. In a former life, James was an accountant and consultant who travelled extensively as part of his consulting role, latterly with a focus on capacity development overseas in sometimes challenging environments.
Hybrid event: on-site & on Zoom. All welcome.
Zoom talk for NIFHS Lisburn Branch, There Will Be A Record Kept: Find Scottish Ancestors Before 1855 by Alison Spring, Tuesday 19 January 2024 @ 7:30 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Foyle Branch, DNA Tests – Now and the Future by Martin McDowell, Monday 15 January 2024 @ 7:00 pm.
Zoom only meeting.
Talk for NIFHS Larne Branch, Cairncastle Through The Ages by Robert Stewart, Monday, 15 January 2024 @ 7:15 pm.
Hybrid event: on site & on Zoom.
Talk for NIFHS Ballymena Branch, From Powdered Dandy to Old Bear – the Life of a Georgian Gentleman by Peter Carr, Thursday 18 January 2024 @ 7:15 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Belfast Branch, The Merchant families of Belfast in Belfast City Cemetery by Richard Graham, Tuesday 23 January 2024 @ 7:30 pm. Zoom meeting.
Talk for NIFHS Causeway Coast & Glens Branch, Getting the Most out of the Irish census by Natalie Bodle, Tuesday 30 January 2024 @ 8:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Foyle Branch, The History of Boom Hall, by Bart O’Donnell, Monday 5 February 2024 @ 7:00 pm.
Hybrid event: on-site & on Zoom.
Talk for NIFHS Killyleagh Branch, History of Shrigley by Chris Hagan, Monday 6 February 2024 @ 8:00 pm.
NIFHS Research Centre Open Day for NIFHS Belfast Branch, Saturday 10 February 2024, time TBC
Talk for NIFHS Newtownabbey Branch, Andrew Jackson Cottage and the US Army Rangers Museum by George McGrand, Monday 12 February 2024 @ 7:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Lisburn Branch, Using Military Records And Photographs In Family History Research by Tommy McClimmonds, Tuesday 13 February 2024 @ 7:30 pm.
Dr Patrick Fitzgerald will give a talk entitled "Internal Migration in Ireland, 1600-2000".
To join the meeting, request the Zoom link by email to the Branch Secretary at Tyrone@nifhs.org
*Cancelled* Talk for NIFHS Larne Branch, William McCalmont: Forgotten Poet of Larne and the Tropics by Des McCabe, PRONI, Monday 19 February 2024 @ 7:15 pm.
William McCalmont was from Larne and lived in British Guyana in the early 1800's. He was also a bit of a Poet and Plantation Overseer.
Hybrid event: on site & on Zoom.
Talk for NIFHS Belfast Branch, Thomas Russell’s Belfast by Dr Jonathan Wright (Maynooth University), Tuesday 27 February 2024 @ 7:30 pm.
Zoom meeting.
Members workshop for NIFHS Causeway Coast & Glens Branch, Tuesday 27 February 2024 @ 8:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Ballymena Branch, Northern Ireland Film Archive by Bronagh McAtasney, Thursday 29 February 2024 @ 7:15 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Foyle Branch, History of Magee University, by John Thompson, Monday 4 March 2024 @ 7:00 pm.
Hybrid event: on-site & on Zoom.
Talk for NIFHS Killyleagh Branch, Branch Project Night & DNA update by Martin McDowell, Monday 4 March 2024 @ 8:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Newtownabbey Branch, OS200: Digitally Remapping Ireland’s Ordnance Survey Heritage by Dr Catherine Porter, Monday 11 March 2024 @ 7:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Lisburn Branch, The Future Of Family History by Dr Nick Barrett, Tuesday 12 March 2024 @ 7:30 pm.
Research visit with NIFHS Foyle Branch, to Public Record Office (PRONI) Belfast, Thursday 15 March, time TBC.
Talk for NIFHS Larne Branch, Ordnance Survey Memoirs by Dr David Hume, Monday 18 March 2024 @ 7:15 pm.
