Today's research was at the National Library on Kildare Street, less than a 10 minute walk from the hotel. Steven Skeldon who runs the Genealogy Room began the day with a presentation on the Library, the Collections, ordering material and the various Catalogs. After Steven's presentation, the researchers got their coats and bags in lockers (you can take your computer, phone (for taking pictures) and paperwork into the Library, but not any coats or bags), and where necessary, headed for the Reader's Ticket Office to get their ticket (which is required to order or obtain any material. Since Reader's Tickets can now be applied for online, it was relatively quick. Then it was off to research.
Currently, all documents need to be ordered online. Some researchers have done this from home, and had material waiting for them. Pickup times are 9:30 and 2:00; books ordered before 11:00 can usually be delivered at 2:00, but manuscripts must be ordered a day in advance. Here are some of the comments:
From Diann
"I was brought back to my childhood today by the splendor of the National Library of Ireland. Growing up in the Boston area, I walked in similarly designed buildings but not quite like the National Library. Like people each building has its own uniqueness . I was ready to research in this repository.
Since I had already ordered my reading materials, they were waiting for me. I immersed myself in the histories of the parishes of Ahascrach, Caltra and Castleblakeney. I gained a good overview of one graveyard, Chapelfinnerty, where some of my ancestors are buried which, I will visit at the end of this research tour. A surprised piece of trivia awaited me in my readings: Sir Percival Blakeney, the main character in the Scarlet Pimpernel was an English Landowner in Casleblakeney. You never know what you will find in your research!"
Kathy found a number of things including some old maps including one of her grandfather's townland.
She also found this tidbit from a local journal.
And from Pati...
No big "wow" moments today. Though I would encourage people to see if someone has done an inventory of estate records for a particular owner. In my case it was the Eyre family that owned land near Clifden, Co. Galway. My ancestor was a tenant farmer there. The Journal of Galway Archeology and History had a series of articles describing in some detail the Eyre estate records held at NUIG. I was able to take notes on specific parts of those holdings to look at when I am there next week."
Tomorrow people are headed out to multiple repositories...the Valuation Office, the National Library and the Representative Church Body Library (Church of Ireland).
Happy Hunting!