Ulster Heritage Magazine

New Issue of the Donegal E-zine Available

2012-01-17T12:47:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Donegal in Touch e-zine. This e-zine is part of the Donegal Diaspora Project. Through this project Donegal is reaching out and connecting with people in all parts of the world who have a connection to or interest in Donegal. This e-zine is sent to people in all parts of the world.

Please feel free to pass this e-zine on to others that you feel might be interested in it. Any views, comments or contributions to the e-zine are very welcome. The latest edition of the e-zine can be viewed or downloaded via the Donegal County Development Board website - http://www.donegalcdb.ie/ using the following link:

http://www.donegalcdb.ie/media/wwwdonegalcdbie/content/cdbphotos/Ezine%20Issue%2015.pdf

For further information on Donegal or on the Donegal Diaspora Project, please contact Roisin McBride at rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie.

Fáilte go ríomhiris Dún na nGall i dTeagmháil. Tá an ríomhiris seo ina pháirt de Thionscnamh Diaspóra Dhún na nGall. Tá Dún na nGall ag síneadh amach agus ag nascú le daoine ar fud an domhain a bhfuil gaol nó suim acu leis an chondae. Cuirtear an ríomhiris seo chuig daoine i ngach cearn den domhan.

Seol an ríomhiris seo chuig duine ar bith a mbeadh suim acu ann, le do thoil. Beidh fáilte roimh thuairimí, ráitis nó eolas don ríomhiris. Tá an eagrán is deireannaí don e-iris le fáil le léamh nó íoslodáil ó suíomh idirlín Bord Forbartha Chontae Dhún na nGall - http://www.donegalcdb.ie/ ag an nasc seo a leanas:

http://www.donegalcdb.ie/media/wwwdonegalcdbie/content/cdbphotos/Ezine%20Issue%2015.pdf

Chun tuilleadh eolais ar Chontae Dhún na nGall nó ar Tionscnamh Diaspóra Dhún na nGall, dean teagmháil le Maria Nic Fheargusa ag maria.ferguson@donegalcoco.ie nó le Róisín Nic Giolla Bhríde ag rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie.

With kind regards

The Donegal - community in touch / Dún na nGall - pobail i d'teagmháil Publication Team

Ulster Irish Migration Studies Reunion Lecture

2012-01-12T09:40:00.000-06:00

The Eleventh Annual Irish Migration Studies Reunion Lecture will be given in the Centre on Saturday 28 January 2012 at 11.00 am by Professor Liam Kennedy of Queen’s University, Belfast.

More detail about the content of the lecture, ‘The Planter and the Gael’, can now be found at:

http://www.qub.ac.uk/cms/events/Reunion_Lecture_2012/Reunion_Lecture2012_programme.html.

A merit award will be presented to Liam Corry, one of the last students of the old MSSc course in Irish Migration Studies, for graduating with distinction.

As usual we look forward to welcoming friends of the Centre, old and new – and not least our past students.

Brian Lambkin

Gaelic Language In Nova Scotia

2012-01-11T09:23:00.000-06:00

Gaelic is alive and well in Nova Scotia despite decades of negative pressure from government officials in the past. Nova Scotia is one of the few areas in the New World with an indigenous Gaelic speaking population. 30% of Nova Scotians are of Gaelic ancestry and interest in the language is growing now. The Gaelic there is Scots' Gaidhlig, which shares many characteristics with Ulster Gaelic. Gaelic in Ulster is influenced by the historical ties between the Hebrides and Argyll and Ulster. For centuries many west Highland and Hebridean families migrated to Ulster. Link to news story: Nova Scotia Gaelic

The Northern Lights Come To Ulster

2012-01-09T11:06:00.000-06:00

Across the north of Ireland the sublimely beautiful Northern Lights make their appearance. Link to the Irish Times article here: The Northern Lights in Ireland.

Hance Hamilton, Scots-Irish Icon and Mystery

2012-01-07T12:03:00.003-06:00

Hance Hamilton was the quintessential Scots-Irish man. Colonial history books tell of his many accomplishments and exploits. He is a well documented figure that left behind many letters and official reports and he is mentioned in many Crown records. Yet, his origins and early life are a mystery.

Hance Hamilton was the de facto leader of the Ulster settlement at Marsh Creek, which is where present day Gettysburg stands. In the late 1740s and early 1750s he served as sheriff of the Adams County. He also served as a magistrate for Adams County. He was a captain of the militia and later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was a leader in French and Indian War and participated the famous Kittaning Expedition against the Delawares. He fought in many very brutal battles, of a nature common on the frontier, and in these he exhibited great bravery and leadership. He was well educated, a Latin speaker, his peer circle include the likes of George Washington, he was a man of his age that did extremely well.

The mysteries about him concern with his date and father. Hance Hamilton was born in Ireland, probably in northwest Tyrone or east Donegal. Most histories of him state he was born in 1721, however that date is too late to explain his oldest son Thomas being made deputy sheriff in the early 1750s. The current tombstone on his grave was placed there in the late 1800s, the original one was broken and very hard to read. There is the distinct possibility that the 'birth' date on the replaced tombstone is incorrect given the math of his older son's life.

The father of Hance Hamilton is often listed as Hance Hamilton Sr who led a fleet contain 140 families that landed at New Castle, Delaware in 1729, but there is no record of this fleet or any record of an older Hance Hamilton. Such a large influx of settlers would certainly have been noticed and it would have taken several ships to carry so many people, but Colonial records do not record the event. However, it is possible that Hance Hamilton arrived on a ship that came into New Castle, Delaware in 1729. But he very well could have already been living in the PA Colony.

It is known he had at least two brothers, James Hamilton who died in 1748 and John Hamilton who took care of Hance Hamilton's will.

Scots-Irish soldiers 1750s

There are several researchers trying to unravel the true story of this remarkable Scots-Irish man. If anyone has any primary sources concerning Lt Col Hance Hamilton of the Marsh Creek settlement, please send a note to the Ulster Heritage Magazine and we will forward it to the interested parties.

Seven Wonders of Northern Ireland

2012-01-06T16:05:00.002-06:00

Link to Belfast Telegraph article on the Seven Wonders of Northern Ireland.

Ulster Heritage DNA Test Sale

2012-01-04T07:23:00.000-06:00

Holiday Promotion extended to January 7, 2012

Due to popular demand Family Tree DNA extended its Holiday Promotion, which encompasses the widest rage of tests, from new kits to upgrades. Here are the details of the promotion:

New Kits	Current Group Price	SALE PRICE
Y-DNA 37	$149	$119
Y-DNA 67	$239	$199
mtFullSequence	$299	$239
SuperDNA (Y-DNA67 and FMS)	$518	$438
Family Finder	$289	$199
Family Finder + mtPlus	$438	$318
Family Finder + FMS	$559	$439
Family Finder+ Y-DNA37	$438	$318
Comprehensive (FF + FMS + Y-67)	$797	$627

Upgrades
12-25 Marker	$49	$35
12-37 Marker	$99	$69
12-67 Marker	$189	$148
25-37 Marker	$49	$35
25-67 Marker	$148	$114
37-67 Marker	$99	$79
Family Finder	$289	$199
mtHVR1toMega	$269	$229
mtHVR2toMega	$239	$209

Orders must be placed and paid for by January 7, 2012 to receive this offer.
IMPORTANT: This promotion will not be extended beyond January 7, 2012.

Link to Join: Ulster Heritage DNA Project

Storms Batter Northern Ireland

2012-01-04T07:10:00.000-06:00

Strong storms across the north of Ireland, link: Northern Irish Storms

Geese in flight over the lost Loughsisooly

2011-12-27T09:47:00.000-06:00


Geese in flight over the lost Loughsisooly

From the camera of north Antrim's Nevin Taggart, a beautiful winter's day in Ulster.

St Stephen's Day Song

2011-12-26T11:00:00.004-06:00

Merry Christmas

2011-12-26T09:45:00.001-06:00

Nollaig Shona Daoibh

Thanksgiving!!!