Hybrid event: on site & on Zoom.
Talk for NIFHS Belfast Branch, Early Ulster/Scottish Migration by Chris Paton, Tuesday 26 March 2024 @ 7:30 pm. Zoom meeting.
Talk for NIFHS Causeway Coast & Glens Branch, The History of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) by Roy Black, Tuesday, 26 March 2024 @ 8:00 pm.
NIFHS Ballymena Branch Trip, Visit to Broughshane Museum with Dr Tony Redmond, Thursday 28 March 2024.
Talk for NIFHS Newtownabbey Branch, Family Journals by Lorna Doherty, Monday 8 April 2024 @ 7:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Foyle Branch, Derry’s Ancient Tower – Hidden in Plain Sight , by Stephen Doherty & Peter Hamilton, Monday 8 April 2024 @ 7:00 pm.
Hybrid event: on-site & on Zoom.
Talk for NIFHS Killyleagh Branch, Seaforde Scrap Metals: a History of the Company, Monday 8 April 2024 @ 8:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Lisburn Branch, Bad Bridget: Mayhem and the Lives of Irish Emigrant Women by E. Farrell & L. McCormick, Tuesday 9 April 2024 @ 7:30 pm.
Fancy a bit of help with your DNA on a one-to-one basis? Or maybe you have a question you would like an answer to? Come along to the Drop-In.
Talk Life Behind the Light for NIFHS Larne Branch, by Richard Kelly, Monday 15 April 2024 @ 7:15 pm.
Hybrid event: on site & on Zoom.
Our ever-popular Look-up evening returns to give you an opportunity to reap the benefits of our society look-up service.
Talk for NIFHS Belfast Branch, Workhouse Records by Gillian Doherty (PRONI), Tuesday 23 April 2024 @ 7:30 pm.
Zoom meeting.
Talk for NIFHS Ballymena Branch, The Workhouse System in Ireland by Dr Robyn Atcheson, Thursday 25 April 2024 @ 7:15 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Causeway Coast & Glens Branch, The Ordnance Survey Memoirs and their use for genealogy by Dr William Roulston, Tuesday, 30 April 2024 @ 8:00 pm.
We’ll be devoting an evening to all your DNA questions.
AGM NIFHS Newtownabbey Branch & Update on the Ballyeaston Project, by Matthew Gilbert, Monday 13 May 2024 @ 7:00 pm.
Branch AGM and TBA for NIFHS Killyleagh Branch, Saturday 4 May 2024 @ 8:00 pm.
Talk for NIFHS Lisburn Branch, AGM & Members Night & The Ancestor I Would Most Like To Meet by Branch Members, Tuesday 14 May 2024 @ 7:30 pm.
Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Halftown Road, Lisburn BT27 5RD Buy Tickets
Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Halftown Road, Lisburn BT27 5RD Buy Tickets
Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Halftown Road, Lisburn BT27 5RD Buy Tickets
Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Halftown Road, Lisburn BT27 5RD Buy Tickets
alk for NIFHS Foyle Branch, Researching Farming Ancestors in Ireland, by Dr William Roulston and AGM, Monday 20 May 2024 @ 7:00 pm.
Hybrid event: on-site & on Zoom.
AGM for NIFHS Larne Branch & Update on Ballycarry & Islandmagee DNA Projects by Martin McDowell & Anne Johnston, Monday 20 May 2024 @ 7:15 pm.
Hybrid event: on site & on Zoom.
Ballyclare May Fair Programme
If you aren’t sure how to make a start on WikiTree this talk will show you clearly and simply how
to add a profile to WikiTree.
AGM for NIFHS Belfast Branch followed by Talks by three of our overseas members, Tuesday 28 May 2024 @ 7:30 pm.
Zoom meeting.
Talk for NIFHS Causeway Coast & Glens Branch, The Stuart family of Ballyhivistock near Dervock, Co Antrim by Bruce Clark, Tuesday 28 May 2024 @ 8:00 pm.
If you want to make use of the incredible resources in our society research library then this is the
night for you!