2021 Ireland Research Trips
National Library - Dublin
Titanic Museum - Belfast
The 2021 Research Trips are on! The trip to Dublin will run from Saturday, October 9 to Saturday, October 16, 2021. We will again be staying at Buswells Hotel, just across the street from the National Library. The week’s research includes The National Library, The National Archives, The Valuation Office, The Registry of Deeds and the General Register Office. Additional repositories can be scheduled on an as needed basis.
The Belfast trip is scheduled from Saturday, October 16 to Saturday, October 23 staying at The Belfast Hilton. The Hilton is about a 15 minute walk from PRONI and less than that to the Ulster Historical Foundation and the Linen Hall Library. The week’s research includes the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), the Ulster Historical Foundation, The Linen Hall Library, and the North of Ireland Family History Society. Additional repositories such as the Presbyterian Historical Society and the Orange Museum can be scheduled if needed.
It's been a difficult year and I was disappointed having to cancel the 2020 trip due to COVID. Ireland has done fairly well through the crisis. They had a hard lockdown from December to early May and have begun opening up slowly. At this writing the libraries and archives are open on a reservation basis. Hotels opened the beginning of June along with outdoor dining and restaurants and indoor dining are scheduled for mid-June. By mid-July international flights should begin and the quarantine has been dropped for vaccinated US citizens.
I hope you’ll consider one (or both) of the trips in 2021. For both trips I have added an additional night (Saturday) since almost everyone flies in a day early to adjust to the overnight flight and time change. In order to register, you must know where in Ireland your ancestors lived. All research in Ireland is dependent on time and place and unless you know that location you're research is not likely to be successful. Registration for each trip is limited to 15 researchers (non-researching companions are welcome to join you). A number of those scheduled for the trip in 2021 have decided to moved their deposit to the 2022 trip, so there are a limited number of spaces available. Simply complete the registration form and send your deposit. If you’re not sure if you are ready for the trip, consider scheduling a consultation.
You can follow the 2019 trip by scrolling to October 2, 2019 on my blog page. Here's a link to a blog written by Ann Raymont who attended the 2019 Dublin Research Trip and there are links to some of the earlier guest blogs, comments and photos below.
Belfast Registration 2021 Belfast Flyer
Dublin Registration 2021 Dublin Flyer
Questions?
Guest Blogs
Comments from previous trips…
"It's a great idea - have an expert guide your navigation for the first time visit. It really saved me a lot of time, and helped me maximize the research. I came home with about 100 records I hadn't seen before. It was quite a revelation to me that there were actually that many items to collect out there. I really can't wait to come back and get supplements, now that I know the terrain well. Thanks Donna!"
"You accommodated my need for RCBL and GRO perfectly. Like the Registry of Deeds, they aren't applicable for everyone, but you facilitated everyone's priorities very well."
"This is such a beautifully organized trip, and I really appreciate all the guidance. I think it's extra good that we had some open days to go back to other repositories. I think it would have been unfortunate if I were forced to go to places that didn't apply to me, and sacrifice more time at other places, for instance. Those last couple days were great for me - I went back to the Archives and the Valuation office, and saw other fellow researchers there too!"
"The longer that I am home the more I feel that it was an awesome adventure, quite enjoyed Belfast and could have spent more time there, learned a lot about my relatives and Ireland, and continue to work on the DNA one of Martin's friends is on my DNA, getting DNA from a cousin, just not enough hours in the day
“The trip was great from beginning to end and the attention that you gave to everyone’s individual research throughout the week was beyond my expectations."
"I could never have navigated all these repositories in a week without the orientation and support you provided. It would have taken me several trips and far greater expense to find the documents and information I found in one week with you. This was a fabulous opportunity. Thank you for making it available to us.”
“Donna was very knowledgeable and I learned so much about what and where I should be researching.”
"The orientation at the NLI was good and help me to find and use the resources I wanted to look at. At the National Archives, I did not know what to look at. It was helpful when we were showed the different indexes and resources and where they were located. The trip was a great experience, thank you.”
“All the help that was given, (esp. by Donna), and the various staff people, defiantly made our trip to both Belfast, and Dublin a howling success. !!!”
"Fantastic trip, loved every minute of it, your knowledge , help and company was very much appreciated and I thank you very much."
Updated 1-4-2021