Scots-Irish Seminar: Early Bird Rate extended to 2/5!

Are you among the 33.3 million people claiming Irish descent in the US? This number is seven times greater than the population of Ireland (4.6m) itself. Between 1830 to 1914, almost 5 million persons left Ireland for the US alone. 

California has 2.5 million people of Irish descent, which is the highest of any state, with a concentration of 13.3 percent in Moraga in Northern California. 

 Would you like to learn more about how to trace your Scots-Irish ancestry? Fintan Mullen & Gillian Hunt of the Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast, Northern Ireland will be here with a full day event featuring training and tips on how to find your Scots-Irish ancestry. Established in 1956, the foundation helps people discover their Irish and Scots-Irish ancestors. 

CGS' Scots-Irish Seminar will be held on Sunday March 29, and we wanted to give you an opportunity to take advantage of the Early Bird Rate, which is extended to February 5. 

Copyright © 2014 by Ellen Fernandez-Sacco, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Scots-Irish Seminar: Registration Now Open!

Do you have Scots-Irish ancestry? 

Did you believe that researching Irish ancestors is a near impossibility because of the destruction of the Public Record Office in 1922? 

Actually it's not-- and there's more.  
We have a special Irish and Scots-Irish seminar scheduled for Sunday March 29 featuring Fintan Mullen and Gillian Hunt from the Ulster Historical Foundation, one of Ireland's foremost genealogy research organizations and publishing houses. Mullen is Executive Director and Hunt is a Research Officer with the foundation.  

This all-day seminar will provide very practical and detailed information on how to trace your Irish ancestors, with a range of topics that include an introduction, overview of records and history, to solving your brick walls. 

We'll be providing additional details in future posts, but wanted to give you the opportunity to take advantage of our Early Bird Special for registration. 

Registration for our Scots-Irish Seminar is now open!


Copyright © 2015 by Ellen Fernandez-Sacco, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Encore Presentation! Celtic Roots Online with Cath Madden Trindle

Friday, August 5, 2011
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway
Suite LL2
Oakland, CA 94612

Back by popular demand. If you missed Cath's presentation in March, you won't want to miss this one!

Contrary to popular belief, the records of Scotland begin long before the advent of statutory registration in 1855. In some cases it is possible to trace families back to the sixteenth century using easily available records. Scottish research and retrieval of the records of Scotland is completely intertwined with the use of the Internet. We will look at some of the basic records – statutory registers, census, old parish records, and testaments – and navigate the Scotland government web sites to retrieve them. Even if you have no research in Scotland, the government web sites of Scotland provide a model for any government body or society to use when putting their documentation on the Internet.

Ireland government web sites are not quite as complete, but the selection of records available online is growing. We will again look at some of the basic records available both online and off and discuss the records hiding in repositories that might help you further your research.

Cath will also explore other interesting genealogical and informational online sites for both countries and also touch of some genealogical resources online for those with Welsh ancestry.

This class is limited to forty participants and is one of the free benefits for members. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the workshop. Preregistration is required.

Registration confirmations will be sent to the first forty participants who register. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

Register online.

Cath Madden Trindle is a certified genealogist in the San Francisco Bay area, and a national conference speaker. She earned a Certificate of European Research from BYU, and a Certificate in Genealogical Studies - Libraianship (NIGS.) Cath owned a bookkeeping consultation business for thirty years and is currently Treasurer of the Federation of Genealogical Societies. She writes regular copyright and society strategy solumns for the CSGA newsletter. As Publication Chair for SMCGS, she has edited the San Mateo County Naturalization Index Series, the Schellens indexing project, and coauthored the SMCGS Tree Climbing Guides.

Cath is a first generation Californian and has limited her client research to Northern California. Personal research and national speaking engagements focus on the records of Ireland and Scotland, Canada, Minnesota, and Michigan, and on storytelling.


