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Council of Irish Genealogical
Organisations (CIGO)
Since it was first established in 1992 CIGO has been
hard at work on behalf of Irish genealogists. We are a lobby group for
the various national and international organisations sharing an interest
in Irish genealogical research. We lobby for better and greater access
to source material and through our work we give a voice to those involved
in Irish genealogical research across the island of Ireland and beyond.
CIGO's Aims
CIGO’s aims, as set out in its policy documents and constitution,
are:
- To provide a forum for family history and genealogical
groups and societies which share an interest in Irish research.
- To encourage, foster and promote greater public
knowledge of and access to records relevant to genealogists, whether
held by Civil, Ecclesiastical, or private bodies.
- To formulate, influence and co-ordinate policy
on all issues of concern to member organisations.
- To encourage membership of CIGO by both Irish and
overseas genealogical and family history organisations.
- To recognise achievement in Irish genealogy through
its annual Award for Excellence in Genealogy.
CIGO's Successes
CIGO’s many years of lobbying has produced significant results
for genealogists. Here are some examples of our success:
- Republic's Death Registrations: During its Bill
stages we acheived important amendments to the Civil
Registration Act 2004. For the first time in Ireland, death
registrations now note each deceased person's date and place of birth
and their parents' names. This acheivement was been described by the
well known Irish genealogist John Grenham as "spectacular".
- Northern Ireland's Death Registrations: In 2009
CIGO was invited to give oral evidence before the Northern Ireland
Assembly's Finance & Personnel Scrutiny Committee in relation
to the Civil
Registration Bill 2007. The result has been that the committee
included provision for similar data in all Northern Ireland death
registrations in the list of 'key conclusions' in its final report.
- UK 1939 National Register: CIGO played a key and
instrumental role in challenging the UK National
Health Service Information Centre's refusal to disclose data from
the wartime National
Register (NR). Compiled in 1939, the NR notes census style data
about many, many mllions of people. Through our work access can now
be gained to the NR for all parts of the UK: England
& Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland.
- Ireland's 1926 Census: At the time of the passing
of the Statistics
Act 1993, CIGO's input reduced the proposed embargo on the
release of census data from 100 years to only 70. While this was reversed
at a further stage in the legaslative process, it clearly indicates
that pragmatic political will exists to try to resolve the issue between
right of access and privacy. Meanwhile, in January 2011 CIGO was invited
to talk with Ireland's Fine Gael party about the issue and to put
forward its views about how early access to the 1926 census might
be provided. The result was that a month later Fine Gael included
a brief reference to the roots tourism potential of the 1926 census
in its subsequently published General
Election manifesto. After the election, Fine Gael negotiated with
the Labour Party to form a new administration and release of the 1926
census was included in the published Programme for Government. On
the 31st March the new Minister for Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht
Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan TD, met with the chairman of the Irish Genealogical
Research Society, Steven Smyrl, as part of the celebrations for the
IGRS' 75th anniversary. At that meeting, held in the National Library
of Ireland, the Minister confirmed to The
Irish Times that he intended to establish access to redacted
data from the 1926 census and that this might even happen as soon
as the end of 2011. In May 2011 he told CIGO that he had referred
the matter to the Attorney General to better understand the need for
redaction of sensitive data.
- Statistics Act 1993: As part of our longstanding
campaign to obtain access to the State's
1926 census returns, we have obtained written confirmation from
the Central Statistics Office that it would be legal under the Statistics
Act 1993 to release data from the 1926 census to those enumerated
or their legal next-of-kin. On foot of representations by CIGO this
issue is currently being investigated by the Ombudsman's Office.
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The 5th Annual CIGO Award for Excellence in Genealogy was presented by Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht to John Green, chairman of Glasnevin Trust, in the Ascot Suite, Alexander Hotel, Fenian Street, Dublin 2 on Wednesday, 30th November 2011. The presentation was followed by the CIGO AGM & a lecture entitled "Glasnevin Trust - Preserving the past for future generations" by Mervyn Colville.
Read about previous award winners here.
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CIGO would like to acknowledge the assistance of Irish Genealogy Limited in developing
this website. |
Sign
CIGO's
Petition
to
open the 1926 Census of Ireland. |
26th Jan 2012
GRO Northern Ireland confirms that future death registrations are to record the name of each deceased person's mother and father.
Go to News
3rd Jan 2012
US Irish Echo covers CIGO's campaign to obtain early release of 1926 census of Ireland.
Go to News
7th Dec 2011
The 5th Annual CIGO Award for Excellence in Genealogy was presented by Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, to John Green, chairman of Glansnevin Trust, in the Ascot Suite, Alexander Hotel, Fenian Street, Dublin 2 on Wednesday, 30th November 2011. The presentation was followed by the CIGO AGM and a lecture entitled 'Glasnevin Trust - Preserving the past for future generations' by Mervyn Colville.
Go to News
25th Oct 2011
Launch of Dublin 1911, edited by Catriona Crowe of the National Archives of Ireland and published by the Royal Irish Academy, will be launched on Wednesday, 26th October 2011.
Go to News
1st May 2011
Two new members for CIGO: Alberta Family Histories
Society and the UK's Federation of Family History Societies.
Go to News
12th April 2011
Paul Gorry, former President of APGI, praises CIGO
for its work on the 1926 census issue.
Go to News
31st March 2011
At an event with the new Minister for Arts, Heritage
& Gaeltacht Affairs, the Minister spoke of his commitment
to open the 1926 census. Later in the day a reception was held
at the National Library of Ireland to celebrate the 75th anniversary
of the founding of the Irish Genealogical Research Society at
which the guest of honour was the President of Ireland.
Go to News
8th March 2011
New Irish archives Internet resource portal launched.
Go to News
7th March 2011
New Irish administration includes release of 1926 census
in its Programme for Government.
Go to News
| Sign
CIGO's
Petition
to
open the 1926 Census of Ireland. |
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