Genealogy focus for Hedge School
Memory, legacy and intergenerational stories are at the heart of the fourth annual Thomas MacDonagh Hedge School, taking place at the Thomas MacDonagh Museum, Cloughjordan, from September 16-19.
Genealogy offers a way of understanding family history through the records people leave behind: births; marriages; census returns; land records; newspapers and on occasion, encounters with the courts. All of these sources place individual lives within the wider history of their communities.
WORKSHOPS
This year’s Thomas MacDonagh Hedge School includes three genealogy workshops that will explore different aspects of family history research, from getting started to working with more specialised local records, these sessions are designed to help participants explore family history through practical research skills, local archives and lesser-known historical records. Participants may book individual workshops or sign up for all three.
On Wednesday, September 16, from 10.30am to 1pm the hedge school will host an Introduction to Tracing Your Ancestors workshop.
Drawing on almost three decades of experience with the North Tipperary Genealogy Centre, professional genealogist Nora O’Meara will introduce the fundamentals of family history research.
The session will outline the key sources available to researchers, including church and civil records, census returns, land records, newspaper archives and online databases, while offering practical guidance on how to begin tracing family connections.
Nora O’Meara holds a Master's degree in History of the Family from the University of Limerick and has managed the North Tipperary Genealogy Centre since its establishment. The centre, based in the former County Gaol in Nenagh, provides specialist research services for people tracing North Tipperary ancestry.
GENEALOGICAL RECORD COLLECTIONS
From 2pm to 5pm on Wednesday, September 16, the hedge school will host a Building Skills Through Hands-On Practice workshop. Genealogist Darragh Johnson will lead a practical workshop aimed at helping participants develop confidence in using the main genealogical record collections, including church, civil, census and land records.
Through case studies and guided research exercises, attendees will learn how to navigate both free and subscription-based genealogy resources. Access to paid databases will be provided as part of the workshop.
Originally from Clonmel, Darragh Johnson holds a Master's degree in Global History from University College Dublin and has worked as a professional family history researcher for several genealogical firms.
He now works independently, specialising in family tree research and helping clients uncover new connections within their family histories.
On Thursday, September 17, from 10.30am to 5pm, the hedge school will hold the final genealogy workshop, Whatever Fate We Find: Crime, Policing and Family History. Genealogist Michael Reynolds will present a workshop examining the role of courts and policing in North Tipperary and how these records can provide valuable insights for family history research.
Focusing on the early twentieth century, a period of significant social and political change, the workshop will explore how court, policing and justice records can reveal unexpected aspects of individual and family histories.
Designed for those who have already begun researching their family trees, the session will introduce participants to the historical context of policing and the courts in areas such as Cloughjordan, as well as the sources available to genealogists working in this field.
Based in Nenagh, Michael Reynolds is founder of Past-Links Genealogy Services and holds a Master's degree in History of the Family from the University of Limerick. He specialises in Irish family history research, including military and Garda genealogy, and regularly lectures on genealogy courses and to historical societies in Ireland and abroad.
The genealogy workshops form part of the wider Thomas MacDonagh Hedge School programme, which this year examines the relationship between history and memory through a range of talks, discussions and cultural events.
Una Johnston, Thomas MacDonagh Museum Director and Project Manager said: “I’m very excited about this year’s Hedge School programming. The genealogy workshops offer multiple opportunities to explore your family history and discover your own personal legacy. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.”
The Thomas MacDonagh Museum’s mission is to honour the legacy of Thomas MacDonagh by sharing a history that resonates with contemporary Ireland.
The Museum maintains a close relationship with MacDonagh family descendants and houses a unique collection that gives an account of one family’s enduring connection to the Irish nation and its history.
TICKET DETAILS
Tickets for events are now available €12.50 via Eventbrite https://bit.ly/4oHWvOS
Thomas MacDonagh Museum https://macdonaghmuseum.ie/