2011-11-24T12:27:00.000-06:00

Enjoy Lads and Lassies

USA Employment for Irish Speakers

2011-11-21T16:11:00.002-06:00

A chairde

For your consideration / circulation

Rosetta Stone is seeking native Irish speakers within 50 miles of Chicago, Miami and DC

For further information see

http://jobs.rosettastone.com/Coaching-jobs.aspx

Kind regards

Colleen Dube

Stiúrthóir

Coimisiún Fulbright

Teach Phlásóg an tSrutháin

Bóthar Shíol Bhroin

Baile Átha Cliath 4
Eire

T: +353 (0) 1 660 7670

F: +353 (0) 1 660 7668

colleen.dube@fulbright.ie

www.fulbright.ie

Executive Director

The Fulbright Commission

Brooklawn House

Shelbourne Road

Dublin 4

Ireland

Strabane & West Ulster In The 1800s

2011-11-21T08:47:00.000-06:00

Strabane & West Ulster In The 1800s; Selections from The Strabane Morning Post
USD $ 16.95
Strabane & West Ulster in the 1800s, is an in-depth look at the lives and time of people of all classes and creeds in the early decades of the 19th century. The information is extracted from the pages of the weekly newspaper, The Strabane Morning Post, and much previously unavailable material has now been brought into the public domain. Descriptions of floods, fevers and famines provide insights into the problems of everyday life, while advertisements demonstrate the extent of economic activity and the range of products available to those who could afford to pay. The copious coverage of court cases sheds light on the extent of lawlessness and the severity of law enforcement while regional and parliamentary affairs are also highlighted. This compilation is therefore both an entertaining examination of the foibles of a past age and a comprehensive source base for further analysis of key events and responses. It is a must for anyone interested in the everyday responses of ordinary people in their own environment to a rapidly changing world and a major addition for researchers and genealogists in unraveling an era in which evidential material has been difficult to locate. This limited edition publication should take pride of place among a range of local materials from West Ulster and provide endless hours of pleasurable engagement in the concerns of another age. Click for Full Index This e-book is every-word-searchable. Includes Introduction, Dedication, Preface, Appendix, Index. 428 pages To Purchase: Ulster Heritage Books

Damien O'Kane Trio in Concert, Belfast

2011-11-21T08:26:00.001-06:00

The Damien O'Kane Trio will be in concert on 26 November · 20:00 - 23:00. Ticket information below.

Sár-oíche cheoil i gcomhluadar an Damien O’Kane Trio.

Damien is quickly establishing his reputation as one of the country's most creative and exciting traditional performers.

Damien O'Kane's banjo playing has led to him being regarded as one of the finest Irish players on the scene today and he is also winning accolades as a singer, focusing on songs from the north of Ireland. Since the release of his debut solo album ‘Summer Hill’ in 2010 the Coleraine man's career has gone from strength to strength, with sell-out performances at major folk festivals throughout Ireland and England.

After their outstanding performance at Féile 'An Droichead' 2010 we are delighted that ‘The Damien O’Kane Trio’ are returning, with virtuoso bodhrán whiz John Joe Kelly (ex Flook) and one of Ireland’s finest acoustic guitarists, Gerard Thompson.

www.damienokane.co.uk

Ceannaigh ticéid, Buy Tickets – www.androichead.com/box-office

Surnames, Beatty & McVitty

2011-11-17T07:50:00.000-06:00

Bia, meaning food, is the root of many words in Gaelic and several surnames. In ancient and mediaeval Ulster strangers and travellers were granted hospitality. Each district would have a 'biatach' who was the man intrusted by the clan's taoiseach with the responsibility of providing this hospitality. This was done at the Brú, which was a hostel located at a road crossing on a major slí, or road. The position of biatach was important and he would be provided with land and goods so that he could execute his work. In short, it was a good gig.

The word biatach is used in several traditional family surnames: Ó Beataigh (descendant of the Biatach) which is anglicised as Beatty, Beattie. Another surname from Biatach is Mac an Bhiataigh (son of the Biatach) and anglicised as MacVitty, McVitie, etc. (so there is some connected between those lovely tea biscuits and their name!).

Donegal County Council News

2011-11-17T07:34:00.000-06:00

Donegal CountyCouncil

An bhfuil ranganna Gaeilge nó ciorcal comhrá Gaeilge ar siúl i do cheantar, áit ar bith i gContae Dhún na nGall?

Má tá, ba mhaith le hOifig Ghaeilge na Comhairle Contae a chluinstin faoi. Is féidir an t-eolas a thabhairt anseo, nó é a chur chuig sdaimhin@donegalcoco.ie.

Holiday Sale On Ulster DNA Testing

2011-11-16T08:30:00.000-06:00

There is a great Holiday sale being given by the Family Tree labs that are used by the Ulster Heritage Project. Link to take advantage of this opportunity below.

As we approach the holiday season, we feel having one BIG promotion for a sufficient amount of time best supports our volunteer Administrators, in their effort to recruit new members. Current members will also benefit by having simultaneously reduced prices for upgrades.
Effective immediately this promotion will end on December 31, 2011.

We hope that this will give a big boost to your projects!

New Kits

	Current Group Price	SALE PRICE
Y-DNA 37	$149	$119
Y-DNA 67	$239	$199
mtFullSequence	$299	$239
SuperDNA (Y-DNA67 and FMS)	$518	$438
Family Finder	$289	$199
Family Finder + mtPlus	$438	$318
Family Finder + FMS	$559	$439
Family Finder+ Y-DNA37	$438	$318
Comprehensive (FF + FMS + Y-67)	$797	$627

Upgrades
12-25 Marker	$49	$35
12-37 Marker	$99	$69
12-67 Marker	$189	$148
25-37 Marker	$49	$35
25-67 Marker	$148	$114
37-67 Marker	$99	$79
Family Finder	$289	$199
mtHVR1toMega	$269	$229
mtHVR2toMega	$239	$209

ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AND PAID FOR BY MIDNIGHT DECEMBER 31st 2011 TO RECEIVE THE SALE PRICES. THIS PROMOTION IS NOT VALID IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER PROMOTIONS OR COUPONS.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL NOT BE OFFERING DISCOUNTS FOR THE Y-DNA111, NEW KITS OR UPGRADES. THOSE MAY BE OFFERED AT A LATER TIME PENDING THE LAB VOLUMES WITH THE TESTS UNDER PROMOTION.

Link to Join: Ulster Heritage DNA Project

Medieval Irish Town Unearthed

2011-11-14T09:14:00.000-06:00

From the Belfast Telegraph, interesting article about a medieval Irish town of 500 with 14 pubs. Worthy for that reason alone, but also because it is a stunning archaeological find and reveals much about the every day life in a Hiberno Norman town circa 1200s AD.

Link: Medieval Irish Town

New Issue of the Donegal E-zine Available

2011-11-10T10:32:00.000-06:00

Links Below:

http://www.donegalcdb.ie/media/wwwdonegalcdbie/content/cdbphotos/Issue14.pdf

For further information on Donegal or on the Donegal Diaspora Project, please contact Maria Ferguson at maria.ferguson@donegalcoco.ie or Roisin McBride at rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie.

http://www.donegalcdb.ie/media/wwwdonegalcdbie/content/cdbphotos/Issue14.pdf

With kind regards

The Donegal - community in touch / Dún na nGall - pobail i d'teagmháil Publication Team

______________

Roisin McBride

Research Officer

Strategic Policy Unit

Donegal County Council

Tel: +353 74 9172461

Fax: +353 74 9142130

E-Mail: rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie

Website: http://www.donegalcoco.ie/

Copyright Issues in Ulster Anno Domini 560

2011-11-04T07:48:00.000-05:00

First Alleged “Copyright” Dispute: 560 AD, Celtic Ireland; Battle Ensues; 3000 people die

May 10, 2011 by Stephan Kinsella

I just came across some interesting information about what is sometimes referred to as “the first copyright” dispute (h/t Kevin Glick). It concerns one of Ireland’s three patron saints, St. Colum Cille (521-597 AD) (the others being St. Patrick and St. Brigid). Colum Cille was given this name when he became a monk–the name meaning “Dove of the Church”. He is sometimes he is referred to as Colmcille or Columba, which is the Latin for Dove. At this time something a system called “Brehon law” was used to settle disputes.

