28th November 2006
CIGO – Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of CIGO took place today. The usual reports by the Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Executive Liaison Officers were given. (That of the Executive Liaison Officers can be read here). The new chairman was installed, John Heueston, representing Irish Family History Society. John led the thanks given to the outgoing chairman, Colm Cochrane, who represented the Certificate Genealogists’ Alumni Group. The remaining officers were re-elected unopposed for the coming year. They are Des Clarke, Hon. Secretary, John Dyer, Hon. Treasurer, and Rob Davison and Steven Smyrl as the two Executive Liaison Officers.

The meeting was followed by the Annual Lecture, given by Eddie Flood, a senior officer at the General Register Office in Roscommon town. Mr. Flood told those assembled about the GRO’s plans for the future: the soon-to-take-place move of the Dublin-based searchroom to the Irish Life Centre, Lower Abbey Street; the completion of the computerisation programme; and the eventual setting-up of an search facility on the Internet. Mr Flood also took times to listen to the opinions of the people present and to endeavour to address the issues raised.

23rd November 2006
Eddie Flood of the GRO to address the AGM

CIGO’s Annual General Meeting is set to take place on Tuesday, 28th November, in the Freemasons’ Hall, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. The formal business will begin at 7pm and various reports will be given by CIGO’s officers, after which the current chairman, Colm Cochrane of CGAG, will relinquish office and John Heueston of IFHS, will assume the chairmanship for the coming year. As chairman for 2006/2007 Colm has certainly proved his worth in the various projects he has championed. During his term of office his main objective was to see the new CIGO website up-and-running. We think all will agree that the website is testimony to his commitment to the organisation.

At 8pm the gathering will be addressed by Mr. Eddie Flood, of the General Register Office, Roscommon. Mr Flood’s talk is entitled “What’s New at the GRO?” and we hope to learn all about the GRO’s plans for its Dublin based Public Search Room and about its progress towards an Internet based service. Given the subject we expect a good turn out on the evening.

21st November 2006
CERTIFICATE GENEALOGISTS’ ALUMNI GROUP

CGAG will be holding its annual CHRISTMAS GENEALOGICAL MISCELLANY on Monday, 4th December, 2006, at 7.30pm. This year due to renovation work at St John’s House, Clyde Road, it will take place at Christ Church Hall, Sandymount Green, Dublin 4. The evening’s speaker will be Dr Susan Hood presenting ‘A Story of Bickerings, Scandal and Neglect – the Loss of the Irish Crown Jewels’, followed by Mulled Wine, Mince Pies & Festive Treats.

It will be a chance to meet old friends and make new ones in a convivial atmosphere. All are welcome – please bring your friends. Admission is Six Euro and parking is available. Proceeds in aid of Order of Malta Maternity Hospital, Bethlehem. Further details can be got from Linda Clayton: e-mail: lclayton@gofree.indigo.ie, phone:(01) 285 6360.

21st August 2006
GRONI – Not to impose restrictions on access
CIGO made strong submissions to the General Register Office of Northern Ireland (GRONI) in 2003 about GRONI’s plans to curb access to data in civil registration records. We drew GRONI’s attention to the fact that even if they did restrict access to data, records for Northern Ireland created before 1922 would continue to be available at the GRO in Dublin and further, all registers of birth, death & marriage for Northern Ireland from 1922 to 1959 are available though the LDS Library network. Again, in 2006 we were asked our views and we reiterated our position that diminution in access to public records was not acceptable. We are now pleased to say that GRONI has announced that it does not now intend place restrictions on access to the records it holds. A copy of our letter to GRONI about this can be seen here.

30th June 2006
National Library of Ireland – Strategic Plan 2007-2009

In June CIGO made a submission in relation to the National Library’s Consultation Document issued about the compilation of its forthcoming Strategic Plan for the years 2007 to 2009. CIGO made comments and suggestions relating to the Library’s holdings of Electoral Rolls and its microfilms of Roman Catholic parish registers. The submission can be read here.

20th March 2006
IRISH GENEALOGIST ON CD-ROM

Members will be pleased to hear that Volumes 1-8 of the Irish Genealogical Research Society’s journal The Irish Genealogist, most long since out of print, have been republished on CD-Rom by Eneclann, Dublin: www.eneclann.ie/pub-cat.htm. IGRS Members will be able to purchase a copy of the CD-Rom at half price.

20th March 2006
PAPERS OF THE LATE FRANCES-JANE FFRENCH

The papers of the late Frances-Jane French, about 800 files, will be made available for research in the library of the Irish Genealogical Research Society from Saturday, 25th March, 2006. A well known Dublin genealogist, Miss French had researched Irish records for Debrett’s Peerage. Her own published pedigree of French of Dublin and Hone, which includes the artists Nathaniel Hone and Evie Hone, appeared in Burke’s Irish Family Records (1976). She also worked on the Irish pedigree of Diana, Princess of Wales. Please note these files are not necessarily complete pedigrees and may be just working notes.