"...to seek and to find the past, a lineage, a history, a family built on a flesh and bone foundation."

Friday, September 19, 2014

Press Release from Find My Past: 12,000 new Irish records

This morning I received the following press release from FindMyPast. It will be of special interest to those with Irish family roots in the counties of Donegal, Fermanagh, Tyrone or Wicklow. FindMyPast is a paid site which can be searched for free. Viewing of records is available via either pay-per-view or by paid membership.



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 Press Release:

Findmypast launches over 12,000 new Irish records the second instalment of their new Findmypast Fridays

We are proud to announce the launch of our first ever Findmypast Friday!

Every Friday from now on, we will be bringing you thousands of new records to explore over the weekend on our dedicated Findmypast Friday page. We promise to bring you new, and often exclusive, record sets every single week.

This week’s Findmypast Friday, we’re excited to release a new collection of Irish parish and cemetery records.

If you have family from the Irish counties of Donegal, Fermanagh, Tyrone or Wicklow, these records will be of particular interest.

Compiled by genealogist, author and professor of history, Dr. David R. Elliott, the new Irish records collection includes a variety of parish registers from County Fermanagh as well as cemetery records for Donegal, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Wicklow.

The Fermanagh parish registers feature transcripts of baptisms, burials and marriages in the county and span the years 1796-1875. You’ll uncover great detail on your Fermanagh ancestors in these records including parents’ names, where they lived and sometimes even occupations.

The collection of cemetery records dates as far back as 1669 and features detailed transcripts as well as exquisite full colour images of gravestones around Ireland so you can see exactly where your relatives are buried. You’ll find over 12,000 cemetery records from Donegal, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Wicklow.

Cliona Weldon of Findmypast Ireland said; “We are very excited to be adding such rich records to Findmypast, the largest online database of Irish Family history records.  We’re proud to be able to assist in building Ireland’s family tree, giving family historians fantastic opportunities to learn more about their ancestors and perhaps discover some new ones.  We are committed to providing a variety of record sets every single week to ensure that customers can see their family trees grow.” 

The new records offered include:

Fermanagh Parish Registers Baptisms 1796-1873

Fermanagh Parish Registers Marriages 1800-1875

Fermanagh Parish Registers Burials 1801-1874

Donegal Cemetery Records 1737-2011

Fermanagh Cemetery Records 1669-2011

Wicklow Cemetery Records 1831-2008

Tyrone Cemetery Records 1698-2011


Thursday, September 11, 2014

Travel Thursday: At Maynooth, the National Seminary for Ireland

St. Mary's Church, across from the archway as I prepare to enter the grounds.
Located about twenty-five kilometres (15 miles) south of Dublin City, in the village of Maynooth, County Kildare, is the National Seminary for Ireland. Called Maynooth College and/or St. Patrick's College, the school was officially established as the Royal College of St. Patrick in 1795. It was here that my paternal grandfather's brother Michael was educated, taking the vows of the priesthood in 1918.

At the age of eighteen, Michael Joseph Geraghty began his religious education 29 September 1911, in the First University class of the seminary at Holy Cross College, Clonliffe. Leaving Holy Cross College, he was sent to complete his degree at the prestigious seminary of St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

Here, on 28 April 1918, at the age of 25 years, he was ordained Father Michael Joseph Geraghty by Bishop Patrick Morrisroe.

Through the archway on to the grounds.
Father Geraghty served in eight separate appointments for the Catholic church in the diocese of Dublin. In 1969 he was, in the words of the church, 'created a canon'. The last parish church at which Father Michael served is Our Lady of Dolours in Glasnevin. Very Reverend Michael Canon Geraghty died at Glasnevin on his 81st birthday, 3 May 1974 and is interred in the Prospect Cemetery at Glasnevin, Dublin.

Through the little door in the door,
my curiosity led me to follow someone inside.
At the age of thirteen, I first set eyes on St. Patrick's College at Maynooth, and it was mightily intimidating. Perhaps my discomfort was sparked by memories of family stories which characterize the Very Reverend Michael Canon Geraghty as disapproving, even spiteful (see A Saint and A Sinner: The lives of two brothers). My imagination created a picture of him raining down fire and brimstone upon his congregation, flailing arms, booming voice and all.

Perhaps it was my own childhood experiences of raging priests, but whatever the reason, fear of Father Michael created trepidation about visiting the place at which he was educated. Thankfully, the passage of time now makes St. Patrick's College at Maynooth appear only tranquil and beautiful rather than frightening. The buildings and grounds are deeply quiet and inspire contemplation, and it is tempting to imagine what life might have been like here for my granduncle.

Truth be told, I still feel slightly uneasy at the place. It didn't help that on the Sunday of this visit there was a deep grumbling within the clouds of the chalky grey sky; and, when I explained to the woman in the office that my granduncle had attended seminary school at Maynooth she was less than welcoming.

The halls which overlook the inner green space are lined with portraits of priests and bishops down through the ages.
I searched through them for an image of my grandfather's brother, Michael Canon Geraghty.
Another hall of portraits, and no sign of the Very Reverend Geraghty.
At the back of the college, the entrance to the church.
Another rear view.
At the back of the college, a path through this enormous green leads to a gate which leads into a special space (see below).
This beautiful 'cathedral' of trees leads to the small cemetery used for the burial of clergy.
To view photographs I shot in 2012 which show the small cemetery at the end of this walk,
visit my cemetery blog, 'Over thy dead body'.
(*Click on images to view larger versions.)
©irisheyesjg2014.
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