As detailed in various sources, ((See especially Ray Corrigan, “Colmcille and the Battle of the Book: Technology, Law and Access to Knowledge in 6th Century Ireland” (2007) (pdf); also St. Columcille Division 4 – History (Ancient Order of Hibernians in America). For general background see also Joseph R. Peden, “Property Rights in Celtic Irish Law,” JLS 1, no 2 (1977).)) Colmcille lamented the shortage of books and thus devoted himself to transcribing them. As noted by Corrigan:

Wherever and whenever he could get access to the materials he would copy and encourage his monks to copy, study and disperse the copies of books to spread the teachings of the church. He was one of the earliest in the tradition of Irish monks committed to such a philosophy, credited with saving the church’s literary treasures during Europe’s Dark Ages, when book burning was a common practice amongst religious zealots.

Around this time (mid-550s AD), Colmcille’s former teacher and fellow monk, Finnian,

brought home a copy of the “Vulgate,” after a visit to Rome. The Vulgate was the definitive Latin translation of the bible done by St. Jerome about 100 years earlier. This was the first copy of the book to reach Ireland and generated some considerable excitement throughout the land.

(According to Corrigan, “There is some dispute … as to whether the book was a complete copy of the Vulgate, or just the Psalter or Book of Psalms. The Cathach of Columba now resides in the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin and is thought by some to be the copy of the Psalter Colmcille made of Finnian’s manuscript but tests have dated this script to the 7th century.”) Colmcille was of course very interested, so he visited “his old teacher … in order to see it. Finnian, delighted to see him, willingly showed him the book, though he was generally very protective of it. … Whatever the circumstances of Colmcille’s initial encounter with the book and any conditions Finnian might have placed on his handling of it, it’s fairly clear that Colmcille decided to make a copy surreptitiously by night.”
When Finnian discovered this, he was not happy and demanded “Colmcille give him the copy he had made when it was finished. Colmcille was … enraged that an old man should presume to act as such a reluctant gatekeeper to a book, the sharing of which was crucially important to the future of the church in Ireland.”

So they decided to ask King Diarmid, High King of Ireland, to settle the dispute. Colmcille, in his defense, argued that he should be able to keep the copy of the book because it was important to spread this knowledge:

My friend’s claim seeks to apply a worn out law to a new reality. Books are different to other chattels (possessions) and the law should recognise this. Learned men like us, who have received a new heritage of knowledge through books, have an obligation to spread that knowledge, by copying and distributing those books far and wide. I haven’t used up Finnian’s book by copying it. He still has the original and that original is none the worse for my having copied it. Nor has it decreased in value because I made a transcript of it. The knowledge in books should be available to anybody who wants to read them and has the skills or is worthy to do so; and it is wrong to hide such knowledge away or to attempt to extinguish the divine things that books contain. It is wrong to attempt to prevent me or anyone else from copying it or reading it or making multiple copies to disperse throughout the land. In conclusion I submit that it was permissible for me to copy the book because, although I benefited from the hard work involved in the transcription, I gained no worldly profit from the process, I acted for the good of society in general and neither Finnian nor his book were harmed.

But the King ruled against him, failing to see the crucial distinction between scarce goods and nonscarce goods like knowledge and information:

I don’t know where you get your fancy new ideas about people’s property. Wise men have always described the copy of a book as a child-book. This implies that someone who owns the parent-book also owns the child-book. To every cow its calf, to every book its child-book. The child-book belongs to Finnian.

As Corrigan notes, “The ruling arguably triggered a series of events that led to the slaughter of the three thousand at Cooldrummon.”

Now this case is often trotted out nowadays as a justification for modern copyright. However, in light of discussions I’ve had with Jeff Tucker (since the original draft of this post) about this matter, it could be that the conventional account is heavily distorted. For one, Finnian was not the author of the book Colmcille copied. Thus even under modern copyright law Finnian would have no copyright claim against Colmcille–no more than I could sue someone who copied my Harry Potter novel for violating my copyright; I do not have any copyright in J.K. Rowling’s novel. This dispute is trotted out and called a copyright dispute for pro-IP propaganda purposes, since it was not a copyright dispute. That notion did not really develop until centuries later in England as a result of monarchical control of printing.

Second, Tucker believes it is highly unlikely that Colmcille could have copied the manuscript without the use of Finnian’s property–his labor, materials (ink, equipment, sheepskin), room and board. So that the physical copy of the copied manuscript was arguably the property of Finnian, not Colmcille, by standard property and contract principles. If this interpretation is correct, then the Colmcille-Finnian dispute should not be used to support modern copyright law.

Link to Ludwig Von Mises Institute article.

Ulster Tourism Increase

2011-11-04T07:38:00.002-05:00

From the Belfast Telegraph

By Margaret Canning
Thursday, 3 November 2011

Big spending Americans helped boost tourism income in Northern Ireland by nearly 25% between January and June this year, it has emerged.

With their visitor numbers up by one fifth on the same time last year, America and Canada made a 57% contribution to the overall increased expenditure of £165m, according to statistics from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI). Over the whole of last year overseas visitors spent £232m.

While the latest figures reveal an 11% rise in all overseas visitor numbers, with European holidaymakers up one third and those from Great Britain by 7%, visits from other parts of the globe were down 8%.

Michael Williamson, a hospitality consultant at business advisors ASM Horwath, welcomed the overall rise, but added: "It is important to the wider industry that we have a strong mix of visitors from different countries and visiting for different reasons.

"This can help distribute tourism benefits spatially and also help even out seasonal demand patterns."
Major efforts have been put into promoting Northern Ireland in 2012, due to the potential of the Titanic centenary and new Causeway visitors' centre for attracting visitors.

Tourism minister Arlene Foster said: "These are encouraging figures particularly as Northern Ireland prepares to launch a host of exciting events to celebrate NI2012."

North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds said the hefty contribution of US tourists vindicated the intervention of the UK Treasury in the debate over air passenger duty, which helped secured Continental Airlines' commitment to its transatlantic route.

"The North American market is extremely important to Northern Ireland and that's why keeping the direct route was crucial."

A spokesman for DETI said: "Departmental discussions are ongoing with a view to publishing the Tourism Strategy 2020 alongside the Programme for Government and Economic Strategy."
However one operator in the industry believes the figures painted an overly-optimistic picture and do not reflect the reality of running a tourism business.

DETI's figures also revealed that home visitors enjoyed 758,000 overnight trips, spending a total of £46m, and 3m leisure day trips.

The Route Back Home, Ballymoney, Antrim

2011-11-03T10:30:00.000-05:00

Ballymena Heritage Events Upcoming

2011-11-03T07:50:00.000-05:00

Genealogy Talks, Tours & Workshops

10 November 2011

A new exhibition by Mid-Antrim Museums Service opens on Thursday 10^th November at Mid-Antrim Museum at The Braid, Ballymena. Exploring Your Roots looks at how museums can be a unique resource for those seeking to find out more about their family history.

Mid-Antrim Museums Service is offering a series of talks, workshops and site visits to help you discover your past;
Thursday 10th Nov: Unlocking PRONI. This talk by Dr. Ann McVeigh will show you how the Public Record Office can help trace your family tree. Time: 14.00-15.00 Location: The Braid, Ballymena
Tuersday 12th Nov: Local Ancestors: Tour of the Old Churchyard, Ballymena. This session will also include a ‘behind the scenes’ private tour of Mid-Antrim museum. Time: 10.30-12.30 Meeting poinit: The Braid, Ballymena
Tuesday 15th Nov: Researching Farming Families a talk by Dr. William Roulston. Time: 19.00-20.00, Location: The Braid, Ballymena
Thursday 24th Nov: Family history on the web. Mary Bradley from the Local Studies library looks at on-line resources as well as exploring the library’s rich collection of resources. Time: 18.30-20.30, Location: Ballymena Central Library, Pat's Brae
Tuesday 29th Nov: Townlands & Placenames a talk by Dr. Kay Muhr. Time: 19.00-20.00 Location: The Braid, Ballymena
Thursday 1st Dec: Introducing the Dippam website – a practical session on the online archive of documents and sources relating to the history of Ireland and Irish emigration by Dr. Paddy Fitzgerald. Time: 18.30-20.30, Location: Ballymena Central Library, Pat's Brae
Tuesday 6th Dec: Presentation on the work of the Ballymena Family History society, including a practical workshop by Brian O’Hara, Time: 19.00-20.00, Location: The Braid, Ballymena
All events are free of charge. If you would like further information please ring Shirin on 028 2563 5977 or email shirin.murphy@ballymena.gov.uk

Samhain!

2011-10-31T11:00:00.001-05:00

A history of Ireland in 100 objects

2011-10-25T12:08:00.000-05:00

Interesting article that appears in the Irish Times. Link: A History of Ireland in 100 Objects.

