Tyrone Roots

17/08/2026

These are a rather eclectic mix of places and events I attended over the months of Summer. I spent two days at the MacGill Summer School which is held in a small town . Glenties, in County Donegal. They manage to attract commentators from all over the world. You can check it out here and proceeding are available on line. https://www.macgillsummerschool.com/ I was also up at the All Ireland Fleadh which was held for the first time in Belfast. This Festival of Irish Traditional music was widely support. I lived in Belfast during the 1970s, hence my choice of photos from around Queens University; my old student drinking den is now a Tesco Grocery Store! There is a new centre dedicated to Poet Laurate Seamus Heaney and they also had an exhibition giving insight into Irish emigration to Britain.

24/06/2026

I have had a few groups recently looking for their ancestral homes and locations. Also took the opportunity to visit local places of interest and they especially enjoyed and found the Ulster American Folk Park most informative.

20/04/2026

The Census of 1926 for the Republic of Ireland has just been released. For various reasons, the Census which was taken in the six counties of Northern Ireland has been lost but perhaps you have people you want to research there. I had occasion to use it myself today for a family in County Cavan. My professional body, Accredited Genealogists of Ireland, AGI, have been to the forefront in promoting its availability and this article may be useful if you want to explore further.

Census 1926 release means families' histories are more solvable for thousands in Ireland and beyond

29/03/2026

I was on a pre visit to check out an ancestral home and make contact with locals who could add extra stories to my research. I had a very warm welcome and interesting time, with a day which had hail, rain and thunder. Certainly found somebody who was a collector of old items from the past!

22/03/2026

Here's the answer sheet for the St Patrick's Day Quiz!

15/03/2026

As we approach St Patrick's Day thoughts turn to our roots, particularly if you name is Patrick. It was interestingly a popular name in France 50 years ago! My accreditation body has put together this short quiz to test your knowledge of genealogical sources available for researching your Irish Roots. Answers to be supplied after the day in question! Happy St Patrick's Day.

fil:///E:/Windows.old/Users/User/Downloads/AGI%20Quiz%20St%20Patricks%20Day%20for%20Genealogists.pdf

Copy and paste this link into Google.

04/03/2026

Castletown is the townland on which the Ulster American Folk Park is located. Come along to find out about how to research this and other townlands. Should be of interest to those interested in their history and heritage.

13/09/2025

This week I was in Enniskillen with a group from Derry. A participant, not as a guide. We took the Erne Tours boat MV Krestrel to Devenish Island to visit the ruins of the 6th Century monastic settlement. The guide was very knowledgeable about the conditions within the Lough Erne system. The various aspects of the site were very interesting.

17/08/2025

I took a trip down to Sligo last week. As well as visiting W B Yeats grave at Drumcliff, we went to Lissadell House. Great visit , especially if you are into the era of Yeats.

23/07/2025

May be of interest to people living locally.

Join Mellon Centre for Migration Studies and North of Ireland Family History Society and learn more about how you can research your ancestors - Everyone welcome! 🙌

📅 Friday 1 August
⏰ 10:30am - 3:30pm