Tracing Your Irish Ancestors: A Family History Conference - 2024

04th September 2024 - 11th September 2024

Assisted personal research, talks, tours and sightseeing are all part of the eclectic, friendly and fun mix of Tracing Your Irish Ancestors. Join us for the journey. We will be delighted to see you.

£1,175.00

Pay Deposit of £100.00 Book Now

+44(028) 91 812073 enquiry@uhf.org.uk

Overview

Whether you are an experienced genealogist and have previously visited our shores or are new to Irish family history, the expert genealogists of the Ulster Historical Foundation will be on hand during our conference programme to guide you at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).

Our classic 8-day programme includes research in the archives in Belfast, lectures, and tours to famous historic sites and cultural attractions.

Crucially, for the research enthusiast, you can spend all your time in the archives if you wish to do so – the choice is yours! Throughout the week our research team will be there each day to offer advice and help point you in the right direction.

Our conference will also have a maximum capacity meaning that you will experience dedicated one-on-one time with our research team. As our team know the archives and how to mine the information for your family tree, working closely with our researchers will greatly improve your experience in the archives as well as improving your chances of success.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the Autumn School and the opportunity to meet others who share my interest in researching their Ulster heritage. Having access to academics was a huge benefit and advanced my research. Not only were they experts, but they were approachable and interested in our individual research challenges. The visits to the various sites of historical interest and the commentary on the bus were also enjoyable and enriched the whole experience. Thanks!"
Virginia MacLatchey – Ontario, Canada

Highlights

2024 Programme

Our classic 8-day programme includes research in the archives in Belfast, lectures, and tours to famous historic sites and cultural attractions.

For the first time since 2019, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors 2024 will include a guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol, one of Ireland's most important monuments and visitor attractions, and, for the first time since 2018 (excluding the visit of two small groups in 2022), Tracing Your Irish Ancestors will return to Barons Court, the magnificent seat and family home of the Duke of Abercorn whose ancestors migrated from Scotland over 400 years ago.

Tracing Your Irish Ancestors 2024 will also see delegates visit the UNESCO World Heritage site at Brú na Bóinne, with tours of the neolithic burial monuments at Newgrange and Knowth; tour what has been described as "the world's leading tourist attraction" by the World Travel Awards, Titanic Belfast; experience the stark beauty of the Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was voted the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom; receive a guided walking tour along the famous walls of Derry City; and much more!

As with our previous Tracing Your Irish Ancestors programmes delegates will be able to shape their own experiences by choosing to either research in the archives or join our staff on daily excursions through Ireland's beautiful landscape to some of its most historic sites.

Assisted personal research, talks, tours and sightseeing are all part of the eclectic, friendly and fun mix of Tracing Your Irish Ancestors. Join us for the journey. We will be delighted to see you.

During your time with us you will be able to tour some of Belfast's most interesting visitor attractions including the award winning Titanic Belfast.

Described as "the world's leading tourist attraction" by the World Travel Awards, Titanic Belfast tells the story of the Titanic from her conception, through her construction and launch, to her maiden voyage and subsequent place in history. Located beside the Titanic Slipways, the Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices and Hamilton Graving Dock – the very place where Titanic was designed, built and launched, Titanic Belfast is a must see for anyone visiting Belfast!

Delegates will witness 6,000 years of Irish history in 6 hours as you visit the site of the Battle of the Boyne, one of the most significant events in Irish history before going on to walk through Ireland's pre-history with a visit to Brú na Bóinne and the passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth. Newgrange is the best-known neolithic monument in Ireland (one that predates the ancient pyramids by 400 years and Stonehenge by 1000) and is considered one of the top ten visitor attractions in Ireland by National Geographic.

After the tour of Brú na Bóinne concludes, delegates will travel through the heart of Ireland's Ancient East. The abundance of historic monuments within this area testifies to it being Ireland's most sacred and mythical landscape. Some of the most important historic sites and monuments in Ireland dot the landscape here including Monasterboice, notable for its impressive round tower and spectacular high crosses; Melifont Abbey, the first Cistercian monastery built in Ireland; the Hill of Tara, a sacred site associated with the High Kings of Ireland and of course the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Brú na Bóinne.

For centuries migration has dominated and shaped Ulster’s history. This applies to both immigration and emigration – people arriving and people departing. The seventeenth century witnessed the arrival of thousands of families from Britain. By the late 1600s families from Ulster were beginning to travel westwards to North America. Learn about this story, and others like it, when we visit the Ulster American Folk Park.

If for no other reason, Kilmainham Gaol would be remarkable for being the biggest unoccupied gaol in these islands.

As such, it gives the visitor a dramatic and realistic insight into what it was like to have been confined in one of these forbidding bastions of punishment and correction between 1796 when it opened and 1924 when it closed.