Treàsach

2011-10-25T07:15:00.002-05:00

Dave Swift

Above is a test shot from the upcoming film Treásach which begins filming in the west of Ireland in March of 2012. Dave is dressed in very authentic gear used by Gaelic nobles and heavy infantry in medieval Ireland.

The plot is set in Set in XVI century Ireland. Làisrean- shamanic leader, his son Treàsach and few remaining members of his tribe are being hunted down by his English allies. Alger and his ruthless mercenaries have been sent by the commander of their outpost as they have been informed that Làisrean and his daughter withhold a secret to an ancient ritual which they think will make their army unstoppable. By making the ultimate sacrifice and using the power of the ritual, Làisrean, will make Alger and his men pay for all atrocities done to his people.

The Banks of the Foyle Hallowe’en Carnival 2011

2011-10-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

Join us for the award-winning celebrations from Friday, October 28th to Monday, October 31st.

Europe’s greatest Hallowe’en festival returns on the 28th October with its biggest and best programme of family events yet, leading up to the spectacular carnival parade and fireworks display on October 31st. Look out for a special silver lining theme this year to celebrate 25 amazing years since the Carnival began as a community festival!

There’s lots of fantastic new events for teenagers and young people too, with Teenage Spooks in Guildhall Square showcasing the cream of local performers and gigs by X-Factor girlband Belle Amie, The Killers of Leon and other top music acts. So get into the spooky spirit exploring haunted houses, bobbing for apples and carving pumpkins. Experience terrifying ghostbuster tours, chilling ghost stories, inventive puppet theatre and family film shows. As always, there’s fancy dress, face painting, sports and atmospheric outdoor markets to enjoy as well.

Make sure you create your wildest costume yet to join the throngs of witches, warlocks, ghouls, vampires and monsters or just enjoy the magnificently colourful floats at the world famous carnival parade on October 31st, followed by the spectacular fireworks display lighting up the night sky over the River Foyle.

So book a room, don a costume and celebrate Europe’s greatest Hallowe’en fest around Ireland’s most historic walls.

View the Halloween website for more information>

Gaelic in the streets of New York City

2011-10-24T08:58:00.000-05:00

Link: Gaelic language in New York City.

Viking Grave Found In Ardnamurchan

2011-10-21T11:46:00.000-05:00

Link: Viking Grave Story.

Country legend Don Williams in Belfast gig - News, Music & Gigs - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

2011-10-06T11:58:00.000-05:00

Country legend Don Williams in Belfast gig - News, Music & Gigs - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Excellent Sale On Ulster DNA Testing

2011-09-27T09:54:00.000-05:00

FTDNA has a big sale on, but only until tomorrow night!

Here it is:

Thank you for helping us reach 15,000 LIKES on our Facebook page! To show how much we like you too, we're offering a 36-HOUR SALE!
START: Monday, September 26 (TODAY) at 12:00pm CDT
END: Tuesday, September 27 at 11:59pm CDT

For NEW customers:
Y-DNA 12 . . . $59 (was $99)
mtDNA . . . $59 (was $99)

Y-DNA 37 . . . $129 (was $149)
Family Finder . . . $199 (was $289)
mtFullSequence (FGS) . . . $229 (was $299)

Y-DNA 12 + mtDNA . . . $118 (was $179)
Family Finder + Y-DNA 12 . . . $248 (was $339)
Family Finder + mtDNA . . . $248 (was $339)
Family Finder + Y-DNA 37 . . . $328 (was $438)
Family Finder + mtFullSequence . . . $398 (was $559)
Comprehensive Genome (Family Finder + mtFullSequence + Y-DNA67) . . . $597 (was $797)

Upgrades & Add-Ons:
mtDNA add-on $59 . . . (was $89)
mtFullSequence upgrade (HVR1 to Mega) . . . $199 (was $269)
mtFullSequence upgrade (HVR2 to Mega) . . . $199 (was $239)
mtFullSequence add-on . . . $219 (was $289)
Family Finder add-on . . . $199 (was $289)

Link to Join Ulster Heritage DNA Project

Gaelic Lessons Available in Belfast

2011-09-12T10:21:00.002-05:00

Beidh Gaelchultúr ag cur tús lena ranganna Gaeilge oíche do dhaoine fásta an tseachtain seo chugainn (19–22 Meán Fómhair 2011). Beidh ranganna ar siúl i mBaile Átha Cliath, Béal Feirste, Corcaigh, Ceatharlach, Dún Dealgan, Luimneach, Nás na Ríogh, Sligeach agus sa Mhuileann gCearr. Tá líon beag spásanna fós ar fáil. Tabhair cuairt ar www.gaelchultur.com chun na cúrsaí agus na hionaid uile a fheiceáil agus chun cúrsa a chur in áirithe.

[Leagan Gaeilge thuas]

Gaelchultúr’s Irish language evening classes for adults will commence next week (19–22 September 2011). Classes will take place in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Carlow, Dundalk, Limerick, Naas, Sligo and Mullingar. Some places are still available. To view all courses and venues, and to book a place, please go to www.gaelchultur.com.

Eolas/Information: www.gaelchultur.com | eolas@gaelchultur.com | (01) 484 5220 | 1890 252 900

Le dea-mhéin,

Michelle Ryan

Gaelchultúr

Gaeilge gan Stró! – Beginners Level

* Tá cúrsa teanga ilmheán do ghlantosaitheoirí, Gaeilge gan Stró! – Beginners Level, díreach foilsithe ag Gaelchultúr. Is éard atá sa chúrsa seo ná leabhar agus ceithre dhlúthdhiosca. Is féidir aonad sampla a fheiceáil agus an cúrsa a cheannach ar www.siopa.ie.

* Gaelchultúr has recently published a new multimedia beginners course for adult learners of Irish, Gaeilge gan Stró! – Beginners Level, consisting of a book and 4 CDs. You can view a sample unit and purchase the course on www.siopa.ie.

Ulster Bluegrass Music Festival

2011-09-02T07:34:00.000-05:00

Friday 2 September - Sunday 4 September at the Ulster American Folk Park

The 20th Annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival will take place this year during the first weekend of September.

This famous festival is jam-packed with performances from some of the biggest names in bluegrass music. Uncover rhythms that will have your hands clapping, feet tapping and heart racing.
Get down to the Bluegrass Music Festival and enjoy music from some of the biggest names in bluegrass including Dailey and Vincent, The Malpass Brothers and Footworks Appalachian Clog Dancers direct from the USA.

Pictured above are Richard Hurst, Visitor Services Manager at the Ulster American Folk Park with Geordie McAdam from the Broken String Band. Click image to enlarge. The Broken String Band will be playing on the Bluegrass in the Park sessions over the weekend.

20th Annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival Bands

Dailey and Vincent
Footworks Dance Ensemble
and the Turtle Duhks
Malpass Brothers
Red Wine
Sunny Side
Niall Toner Band
Pettee and Currie
The Once
BanjaBill All-Stars
Dirty Blues Band
Broken String Band
Northern Exposure
Knotty Pine String Band
Wookalily

Booking & Ticket information:

Booking in advance is not necessary for the afternoon Bluegrass in the Park sessions.
Tickets for the evening concerts will go on sale in July.
Download our full list of ticket prices (PDF 17KB)

Camping information

Camping & Caravan Site Available: From 9am Fri 2nd to 9am to Mon 5th Sept
Location: Omagh Rugby Club, Beltany Road, Omagh

A regular free shuttle bus service to and from the Folk Park will be in operation. Rugby Club is 4 miles from the Folk Park and 1 mile from Omagh Town Centre.

Price includes:

Camping on site
Use of kitchens, showers and toilet facilities
Transfers to and from Folk Park
Access to Omagh Rugby Club Members Bar with post-event picking session on Friday night in the Clubhouse
Free admission to the post event concert on Saturday night in the Clubhouse

Shuttle service timetable:
Mini-bus from Rugby Club to Folk Park leaving on the hour, every hour.

