HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2016-02-11 Irish genealogy workshop
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Betsy Arnett, Public Information Officer
barnett@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2734
Thomas Balch Library to Host Irish and Scots-Irish Family
History Workshop on Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Leesburg, VA (February 11, 2016) – On Wednesday, March 9, 2016, the Thomas Balch Library
will host an all-day workshop on Irish and Scots-Irish family history research. The workshop is
part of the Ulster Historical Foundation Lecture Tour and is sponsored by the Friends of the
Thomas Balch Library.
Family history research experts Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt with the Ulster Historical
Foundation in Belfast will introduce participants to a variety of Irish historical research
resources, including records related to churches, land valuations and transactions, registry
deeds, emigration and schools. Researchers investigating Irish ancestors may know the
difficulty of finding records due to the destruction of the Irish Public Record Office in 1922. Not
all records were destroyed, many have survived, and several large collections have come online
in recent years. Experts Mullan and Hunt will share strategies for breaking down brick walls,
important historical context that may help fill in gaps in your research, and how to get the most
out of Irish resources and records.
“We are excited to bring this program to Leesburg,” said Don Cooper, President of the Friends
of the Thomas Balch Library. “It is a great opportunity to learn about Irish genealogical research
and support the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library at the same time. This workshop is one of
only fourteen stops on the lecture tour and the only one in Virginia. If Irish genealogy interests
you, don’t miss it.”
The workshop will begin at 9:00am and conclude at 4:00pm.
Registration in advance is $15 for members of the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library and $25
for non-members. Registration at the door is $30 per person. Space is limited and advance
registration is encouraged. Lunch is not included.
For registration information or questions about the workshop, call the Thomas Balch Libra ry
reference desk at 703-737-7195 or email balchlib@leesburgva.gov.
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