Photograph by Kathryn M. Doyle, Drumcliff, Co. Sligo, Ireland, 2008.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Workshop: Celtic Roots with Cath Trindle - March 19, 2011

Saturday, March 19, 2011
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway
Suite LL2
Oakland, CA 94612

Contrary to popular belief, the records of Scotland begin long before the advent of statutory registration in 1855. In some cases it is possible to trace families back to the sixteenth century using easily available records. Scottish research and retrieval of the records of Scotland is completely intertwined with the use of the Internet. We will look at some of the basic records – statutory registers, census, old parish records, and testaments – and navigate the Scotland government web sites to retrieve them. Even if you have no research in Scotland, the government web sites of Scotland provide a model for any government body or society to use when putting their documentation on the Internet.

Ireland government web sites are not quite as complete, but the selection of records available online is growing. We will again look at some of the basic records available both online and off and discuss the records hiding in repositories that might help you further your research.

The workshop will also explore other interesting genealogical and informational online sites for both countries and also touch of some genealogical resources online for those with Welsh ancestry.

This workshop is limited to forty participants and is one of the free benefits for members. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the workshop. Preregistration is required.

Registration confirmations will be sent to the first forty participants who register. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.


Register online.

Cath Madden Trindle is a certified genealogist in the San Francisco Bay area, and a national conference speaker. She earned a Certificate of European Research from BYU, and a Certificate in Genealogical Studies - Libraianship (NIGS.) Cath owned a bookkeeping consultation business for thirty years and is currently Treasurer of the CSGA and the FGS. She writes regular copyright and society strategy solumns for the CSGA newsletter. As Publication Chair for SMCGS, she has edited the San Mateo County Naturalization Index Series, the Schellens indexing project, and coauthored the SMCGS Tree Climbing Guides.

Cath, is a first generation Californian, and has limited her client research to Northern California, however, personal research and national speaking engagements also focus on the records of Ireland and Scotland, Canada, Minnesota, and Michigan, and on storytelling.


Photograph by Kathryn M. Doyle, Drumcliff, Co. Sligo, Ireland, 2008.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

How To Trace Your Ancestors In Ireland

CGS member Nick Cimino sent this announcement of his upcoming talk on Irish research:

How To Trace Your Ancestors In Ireland
May 14, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Contra Costa Genealogical Society Monthly Meeting
90 minute presentation
LDS Church
3700 Concord Blvd.
(just east of Farm Bureau Road)
Concord, California

I began conducting my genealogical research in 1989 and have traveled extensively for genealogical research in the United States and Canada. I taught beginning genealogy classes for Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno and Pleasant Hill Adult Education. In the last four to five years I have become keenly interested in Irish Genealogy. During this period of research, I discovered that more and more can be done online, quite a bit can be done using LDS Library resources and some work is best done in Ireland.

This was to be my first research trip outside North America. My Irish ancestors presented an intriguing challenge. My wife and I traveled to Ireland in April 2008 and spent time in Dublin and Belfast with five days spent at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. I was able to document many of my family stories in the records at PRONI and came back with many wonderful Irish genealogical souvenirs which will be on display.

The presentation will provide an overview of Sources for Irish Genealogy including:
-census and substitutes
-vital records
-church records
-cemeteries
-Irish Estate records
-maps & land records
-parish histories
-online sources
-paid research
-research in Ireland

In addition to PRONI we spent time at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh which is vital to an understanding of the historical context of our Northern Irish immigrant ancestors. Other fascinating cultural sites we visited were the Ulysses S. Grant ancestral home, the walled city of Derry and Belfast Castle where one of my Irish relatives was the gatekeeper.

I am employed with the Administrative Office of the Courts in San Francisco. I am responsible for facilities management of courthouses in sixteen Bay Area and North Coast counties.

For more information E-mail or call Nick at 925-945-6994 or visit the Contra Costa Genealogical Society CCCGS website.

Countdown to the Scots-Irish Seminar

Final preparations are being made for this Saturday's Scots-Irish Family History Research Seminar, March 7, 2009, at the new Oakland Airport Holiday Inn and Suites, 77 Hegenberger Road, Oakland, California. Please note that there are two Holiday Inns near the airport - this is the new one next door to the Hilton.

Fintan Mullan and Dr. Brian Trainor are coming from the Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast and they're bringing a wide range of books to sell. Oakland is their first stop on this U.S. Lecture Tour so they will have a full selection and it is an opportunity to save shipping charges since their books are not sold in the United States.

