(The following essay is excerpted from pp. 39-40 from Mr. Mitchell’s book, New Pocket Guide to Irish Genealogy.) With civil registration of births and deaths commencing in 1864, and with the patchy survival of church records before this time, gravestone inscriptions take on a special significance. Many Church of Ireland burial registers were destroyed by[…]Read more
The Nine Years War, also known as Tyrone’s Rebellion, lasted from 1593-1603. In that conflict, which ensued throughout the country of Ireland but mostly in Ulster, Irish lords Hugh O’Neill and Hugh Roe O’Donnell of Tyrconnell led an alliance that was ultimately unsuccessful in stopping the Tudor monarchy’s efforts to consolidate its power throughout the[…]Read more
When Americans recall the Irish Potato Famine, they immediately think of the hundreds of thousands who emigrated to the U.S. between 1846 and 1851. But during that famine and at other times, Irish emigrants ventured to many other parts of the world, notably the British Isles, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, elsewhere in Europe, and Latin[…]Read more
Brian Mitchell’ New Pocket Guide to Irish Genealogy is a concise, use-friendly overview of tracing ancestors in the Emerald Isle and throughout the Irish diaspora. Author Brian Mitchell makes excellent use of case studies as well as his considerable experience as a genealogist and manager of an Irish genealogy center to explain the basics of[…]Read more
In my eyes the Future of Irish Genealogy is a promising one. Here are the reasons why: 1. The major Irish record sources can now be examined online, such as: Census enumerations of 1901 and 1911 can be searched at www.census.nationalarchives.ie Irish Civil Records of births from 1864-1920, marriages 1845-1945 and deaths 1871-1970 can be[…]Read more
Prior to the 16th Century, the records awaiting determined genealogists and historians are scanty to say the least. Joseph O Callaghan, professor emeritus of medieval history at Fordham University, was certainly better prepared to confront that challenge that most when he tacked his family history. Now available in a revised edition, Clan Callaghan: The O[…]Read more
From Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette (August 2020) by Genealogical Society of Ireland Genealogical.com New Pocket Guide to Irish Genealogy The publication by the Clearfield Company; Baltimore, Maryland, of the ‘New Pocket Guide to Irish Genealogy‘ by Brian Mitchell is a very welcome and timely addition to the published resources for Irish family history. This well known and[…]Read more
When Brian Mitchell wrote the original Pocket Guide to Irish Genealogy in 1991, with revisions in 2002 and 2008, access to Irish record sources was through examination of original and microfilm copies of historical sources in record offices. Genealogists now, however, have ready access online to most of Irish record sources. Therefore, Brian Mitchell has[…]Read more
Marleta Childs of Lubbock, Texas, has been writing her column, “Kinsearching, for upwards of three decades. As we have learned over the time, she knows a good book when she sees one. Check out her review below of our recent publication, Clan Callaghan: The O Callaghan Family of County Cork: A History, by Joseph F.[…]Read more
Genealogical Publishing Company is pleased to announce its release of the family history, Clan Callaghan: The O Callaghan Family of County Cork. Revised Edition, by Joseph F. O Callaghan. This impeccably researched and stylishly written family history traces the O Callaghans (Callaghan, Callahan) from their mythic beginnings in Ireland to their present-day progeny in County[…]Read more
The Midwest Books Review, edited by James A. Cox of Oregon, Wisconsin, has for decades been an important source of advice for library acquisition librarians in deciding what new publications to add to their collections. Brian Mitchell’s New Pocket Guide to Irish Genealogy just received a stellar review from Mr. Cox, and we are reprinting[…]Read more
It is a postulate of Irish genealogy that the destruction of the Irish Public Record Office in late June 1922, resulting in the loss of a vast collection of Irish source records at the outset of the Irish Civil War, was the greatest tragedy in Irish genealogy. Among the losses were centuries of census, probate,[…]Read more
