NEWS FROM CIGO

It is customary at this time of year to reflect on the twelve months just passed. Without wishing to reiterate in detail on matters already fully covered in previous articles, sufficient to say that it has been a reasonably satisfactory year for Irish genealogy and for members of CIGO. Certainly a very busy one for the Council members involved in submissions on the proposed civil registration changes within Northern Ireland and England & Wales. Whilst the concerns relating to civil registration in the Republic of Ireland (in the form of the new Civil Registration Bill 2003) are still on-going, it is pleasing to report a minor success in the long-running saga of improving access to the GRO records in Joyce House, Dublin. In November 2003, the GRO re-instated the lunchtime opening so this now gives continuous opening Monday to Friday from 9.30am. to 4.30pm. There was at some stage talk of one late night opening per week too, but nothing more has been heard of this since. The lunchtime closure was first introduced in 1987 and at the time a promise was made that it was to be only a temporary measure. The number of photocopies to be issued upon demand has now been increased to eight per day. A small victory perhaps, but very significant to CIGO which have been pressing the Registrar General for many years to improve ‘service delivery' at Joyce House. We are also pleased to hear that other libraries are now becoming interested in participating in the LDS's film circulation library scheme. For instance, Tallaght library, Co. Dublin, has applied and we have also heard that the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) might also follow suit.

The Annual General Meeting in November was held at the Freemason's Hall in Molesworth Street, Dublin, and was well attended by members and friends. An entertaining though thought provoking talk on ‘Archivists and Genealogists – Some Reflections' was given by Raymond Refauss é of the Representative Church Body Library. We were extremely grateful to Raymond for coming in at short notice and as he was launching his new edition of The Directory of Irish Archives the next day, it gave him the opportunity to try out some of his anecdotes! Member Societies' bookstalls enabled some early Christmas gifts to be purchased. Des Clarke of Raheny F.H.S, is Chairman for 2003-2004 and other key post-holders were re-elected. For the last couple of years, Steven Smyrl has acted as an Executive Liaison Officer to the Council and has also been involved in producing CIGO NEWS as well as keeping a watchful eye on legislative matters that may affect researchers. He has now been joined by the out-going Chairman, Rob Davison, who will also be an Executive Liaison Officer to the Council, but with special responsibility for Northern Ireland and Border Counties. It is hoped that 2004 will see the new and improved CIGO Website up and running. Now that the production difficulties that affected CIGO NEWS in 2003 have been ironed out, we look forward to at least three issues in 2004.

10th January 2004