Friday from 12.00pm to 11.00pm
Saturday from 10.00am to 11.00pm
Sunday from 10.00am to 7.00pm

Mini-bus from Folk Park to Rugby Club leaving on the half hour, every hour

Friday from 12.30pm to 12.30am
Saturday from10.30am to 12.30am
Sunday from 10.30am to 8.30pm

Camping & Pitch price options:

3 Nights £35
2 Nights £30
1 Night £20

Bookings can be made by e-mail to Allan Duncan at Allan@silverbirchhotel.com or by telephone bookings can be made through the ticket line on 028 8224 3292.

Ballymoney Family History Symposium

2011-09-01T08:05:00.002-05:00

01/09/2011       

DO YOU HAVE ROOTS IN ‘THE ROUTE’?

 
Following the success of the first Route Back Home conference in 2010,  Ballymoney Borough Council will be hosting another in 2012.  The  conference will run from 19-22 September and will be based in Ballymoney  Town Hall.

As before, the programme will be designed to assist delegates with their  research into families from Ballymoney and district.  It will include  lectures by prominent genealogy experts and the opportunity to meet  people from across the world who share ancestry in North Antrim, a  region traditionally known as "the Route”.  Delegates will also visit  the Local Studies Service, Ballymena, Ballymoney Branch Library and the  Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Belfast. 

HOW DO I BOOK MY PLACE?  
Delegates must pay the full booking fee of £170 to be allocated a place  at the conference.  Only 35 places are available and bookings cannot be  confirmed until receipt of a completed booking form and full payment.   The conference fee includes lunch and refreshments each day and an  evening meal and drinks reception on Friday, 21 September.

Booking forms are available here or by contacting the Museum Manager at the address below.

HOW DO I GET TO BALLYMONEY?  
Ballymoney is one hour by road from Belfast and a comfortable 90 minute journey by train or bus (see www.translink.co.uk  ).  There are three airports within easy reach (Belfast International,  Belfast City and City of Derry) with direct flights from a number of  international destinations. Ballymoney can also be reached via  international connections in Great Britain (see www.visitballymoney.com/how-to-get-to-ballymoney.aspx). 

Details of accommodation in the area can be found at  www.visitballymoney.com  and staff at Ballymoney Tourist Information Centre are available to  assist by telephoning + 44 28 2766 0230.  Ballymoney is close to the  most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland with Bushmills  Distillery, the Giant’s Causeway and Dunluce Castle nearby.  Visitors  can also enjoy golf, watersports, horse riding, angling, cycling,  beautiful countryside walks or the golden beaches.  

For further information on the Route Back Home 2012, please contact:  Keith Beattie, Museum Manager, Ballymoney Museum, Ballymoney Town Hall, 1  Townhead Street, Ballymoney, BT53 6BE, Tel: + 44 28 2766 0230 or Email:   museum@ballymoney.gov.uk.

Delegates from the Route Back Home 2010 at the evening reception hosted by the Mayor of Ballymoney, Councillor Bill Kennedy.

Holywood Irish Lessons

2011-09-01T07:52:00.000-05:00

Language classes for 2011-12 will be starting in the Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church in High Street on Tuesday, 20 September 2011 (entry at rear via Hibernia Street).

There will be three levels, taught by Anraoi Ó Dornáin (beginners' and intermediate) and Gabhán Ó Fachtna (advanced). Beginners' and advanced classes will commence at 7 p.m., and intermediate at 8 p.m.

The cost will be £75 for the year or £50 for one semester (£50 or £30 unwaged).

Scholarships will be available to adults completing the classes to facilitate attendance of a summer course in Ros Goill, County Donegal.

If you would like to participate in a class, simply turn up on the night.

For more information, or moral support, contact us on 028 9039 7875 or at mail@holywood-gaelach.com.

Centre offers Scottish Gaelic class

2011-08-29T11:39:00.003-05:00

Centre offers Scottish Gaelic class - Northern Ireland, Local & National - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Scots Gaelic classes in Belfast.

New Issue of Donegal E-zine Available

2011-08-29T09:14:00.000-05:00

http://www.donegalcdb.ie/media/wwwdonegalcdbie/content/cdbphotos/Issue%2013.pdf

For further information on Donegal or on the Donegal Diaspora Project, please contact Maria Ferguson at maria.ferguson@donegalcoco.ie or Roisin McBride at rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie.

http://www.donegalcdb.ie/media/wwwdonegalcdbie/content/cdbphotos/Issue%2013.pdf

With kind regards

The Donegal - community in touch / Dún na nGall - pobail i d'teagmháil Publication Team

______________

Roisin McBride

Research Officer

Strategic Policy Unit

Donegal County Council

Tel: +353 74 9172562

Fax: +353 74 9142130

E-Mail: rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie

Website: http://www.donegalcoco.ie/

October Genealogy Tour Details

2011-08-23T11:02:00.001-05:00

October Genealogy Tour – Northern Ireland & Dublin October 7-16, 2011

This October Time Travel will be conducting an informal exploratory genealogy tour in Northern Ireland and Dublin. We will have hands on research time, although not required and tour the North of Ireland as well as Dublin. This tour will be a “get to know” tour for researching your roots in the North of Ireland with some very special highlights to educate you on the Irish and the Irish that emigrated to America, Canada and Australia as well as the local lore of the North. We are very excited and privileged to have some very special guests to join us on our journey. We hope you can join us!

Highlights of the Tour:

City Weekend Dublin!

Book of Kells – Glasnevin Cemetery – Guinness- Traditional Irish Night

St. Patrick’s Trail – County Down
Belfast City & the New PRONI (Public Records Office Northern Ireland)
Walk the Walls of Derry with Historian Ronan Macnamara
Explore a special project on the US Marine’s WWII Beech Hill Connection where we will call home for a night.
Explore County Fermanagh – Visit & Lunch with The Duke of Abercorn
Center for Migration Studies – Lectures with Dr. Brian Lambkin & Dr. Patrick Fitzgerald. Evening Dinner with special surprise guests.
Explore Donegal along the Lough Eske. Special guests: Storyteller Keith Corcoran and Local Historian and Genealogist Jonathan Kelly
Names being researched: McCain, Smith, McGrady, Gunn, Ferris Add your names to the list! We’d love to have you along!

Again, we hope you can join us. We have a limited number of seats left for this tour. Please inquire directly to our Director, Ginger Aarons Garrison at info@timetraveltours.com or phone 503-454-0897 for more information and pricing.

All tours by Time Travel are all inclusive of Transportation, Lodging, Lectures, Admissions, Gratuities and Food. Airfare & Alcohol excluded.*

Poitín And Moonshine

2011-07-29T08:13:00.000-05:00

Small batches of legal Moonshine whiskey are being made in South Carolina. Moonshine, called Poitín in Ulster, was made by the Scots, Irish, Welsh, and Scots-Irish settlers in the Southern Uplands and forest country. Moonshine continues to be made and enjoyed to this day.

Link to article on South Carolina Moonshine:

South Carolina micro distillery

Cú Chulainn

2011-07-23T18:25:00.001-05:00

the young Cú Chulainn

Cú Chulainn , which means ‘Culann's Hound,’ is an Ulster mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle. There are several versions of his origin. The most popular, though not the oldest, record that Cú Chulainn was the son of the god Lugh and Deichtine, who was the sister of Conchúr mac Nessa. Cú Chulainn’s birth name was Sétanta.

He gained the name Cú Chulainn as a child after he killed Culann's fierce guard dog in self-defence. He offered to take the guard dog’s place until a replacement could be reared. In modern English Cú Chulainn is sometimes called ‘the Hound of Ulster.’

At the age of seventeen he defended Ulster single-handedly against the armies of queen Medb of Connacht. His exploits are including in the epic Táin Bó Cúailnge, which means ‘Cattle Raid of Cooley.’ He fought from his chariot, driven by his loyal charioteer Láeg, and drawn by his horses, Liath Macha and Dubh Sainglenn.

Cú Chulainn in battle

It was prophesied that his great deeds would give him everlasting fame, but that his life would be a short one. Both prophesies turned out to be true. There are many wonderful and mysterious stories about Cú Chulainn. They are tales that have been told in Ireland for two thousand years.

Archaeological Exhibition Showcases Dunluce

2011-07-22T17:36:00.000-05:00

A new exhibition at Co Antrim's Dunluce Castle is showcasing its history - as well as many of the archaeological finds discovered there in recent years.