However the real importance of the Gaol is its central place in modern Irish history, in particular in covering some of the most tragic events in Ireland's emergence as a modern nation from 1780s to the 1920s, including the 1798 Rebellion (and events preceding the Rebellion), the War of Independence, the Irish Civil War, and the creation of Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. In that respect Kilamainham offers a panoramic insight into some of the most profound, disturbing and inspirational themes of modern Irish history.

Many notable figures from Irish history were detained here including including: Robert Emmet, Charles Stewart Parnell, the leaders of the 1916 Rising, and Éamon de Valera.

Kilmainham is one of Dublin’s most important monuments and visitor attractions.

Renowned travel guide Lonely Planet said of Kilmainham Gaol that:

If you have any desire to understand Irish history – especially the long-running resistance to British colonial rule – then a visit to this former prison is an absolute must

As the home of the Dukes of Abercorn (Ulster’s only dukedom), Barons Court is not normally open to the public, Barons Court will be a rare opportunity for delegates to see inside this fascinating house.

Before the Tracing your Irish Ancestors conference formally begins we are also offering an online Irish Genealogy Essentials course. This course will see delegates be able to view 21 pre-recorded lectures on essential topics relating to Irish genealogical research (over 28 hours of content).

If you decide to include the online genealogy course as part of your registration, you will have special access to our online classroom. The classroom will "go live" on 30 April 2024 and you will have unrestricted access to the various lectures until the end of the conference on 11 September 2024. Before the online classroom goes live, you will be given account information and links to the classroom so that you can start watching right away on 30 April 2024.

Schedule

: 17:00 - Informal get-together.

During this get-together you will meet with the Foundation’s staff and the other delegates, have a chance to ask any questions you might have about the week ahead and get to know your fellow delegates. Please note that this gathering is completely informal so if you have recently arrived and would prefer not to attend you will be able to meet us on the Thursday morning

18:30 - Evening concludes
: A choice of:

09:00 - A day of assisted research at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).

or

After an introductory session in PRONI delegates will have the choice to stay and research in the archives or spend the afternoon touring some of Belfast's award-winning visitor attractions, including Titanic Belfast.

18.00 - Evening meal for both groups in Belfast
: A choice of:

A day of assisted research at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).

or

A tour of Kilmainham Gaol and Dublin City.

Now operating as a museum we will receive a guided tour of this forbidding bastion of punishment and correction, one of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe. Leaders of many Irish rebellions were detained in Kilmainham including Robert Emmet and Eamon de Valera.

Delegates will then be brought back to Belfast and have a free evening to enjoy the city before our final day together.
: All delegates will begin their day with a journey through County Tyrone on our way to visit Barons Court, the home of the Dukes of Abercorn (Ulster’s only dukedom). Barons Court is not normally open to the public and for delegates this will be a rare opportunity to see inside this fascinating house.

After our time at Barons Court, the group will then visit the Ulster American Folk Park and Mellon Centre for Migration Studies. Described as 'the ultimate in living history' the outdoor museum at the Folk Park includes the famous Mellon homestead, buildings from America, an Ulster and American street and a full-scale dockside galley and ship.

On the same site as the Folk Park, the Mellon Centre is a research library housing an extensive collection of materials relating to the history of the peoples of Ireland worldwide. Delegates may prefer to spend most of their time touring the Folk Park or researching at the Mellon Centre or a mix of the two. The choice is yours.
: Free day for delegates to spend as they choose. Some may care to visit the church of their ancestors, explore the city of Belfast or visit the many fantastic attractions the city has to offer.

A full day can be spent visiting the recently refurbished HMS Caroline, a lone survivor of the Battle of Jutland in 1916. A short bus ride will also allow you to take in such sites as the Ulster Museum and Botanical Gardens as well the Ulster Folk and Transport museum at Cultra.

A visit to St. George's Market is highly recommended. Located in a charming Victorian building (constructed 1890-1896) the market is one of Belfast's oldest attractions offering delicious food, local crafts and antiques.

In the evening, why not take in a performance amidst the Victorian splendour of Belfast's Grand Opera House or the recently refurbished Lyric Theatre with its marvellous views of the River Lagan and then finish off the day with a modest libation in Belfast's most famous pub, the Crown Liquor Saloon with its period gas lighting and cosy snugs.
: A choice of:

A day of assisted research at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).

or

A visit the walled city of Derry/Londonderry, experiencing some of the delights that the maiden city has to offer.

One of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe, delegates will receive a guided tour along Derry's famous walls, learning more about the history of the city and the history of "the troubles" in Northern Ireland. Starting at Derry's famous Guild Hall and proceeding along the west side of the city's walls, the walking tour will pass the Tower Museum and First Derry Presbyterian Church on the way to St Columb's Cathedral. From the height of the walls you will be able to see "Free Derry Corner" and the Bogside area of the city; St Columba's Long Tower Church ; St Augustine's Church; and the Siege Museum.

The afternoon will see you take part in a coach tour across the greater Derry City area, ending at the emigration sculptures on the edge of the River Foyle.