One must-have title is Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors, The Essential Genealogical Guide to Early Modern Ulster, 1600-1800 by William Roulston. If you want to pre-plan your purchases be sure to check out their complete catalog at the Ulster Historical Foundation Bookstore website.

I hope to see many of you on Saturday. If you can't make it I'll post some of "what you missed" next week.

The "Person-Coming-the-Longest-Distance" Prize Goes to...

Last week the California Genealogical Society was honored to host Nora Keohane Hickey who came all the way from Cork, Ireland for A Day of Irish Information.

The event, which attracted members and guests from all over the Bay Area, included one other person who had to board an airplane to participate – member Jackie Carroll of Winter Springs, Florida.

Jackie traveled 2900 miles to hear Nora's lectures and to meet with her for a private consultation. Jackie was hoping that Nora could help her break down a brick wall - Hugh MILLING of Drumbo, County Down who settled in North Carolina and was a captain in the Revolutionary War.

Keep us posted on your search, Jackie. We love hearing from (and meeting!) our out-of-state members.

In Case You Missed "A Day of Irish Information"

The Berkeley Yacht Club was the perfect setting for "A Day of Irish Information" on Wednesday, July 9, 2008. The waterfront location served up cool breezes on a hot East Bay day. And what better place to discuss the Emerald Isle then at the water's edge?

President Jane Lindsey started things off with a few society announcements, including an overview of upcoming speakers and workshops. Many of the 116 in attendance were not members of the California Genealogical Society but by day's end eight attendees took advantage of a $5 discount offered by Jane, and joined CGS.

Nora Keohane Hickey presented four entertaining lectures on several aspects of Irish genealogical research in her lilting Irish accent. A natural storyteller, Nora often included colorful anecdotes which added interest and humor to a subject which can be dry and overwhelming. Ms. Hickey talks fast so the full day of information was a bit challenging for some of the beginners in the audience.

Nora's first talk was "Debunking Some of the Myths of Irish Genealogy" - a humorous and informative list of common fallacies including "All the records were burnt" and "I found the location on a Surname Map." Using her own KEOHANE as an example, Ms. Hickey explored the "Of course I know how to spell my surname!" myth with some surprising variants, including COHAN and COHEN. (The famous "Yankee Doodle Dandy" George M. COHAN is a cousin.) Nora told of once reading a ship passenger record that listed eight COHENs – one came from Germany but the other seven were from Ireland. She summarized this first part of the day in two words: "Question EVERYTHING!"

One interesting inside story from Nora concerned the loss of the 19th century Irish census records (some surviving snippets are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.) The 1821, 1831, 1841 and 1851 records were destroyed in the Dublin Four Courts Fire of 1922 and the 1861 - 1891 records were pulped (recycled to make paper) during WWI. Nora explained that the order to pulp was meant only for the second, duplicate sets that existed for the countries of Great Britain, preserving the original records. Unfortunately, the fact that Ireland had only one set somehow escaped notice (!) and the sole source was lost for 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891.

Nora got right into fundamentals with her second session, "Extracting All the Important Information from Griffith's Valuation." This was a thorough discussion of the 1848-1864 tax valuation records whose significance to Irish researchers is elevated due to the loss of nineteenth century census records. Griffith's lists every house and land holding in every townland and includes the names of landowners and tenants alike. Nora explained the meaning behind the map reference numbers in the first column of the property listings and stressed that the real value of Griffiths is that it serves as a guidepost to further avenues of research. Nora presented a case study demonstrating how knowing the surnames of a couple can often help to narrow the search for a parish of origin using the surname distribution data from the valuations. She ended the morning session by providing information about the Valuation Maps, the House, Field and Tenure Books and the Valuation Cancellation Books.

After the lunch break (the box lunches got great reviews!), Nora launched into "Little-known and Under-used Irish Genealogical Sources" which she prefaced by noting that she defines a genealogical source as "any document containing a name and a date." Her handout contained scores of publications, arranged by century, that focused primarily on her own family counties of Kildare and Cork. The general message of this talk was that you never know where you will find valuable information, especially since many records were removed from Ireland, taken to England and may be available in Irish, British and American repositories.