Link to more details: Archaeological Exhibition Showcases Dunluce

Ozark Bluegrass News

2011-07-21T13:16:00.000-05:00

Link below to the State of the Ozarks magazine with music news:

Ozark Bluegrass and Old Time News

Lexington Virginia Music Festival

2011-07-20T13:35:00.000-05:00

Upriver brings a show for the whole family that is an educational and a step back in time to the the Appalachian Mountains with Bluegrass, Folk, and Celtic Music to the Lime Kiln stage on on Sunday, July 24, 2011.

Upriver includes Dan Moorefield, with musical roots that stem back to Ireland, is featured on vocals, fiddle, guitar, and piano. Dan has a Masters degree in Education and provides not only entertaining music but also local history during his shows. Teresa Morrison adds a large amount of variety to the group as a talented artist on a multitude of instruments including the Irish tin whistle, alto recorder, tenor banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, and guitars. Both Teresa and Dan are committed to music education and Scots Irish heritage.

The band is occasionally joined by Myra Morrison. Myra is featured on fiddle, piano, and vocals. She is an award winning fiddle player and, like Teresa, teaches music at the Wayne Center of the arts. Their larger band adds an upright bass. The four piece band is used for large venues, festivals, large concerts, and dances.

Upriver is committed to education through music. They are active with music based enrichment and educational youth programs with activities to expose children to a variety of instruments, history, and culture. The group specializes in playing entertaining music while weaving in stories to tell how it came to be an integral part of our local culture. The performing artists and education specialists pride themselves on their goal to provide the audience with an experience that will thrill and entertain musically, and educate and enrich through oral tradition.

Upriver’s fifteen track album ‘Together This Time,’ features original music and old time favorites. The album contains a haunting rendition of the Appalachian classic ‘Shenandoah.’ This is music that is rarely heard on radio or television. It is tradition and legacy of rural American music that has been passed down through generations. The music is reminiscent of a time before technology when musicians were counted upon to provide entertainment were held in high esteem in the community.

This show is a wonderful event for families because of the focus and the artists' background in education. The concert on will be sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank and the gates and concessions will open at 6:00 pm and the show will begin at 7:30 pm. Advanced ticket prices are as follows; Adult - $20, Senior 60+ - $18, Child 12 & under - $10. Don’t miss out on this educational concert showcasing great Appalachian, Folk, Bluegrass, and Celtic Music. Call (540)463-7088 for tickets.

Portrush Flyer Video

2011-07-17T18:52:00.000-05:00

This is a real treat. The link below is to Nevin Taggart's blog North Antrim Local Interest List. Just posted is a short video of the Porthrush Flyer making its run. Highly recommended. What could be better an old train in beautiful Ulster country side.

Portrush Flyer Video Link

Congratulations Darren Clarke!

2011-07-17T12:50:00.000-05:00

Congratulations To Darren Clarke on his great victory! Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke won the British Open by 3 shots, capturing golf’s oldest major championship for the first time in his 20th try. He is from Dungannon, County Tyrone. Well Done.

Fleadh Uladh 17-24 July in Dungiven

2011-07-17T09:27:00.001-05:00

There is great community spirit in Dungiven for Fleadh Uladh this year, the first time the event will be held in the Co. Derry town. The Fleadh will last from Sunday 17th July to Sunday 24th July, and will be jam packed with a variety of events to engage all sections of the community in Irish cultural heritage.

After winning their bid for the largest summer music event in Ulster last October, the local organizing committee began to plan an 8-day long festival celebrating traditional Irish music, song and dance.
This celebration of culture has been held for the past three years in Castlewellan, and in 2010 the event was merged with Celtic Fusion as part of the 50th anniversary of the Ulster Fleadh festivities.
The Dungiven committee also have reason to celebrate this year, with the 60th anniversary of Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann, the nationwide organisation that co-ordinates the Fleadh and helps promote Irish culture and heritage.

The Fleadh committee are very keen to express their sincere appreciation to all of the support they have received to finance and manage the music festival. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Limavady Borough Council and Comhaltas are Fleadh Uladh’s principle funders, with Purvis Precast Stone and St. Canice’s G.A.C. sharing the title as main sponsors. In particular, the local businesses have donated very generously, and the committee would also like to thank in particular those who are not direct beneficiaries.

‘There has been a fantastic feeling of community spirit surrounding this event,’ said chairman Jeremy Granleese. ‘There have been so many efforts to make this year’s Fleadh something special. A special town clean-up committee was formed to help improve the aesthetic impact of the town’s Main Street for the onslaught of visitors for the Fleadh.’

The unsightly buildings in the town centre have been a talking point in the town for many months, and with several efforts being made to help improve the town’s image, the Fleadh seemed like the perfect excuse to make sure that something would finally be done.

Already there have been improvements to several buildings, and with only six weeks left until Fleadh Uladh kicks off, the town looks set to receive a significant make over.

The programme of events includes all of the usual activities associated with the Ulster Fleadh (seisiúns, competitions, ceilis, etc.) But there are also a number of special events, including the Songs of the People concert in St. Canice’s Hall on Thursday 21st July, bringing together all of the best singers in Ulster to celebrate the traditional singing heritage of the province.

There will also be a night celebrating the Celtic Harp, and an effort to break the Guinness World Record for the most people playing the national anthem on an instrument together in one venue on Saturday 23rd July.

The Ulster Fleadh attracts thousands of people each year to its host town, with 2,000 competitors in the competitions and many more spectators. Dungiven’s first ever year at hosting the event is sure to be one to remember.

More Information: Fleadh Uladh

Summer Sale of Ulster Heritage DNA Testing

2011-07-16T11:05:00.000-05:00

Dear Project Administrator,

Last summer, we offered special pricing to attract new members to your projects. This was the most successful offering of its type in our company's history. Our project administrators that got behind the recruitment efforts saw their projects grow, and, thus, our database also grew. With this in mind, we'd like to offer a summer special again this year.

   Y-DNA37 for $119 (Regular price would be $149)
   Y-DNA67 for $199 (Regular price would be $239)
   Family Finder for $199 (Regular price would be $289)
   Family Finder + Y-DNA37 for $318 (Regular price would be $438)
   Family Finder + mtDNAPlus for $318 (Regular Price would be $438)
   mtDNA Full Sequence for $219 (Regular Price would be $299)
   SuperDNA for $418 (Regular Price would be $518, includes Y-DNA67 and mtFullSequence)
   Comprehensive Genome for $617 (Regular Price would be $797, includes Y-DNA67, mtFullSequence and Family Finder)

In addition, existing Family Tree DNA customers may order the Family Finder
add-on for $199

Link to project: Ulster Heritage DNA Project

Portrush Flyer - approaching Dhu Varren Halt

2011-07-11T13:35:00.000-05:00

Two photos by Nevin Taggart of the Portrush Flyer approaching Dhu Varren Halt

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy Transcends Boundaries

2011-07-11T13:09:00.000-05:00

Golf and Religion in Northern Ireland; link to a New York Times article on golfing superstar Rory McIlroy.

Link to the New York Times article: Northern Ireland’s McIlroy Transcends Boundaries

Old Time and Bluegrass in the Ozarks

2011-07-11T08:09:00.000-05:00

Conar McCain and Donovan McCain perform

\\
From the State Of the Ozarks E-Zine:

Maybe the best part of the Ozarks is the music.

You know, when your heart is down, there's something about music that just helps. I listen to about every genre of music there is, but I always come back to good bluegrass when I'm down. But, how do you know good bluegrass? Reckon that's all subjective, but for me, it's a song that makes you feel stronger and feel like crying... all at the same time.

It's the heartache of the mountains, the mist of a dark world left behind, the melody of the wind in the pines and the quiet, haunting drip of water in a West Virginia (or Ozarks) cave. It's dark and light, all at once, like the moon through the shadows.

And when it's done right, it'll get into your heart and just never let go. Reckon I got some work to do.

As always, thanks for reading StateoftheOzarks! God bless,

Joshua Heston, editor
(417) 335-1371
Josh@StateoftheOzarks.net

Ozark Old Time & Bluegrass Schedule

Prehistoric BBQ Leftovers Found

2011-06-30T07:51:00.001-05:00

Circa 4,000 BC our ancestors hunted aurochs, a type of early cattle, and grilled them up. Excellent article, and btw, we liked ribs also back then. Link to story below.