The day will end with dinner back in Belfas
: A choice of:

A day of assisted research at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).

or

Proceeding through County Down we will cross the border before arriving in the Boyne Valley wherein delegates will experience 6000 years of Irish history in 6 hours.

When we arrive at Brú na Bóinne we will first tour the extraordinary passage grave of Knowth. The tomb at Knowth contains the greatest concentration of megalithic art in Western Europe and is considered one of the top ten visitor attractions in Ireland by National Geographic. After a guided tour of Knowth we will then depart for the mysteriously beautiful passage tomb at Newgrange. Newgrange is the best-known neolithic monument in Ireland which predates the ancient pyramids by 400 years and Stonehenge by 1000.

After the tour of Brú na Bóinne concludes, delegates will travel through the heart of Ireland's Ancient East. The abundance of historic monuments within this area testifies to it being Ireland's most sacred and mythical landscape. Some of the most important historic sites and monuments in Ireland dot the landscape here including Monasterboice, notable for its impressive round tower and spectacular high crosses; Melifont Abbey, the first Cistercian monastery built in Ireland; the Hill of Tara, a sacred site associated with the High Kings of Ireland and of course the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Brú na Bóinne.

The day will end with a final group meal in Belfast.
: All delegates will travel through the Glens of Antrim, winding between its picturesque villages and unforgettable scenic locations, stopping at Glenarm Castle and proceeding towards the town of Bushmills, home of Bushmills Whiskey where the group will have lunch.

After lunch delegates will be able to witness the iconic turreted ruins of Dunluce Castle, the inspiration for C.S. Lewis' Cair Paravel from the Chronicles of Narnia and the site of the House of Greyjoy from Game of Thrones before going on to experience the stark beauty of the Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was voted the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom.

Locations

What's Included?

Register for our 2024 Family History Conference with just a deposit of £350 (GBP). The full price for our 2024 Conference is £1,175.

Given the current low value of sterling (GBP) against other currencies now is a particularly good time for overseas visitors to attend. The present exchange rate will ensure overseas delegates can make a very tidy saving on the cost.

For all those taking part in Tracing Your Irish Ancestors the following is included:

Dedicated research assistance by professional genealogists
Three morning tea/coffees
Transport to the attractions during the event
Three evening meals
Six lunches
Talks and tours
Entrance fees

Please note that travel to and from Northern Ireland and accommodation are not included in the price, and delegates will need to make their own reservations for accommodation during the Tracing your Irish Ancestors event.

To allow you to reserve the accommodation of your choice, and which suits your own needs/interests, look at our section relating to accommodation

Please note: As there are capacity limits at many of the sites we will be visiting, there is a maximum number of delegates that can be accommodated on the tours. This is limited to 45 places, (or in the case of some specific tours there will be a limit of 30 places).

To avoid disappointment, if you, or your travel companion, wish to be included on any specific tour itinerary, please make sure you confirm your choice of tour as soon as possible after completing your registration.

To help you decide, check the programme section of the website for more details on our tour itineraries.

NB: This does not apply to our Saturday excursion as all delegates will be travelling together on this day

Bookings cancelled by 31 January 2024 will receive a 80% refund. Cancellations received between 01 February 2024 and 30 April 2024 will receive a 60% refund. Cancellations received between 01 May 2024 and 30 June 2024 will receive a 40% refund. Any cancellation from 01 July 2024 will receive a 20% refund. Cancellations due to medical conditions will be treated as sympathetically as possible.

In the unlikely event that the Foundation has to cancel Researching Your Irish Ancestors due to insufficient registrations, full refunds will be provided.

If you have attended one of our previous Family History Conferences and wish to join us in 2024 please contact conleth.mullan@uhf.org.uk in order to register for the best possible rate.

Travel & Accommodation

Accommodation for our 2024 programme is not included in this event package. There are however a number of hotels close to Belfast’s historic Titanic Quarter which would merit consideration.

The hotels located within the Titanic Quarter are also within walking distance of PRONI.

There are other hotels in the area that might be worth looking at:

The Malmaison and Merchant hotels are located in historic buildings and have an excellent reputation but can be expensive. The Ramada Encore and Premier Inn would be cheaper options. Alternatively, you may wish to stay elsewhere in Belfast or its vicinity.

Go to www.discovernorthernireland.com to check out accommodation options.

A number of delegates in the past have also rented serviced-apartments within walking distance of the Titanic Quarter and usually this can prove to be incredibly cost effective.

However, the Foundation is unaware of how these delegates made their bookings in the past but a quick google can illuminate a number of rental options.

Important Note: The pick up and drop-off point for the duration of our September programme will be in front of the Premier Inn in the Titanic Quarter.

The image to the right shows an area in Belfast close to the to the pick-up point each morning. It is recommended that delegates stay within this area as complications might arise with regards to travel if you are further outside this area.