The final session of the day, entitled "A Discussion About Common Problems in Irish Genealogy," asked two key questions: 1.) "Are you looking for the correct surname?" and 2.) "Are you looking in the right location?" Due to time constrains, Nora referred the audience to three pages of her handout which summarizes the development and evolution of Irish surnames and gives clues to help the researcher find possible variations. She spent considerable time defining the administrative divisions of Ireland which are complicated because of the way they overlap. Nora explained how the various ecclesiastical and civil divisions developed and why it is imperative to know the divisional category that describes each record type.

Wordless Wednesday

A Day of Irish Information with Nora Keohane Hickey

July 9, 2008, Berkeley Yacht Club

Photos courtesy of Arlene Miles and Kathryn Doyle.

A Day of Irish Information - July 9, 2008

Internationally known author and speaker, Nora Keohane Hickey presents

A Day of Irish Information - four talks to help with your Irish research.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Yacht Club.

Ms. Hickey, a native of Cork, Ireland, is the founder and director of the Irish Genealogical Project. She visits the U.S. several times each year to lecture.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Lectures start promptly at 10:00 a.m.

The program:

10:00 Debunking some of the myths of Irish genealogy
11:15 Extracting all the important information from Griffith's Valuation
12:15 Break for lunch and book sales
1:15 Little-known and under-used Irish genealogical sources
2:15 A discussion about common problems in Irish genealogy

Ms. Hickey will also provide Personal Consultations on Thursday, July 10, 2008, at the CGS Library. The fee is $15.00 for fifteen minutes.

Registrants can opt to bring their own lunch or pre-pay for a boxed lunch which includes a sandwich, salad, drink and cookie for $10. For further information about this event or to schedule a Personal Consultation with Nora Hickey, download the event flier and reservation form.

The deadlline is approching so please send your registration form today!

Nora M. Hickey was educated at Loreto College, Manchester, England. After returning to Ireland in 1974, she studied history and philosophy at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, a constituent college of the National University of Ireland. Her B.A. thesis was genealogical: a study of the Norman family, the de Berminghams of Leinster. As a founder member of the Federation of Local History Societies, she was Honorary Editor of Local History Review for many years. An early member of the Irish Family History Society, Nora also acted for some years as the Honorary Editor of Irish Family History.

Her publications include: Going to Ireland: A Genealogical Researcher's Guide; Kinsale Historical Journals; Kinsale: Glimpses of a Town through the Years and The Battle of Kinsale. She has also writen many articles, historical and genealogical, published in many journals in two continents.

Irish Research Seminar - July 9, 2008

Happy St. Patrick's Day! CGS President, Jane Lindsey has been cooking up a treat straight from Ireland that's sure to excite Irish researchers and have them dancing a jig.

Noted Irish author, researcher and lecturer, Nora M. Hickey, will present A Day of Irish Information, Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at the Berkeley Yacht Club, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ms. Hickey will give four talks of interest to researchers of all skill levels. She has also agreed to schedule the next day at the CGS Library to do private, one-on-one consultations.

For additional details, download the flier and registration form.

Nora M. Hickey was born in Cork, Ireland, and educated at Loreto College, Manchester, England. After returning to Ireland in 1974, she studied history and philosophy at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, a constituent college of the National University of Ireland. Her B.A. thesis was genealogical; a study of the Norman family, the de Berminghams of Leinster. As a founder member of the Federation of Local History Societies, she was Honorary Editor of Local History Review for many years. An early member of the Irish Family History Society, Nora also acted for some years as the Honorary Editor of Irish Family History.

Ms. Hickey was a founder director of the Irish Genealogical Project until she resigned in 1991 to develop her own Irish genealogical research service. This includes visiting the USA several times yearly to give lectures and seminars, together with a personal genealogical research service. In the past Nora has hosted County Cork Summer Schools and organised Dublin based Research Weeks with personal guidance in the Irish archives.

Her publications include: Going to Ireland: A Genealogical Researcher's Guide, Kinsale Historical Journals, Kinsale: Glimpses of a town through the years and The Battle of Kinsale, together with many articles, both historical and genealogical, published in many journals in two continents. In 2005, Nora edited her 98 year-old father's memoirs - My Barryroe Childhood and was very much involved with his centenary celebrations in September 2007 – in two countries, with an international attendance.