Link

Pre Historic barbecue

Canadian Headstone Project Update

2011-06-29T13:18:00.001-05:00

CanadianHeadstones.com – Now a Non-profit Corporation

The following announcement was written by James A. McKane of the Canadian Headstones Photo Project:

The mission of this project is to capture digital images and the complete transcription of headstones of our ancestors. As decades pass, it is becoming harder - if not impossible - to read the inscriptions these stones originally contained. By archiving the images and transcriptions, these important records are saved.

As such, last year our concern became the longevity of the project and website. There are many websites which archive cemetery photographs and other valuable genealogical information; however, virtually all of them are under the control and ownership of one person. This leads to the strong possibility that all the records and hard work by many volunteers will disappear into cyberspace upon the owner's death or serious illness.

Last fall, to combat this concern, we incorporated CanadianHeadstones.com as a Non-profit Canadian Corporation. As with any corporation, CanadianHeadstones.com can now live forever under the direction of its Board of Directors which is currently four people.

Growth of the site has been very rapid! Our last announcement in EOGN was December 2009 at which time we had only 23,000 records indexed. In the 24 months since inception the database has grown to over 216,000 indexed records! We have a large group of steadfast volunteers which is ever-expanding with a number of large volume additions to the database in process at this time.

CanadianHeadstones.com has a separate website and database for each province and territory. The site is fully automated so that uploading the photo, editing and transcribing the text from the headstone is very easy and fast. Then, to avoid SPAM and errors, a coordinator approves each entry. The system is designed to be very user-friendly. The database is fully searchable by surname, first name, starts with, contains and even sounds like.

We are seeking:

1. people like yourself to upload/transcribe any and all headstone photos you may possess – 1 or 1001 photographs

2. coordinators to assist in "approving" the photos as they are uploaded

3. volunteers to photograph headstones of cemeteries and upload them

4. genealogical societies, church groups and others who would like to create a photographic archive of their cemeteries

5. your assistance to install a link to CanadianHeadstones.com on any website with which you may be associated

The Canadian Headstone Photo Project is a non-profit educational site. The site is completely FREE for everyone to use and will remain as such. We ask that you patronize our limited number of advertisers which is necessary to financially support this effort.

The success of this Project depends completely upon the efforts of many volunteers and other individuals who contribute photographs and time to the Project. Comments, questions and offers of assistance should be directed to Jim McKane at jamckane@gmail.com

Bio - Jim McKane
Jim McKane is the President of CanadianHeadstones.com. He has been a genealogist for over 35 years and a member of the Ontario Genealogical Society for many of those years, currently holding membership in three Branches of OGS. He has led a number of genealogy training sessions not only in Ontario but also in Arizona and is currently the webmaster of several genealogy/DNA based websites. Other than CanadianHeadstones.com the most active of these sites are CoTyroneIreland.com and UlsterHeritage.com.

FANS SWAMP MCILROY ON HIS ‘SECRET’ VISIT TO DONEGAL

2011-06-23T13:14:00.000-05:00

More than 400 fans turned up after golf sensation Rory McIlroy made a ‘secret’ visit to Co Donegal today.

Link to story below:

Donegal Fans Swamp McIlroy

County Tyrone Gaelic Classes Event

2011-06-17T08:13:00.000-05:00

GAELTACHT THÍR EOGHAIN, IRISH LANGUAGE COURSE IN POMEROY

Le theacht an tsamhraidh, tá cúrsa Gaeilge ag teacht go Cabhán an Chaorthainn, Tír Eoghain. Seo an dara bhliain le haghaidh Gaeltacht Thír Eoghain agus is é atá i gceist ná cúrsa seachtaine do dhaoine fásta nach féidir dul chun na Gaeltachta. Tá trí leibhéal i gceist – bun, meán agus ard.

Múinteoirí
Bunrang Séamus Mac Giolla Phádraig
Meán Rang Gearóid Mac Domhnaill
Ard Rang Cathal Ó Donnghaile

Beidh ranganna maidine ann ó 9.30 – 12.30 agus ansin imeachtaí tráthnóna ó 1.30 – 3.30in (cosúil le ceol/scéalaíocht ón chláirseoir Nodlaig Brolly, siúlóid nadúir sa choill, turas staire na háite). Beidh cúpla oíche airneáil ann ar an chéadaoin agus ar an oíche dheireanach – de haoine.
Beidh an cúrsa ar siúl ó 4ú Iúil – 8ú Iúil 9.30-3.30 agus cosnaíonn sé £45 don tseachtain – sin sos agus lón san áireamh.

Iniata gheobhaidh tú foirm iarratais – bí i dteagmháil le haghaidh tuilleamh eolais!

I hope you are all keeping well. I want to inform you of a couple of events which are coming up for Gaeilgeoirí. Gaeltacht Thír Eoghain – the second annual Irish language course for adults who cannot get to the Gaeltacht is on its way to Pomeroy. There are three levels provided for beginner / intermediate and advanced.

Teachers are as follows:
Beginner Séamus Mac Giolla Phádraig
Intermediate Gearóid Mac Domhnaill
Advanced Cathal Ó Donnghaile

There are morning classes from 9.30 – 12.30 followed by afternoon activities from 1.30-3.30pm (such as music & storytelling with harpist Nodlaig Brolly, a nature walk in the local forest, local historian bus tour). There will be two social nights – on Wednesday and on Friday.
The course will take place from Mon 4th July – Fri 8th July and the cost is £45 for the week – break and lunch included.
You will find an application form attached – make contact for further information!
Le meas mór

Ursula Uí Dhonnaile
Oifigeach Fhorbairt na Gaeilge
079 200 161 06

Clover South Carolina Scots-Irish Festival

2011-06-16T13:31:00.000-05:00

Clover will celebrate its Scots-Irish heritage this weekend with the music of pipe bands, the pageantry of Highland dancing and the fun of border collie demos and Scottish heavy athletics.

The annual Feis Chlobhair -- a Scottish games and Scots-Irish festival sponsored by the town of Clover and the Greater Clover Chamber of Commerce -- will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Clover Memorial Stadium.

The event is in its 15th year, said organizer Carla Pendleton, who said the event began because most of the people who settled in the Clover area in the 1700s were Scots-Irish.

Link: Clover Scots-Irish Festival

New Issue of Donegal E-zine Available

2011-06-16T11:17:00.000-05:00

This e-zine is part of the Donegal Diaspora Project. Through this project Donegal is reaching out and connecting with people in all parts of the world who have a connection to or interest in Donegal. This e-zine is sent to people in all parts of the world.

http://www.donegalcdb.ie/publications/DonegalCommunityInTouche-zineIssue12.pdf

For further information on Donegal or on the Donegal Diaspora Project, please contact Maria Ferguson at maria.ferguson@donegalcoco.ie or Roisin McBride at rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie.

http://www.donegalcdb.ie/publications/DonegalCommunityInTouche-zineIssue12.pdf

Chun tuilleadh eolais ar Chontae Dhún na nGall nó ar Tionscnamh Diaspóra Dhún na nGall, dean teagmháil le Maria Nic Fheargusa ag maria.ferguson@donegalcoco.ie nó le Róisín Nic Giolla Bhríde ag rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie.

With kind regards

Roisin McBride

Research Officer

Strategic Policy Unit

Donegal County Council

Tel: +353 74 9172562

Fax: +353 74 9142130

E-Mail: rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie

Website: http://www.donegalcoco.ie/

Irish Language in Mid Ulster

2011-06-13T10:25:00.001-05:00

Irish language Officers from Dungannon and Cookstown District Council, Cairde Uí Néill (Clonoe) and Cairde Teo (Armagh) have organised a trip to Gweedore in Donegal Gaeltacht for the community to give people a flavour of the Gaeltacht. The trip is organised for Saturday 25 June and involves an over night stay in Bunbeg. A tour of Ráidió na Gaeltachta (Irish language Radio Station) is first on the agenda, followed by the Cabaret Craiceáilte experience on Saturday night which entails an array of live music sessions hosted by Rónán Mac Aodh Bhuí – all musicians welcome! Sunday offers a guided walk with SIÚIL (Mid-Ulster’s Irish Speaking Walking Club) in the Mount Errigal district in the heart of An Ghaeltacht before departing on Sunday evening. Cost £30 – Book Now!

Link: Guth Irish Language and Culture in Mid Ulster

John Fox's Massive Mule Marathon of Ireland

2011-06-13T08:07:00.000-05:00

Mules in Ireland, it does not get much better than this lads and lassies; a Charity ride from Malin Head (Donegal) to Mizin Head (Cork) for Barretstown.

