“Family history is not the history of great men or momentous events, but rather the lived experiences of ordinary women and men,” said Fiona Fitzsimmons, Director, Eneclann, Ltd. Fitzsimmons was discussing her talk on children in care, scheduled to take place at The Genealogy Event, in Limerick, Ireland, this summer.

While the digitization of records and many online resources have made research much easier and many historical documents more accessible, undertaking family history research today can still be a daunting task. How can one uncover the history of those ordinary men and women?

Those exploring their Irish roots may find the help they need at The Genealogy Event, taking place at The Strand Hotel in historic Limerick city, Friday, August 22, and Saturday, August 23, 2014. Those based in Ireland, who are investigating emigrant ancestors, will also find information on patterns of immigration.

For Novice to Experienced Genealogists 

The two-day event is being organized by BBNY Group, which has run similar, successful events in New York City.  It promises to blend information sessions on a broad range of Irish genealogy-related topics with social activities.

“We’ve organized this conference to help genealogists and family historians at all levels and bring together people from around the world with Irish roots,” says BBNY Group founder, Bridget Bray.
Sessions will focus on civil and church records, immigration and passenger lists, military records, surname origins, using DNA, and resources available at Ireland’s National Library and National Archives.

In addition to Eneclann, experts from Limerick Genealogy, Roots Ireland, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Irish Ancestry Research Centre (IARC), as well as other organizations, will be on hand to offer guidance and advice.

Exploring Sensitive Subjects: Children in Care and Other Topics

For more experienced genealogists, advanced sessions will cover such complex topics as finding and interpreting documents at the registry of deeds. Of particular interest will be a session on “Records of Children Raised in Care in Ireland: 1840 – 1995.” According to Eneclann’s Fitzsimmons, who will lead this session, the release of the movie “Philomena” has significantly raised awareness and interest in this sensitive subject, demonstrating that “personal identity is an integral part of human dignity.”

See Limerick’s Sights, Meet Fellow Genealogists

Additional optional activities will allow attendees (and members of the public) to sample some good Irish “craic.” An elegant buffet, will take place at The One Pery Square Hotel, a stunning Georgian property.  For more casual dining, enjoy a barbecue at the Curragower Pub overlooking the Shannon River.  Those interested in local history or commerce can join a free walking tour of the Limerick Milk Market, one of the finest consumer markets in Ireland. Feeling lucky? Try a night out at Limerick’s Greyhound Stadium.

Limerick’s central location in southwest Ireland makes it a perfect point from which to explore other parts of the country. Near Shannon Airport, Limerick is about a two-hour drive or train ride to Dublin and is a good starting point for sightseeing trips to Killarney’s Lakes, the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and other scenic destinations.

Sign Up Now and Save

Tickets are may be purchased online at www.thegenealogyevent.com. Register by March 31, 2014, and save 10 percent off the prices of tickets for the main event, as well as the special events.

For More Information

BBNY Group, LLC was founded by Bridget Bray, whose ancestors hailed from Castleconnell, Co. Limerick. Bray is a member of the Board of the New York Irish Center and the founder of the  meetup.com-Irish-British Genealogy Group in New York City. The Genealogy Event (Limerick) is being organized by the BBNY Group, in consultation with Ireland-based Merriman Research & Training, Ltd.