	John Fox is an American Western horseman who has spent a lifetime working with equine of all descriptions from the depths of the Grand Canyon to the planes of Wyoming... Since moving to Ireland and settling in Virginia, County Cavan John has made it his quest to raise money for Barretstown who rebuild the lives of children and their families who have been effected by cancer. John and his Mule "Job" will ride from Malin Head (Donegal to Mizin Head (Cork) so as to raise these much needed funds.

John Fox is an American Western horseman who has spent a lifetime working with equine of all descriptions from the depths of the Grand Canyon to the planes of Wyoming... Since moving to Ireland and settling in Virginia, County Cavan John has made it his quest to raise money for Barretstown who rebuild the lives of children and their families who have been effected by cancer.

John and his Mule "Job" will ride from Malin Head (Donegal to Mizin Head (Cork) so as to raise these much needed funds.

Website	http://www.barretstown.org/

Omagh Living History Part Epic Event in June

2011-06-08T11:24:00.002-05:00

Those near Omagh in June can take advantage of medieval living history event held on 19 June produced by Northern Period Productions. Call the Omagh History Park for additional details: Mary Cartan Tel: 028 8224 4142

Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival

2011-06-07T11:24:00.000-05:00

The 5th Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival will be held 24 September this year. A variety of music, foods, and Bagpipe & Highland Dance Competitions are featured this year.

Link for more details Dandridge, Tennessee, Scots-Irish Festival

Mince and Gravy, Ballybofey style, from Ciaran

2011-06-06T16:57:00.001-05:00

Donegal celebrity chief, Ciaran, shows how to make Mince and Gravy. Enjoy.

Gaeltacht Areas To Be Defined By Use Not Geography

2011-06-06T11:37:00.001-05:00

A new bill to allow Gaeltacht areas to be identified by use of Irish and not geographical location is being considered. Link to article on the new Gaeltacht criteria: Gaeltacht Areas

The Croghan Man 362 - 175 BC

2011-06-06T11:27:00.000-05:00

amulet on the arm of the Croghan man

And you think Irish politics is brutal now? In times past leaders were asked to sacrifice much to please their constituents. This Irish Times articles provide fascinating insight Ireland's past.

Link to Irish Times article: Croghan Man 362-175 BC

Pre Colombian Gaels in the Carolinas

2011-06-03T09:31:00.000-05:00

The curious history of pre Colombian European settlements in the New World is once again in the news. There is a growing body of evidence that does suggest that there were Gaelic settlements in the Americans prior to the Norse colony at L'Anse aux Meadows, in Newfoundland, Canada. Link to story: Gaelic Colony in South Carolina

Kist O Wurds Programme

2011-05-27T08:42:00.000-05:00

Since A Kist o Wurds began in 2002, it has been BBC Northern Ireland's longest-running Ulster-Scots radio programme. Each week we bring you a selection of music, poetry, news and crack from all over the country. Tune into BBC Radio Ulster and find out more about the language, culture, literary traditions and history of Ulster-Scots. This program is highly recommended by the Ulster Heritage Program. It is a very entertaining way to learn more about Ulster Scot history and society.

Link:
A Kist O Wurds

Decorated boulder in United States reveals links to Early Bronze Age Ireland | Irish News | IrishCentral

2011-05-26T16:03:00.001-05:00

Over the years there have been several very interesting stone artifacts and structures found along the east coast of the USA that are suggestive that Bronze Age Atlantic society may have had a presence in North America.

Link below describes one such interesting stone that was found.

Decorated boulder in United States reveals links to Early Bronze Age Ireland | Irish News | IrishCentral

Pre Norse Gaelic Settlement in Iceland

2011-05-20T19:27:00.000-05:00

Gaelic settlers in Iceland circa 800 AD... link to article: Did The Scots Visit Iceland?

The Heritage Tour of American

2011-05-16T16:59:00.001-05:00

Author Billy Kennedy will guide a Scots-Irish heritage tour of the USA in October.
Link for more details: Scots-Irish Heritage Tour

Historic Presbyterian Church in Derry Reopens

2011-05-16T09:26:00.000-05:00

The First Derry Presbyterian Church reopens.

Link to story

First Derry Presbyterian Church

New Searchable Virtual Library for Ulster Family Historians

2011-05-16T09:09:00.000-05:00

Queen's University Belfast has created a a new, free, web resource with a searchable virtual library called 'DIPPAM: Documenting Ireland - Parliament, People and Migration'.

It brings together into an accessible form and enhances three existing resources - EPPI - the Enhanced British Parliamentary Papers on Ireland 1800-1922; the IED - Irish Emigration Database, containing runs of emigrant letters, newspaper extracts and other emigration-related materials for the 18th-early 20th centuries; and VMR - Voices of Migration and Return - a collection of 90 interviews with 20th century Ulster migrants.

The project is a collaboration between Queen's University Belfast, University of Ulster, the Centre for Migration Studies (Omagh) and Libraries NI, and funded by the AHRC.

It can be accessed at www.dippam.ac.uk

Wallace McCain Dies at 81

2011-05-15T14:41:00.005-05:00

Wallace McCain (centre-left) is seen in 1957, the year he opened
the first McCain Foods potato processing plant in
Florenceville, N.B. with a staff of 30

Wallace McCain, co-founder of McCain Foods, dies at 81

Published On Sat May 14 2011

Dana Flavelle Business Reporter The Star

Wallace McCain, co-founder of McCain Foods and chairman of Maple Leaf Foods, has died after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81. The son of a New Brunswick potato seed exporter, McCain became a scion of Canadian business and a major philanthropist. Together with his brother Harrison he co-founded McCain Foods Ltd., now a $6-billion-a-year frozen French fry empire that exports to more than 60 countries.

Later ousted from the firm in a succession battle, Wallace and his sons, Scott and Michael, bought a stake in Toronto’s struggling Maple Leaf Foods Inc. and through acquisitions built another multinational brand.

With his wife Margaret, McCain was also a noted philanthropist, supporting a range of causes, from Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital to Canada’s National Ballet School and New Brunswick’s Mount Allison University.

For the past year, the man described as a straight talker with a self-deprecating manner had faced another kind of battle, this one with cancer.

“Wallace McCain was an inspiration, as a father, businessman and humanitarian,” said Michael McCain, Wallace’s son and chief executive officer of Maple Leaf Foods.

“His incredible success in business was always balanced with the importance of family and community. He had unwavering values that defined him and everything he did. My family and the entire Maple Leaf community deeply mourn his passing, but also celebrate his life and the contribution he made to so many people.”

Born in 1930 in the small farming village of Florenceville, N.B., Wallace McCain was one of six children of Laura and A.D. McCain, a potato seed exporter. In their 20s, Wallace and his brother Harrison, with the support of their older brothers Robert and Andrew, decided to start their own business.

They opened the first McCain Foods potato processing plant in Florenceville in 1957 with a staff of 30. The company grew rapidly into a multi-billion dollar global French fry and frozen foods business. But the brothers had a falling out over who should succeed them.
In 1995, with the help of the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, Wallace and his sons bought a 33 per cent stake in Maple Leaf Foods.

Together, they built the food-processing firm into a $5-billion-a-year firm, acquiring such leading brands as Maple Leaf, Schneiders, and a majority stake in Canada Bread Inc., makes of Dempster’s brand bread. “Wallace made an indelible impact on Maple Leaf Foods, our country and the food industry globally,” said Purdy Crawford, Maple Leaf Food’s lead director. “He had a rare gift for business that was driven by his personal courage, love of people, and sharp insights. His incredible accomplishments came about because of his perseverance, humility and belief in others.”

Wallace’s passing comes at a critical time for the leading food processor.
The Teachers’ Pension Plan decided to sell its stake last year and an activist investor, West Face Capital, bought into the firm and demanded a seat on its board.

Maple Leaf Foods has since undertaken a major restructuring program that includes consolidating and upgrading many of its plants, entering new products categories.
The move came two years after the company had finally begun recovering from a tragic listeria outbreak that claimed 21 lives. Michael McCain was credited with saving the company by taking full public responsibility for the problem and swift action to address its cause.

Wallace is survived by his wife Margaret, who became New Brunswick’s first female. Lieutenant Governor, his four children and nine grandchildren. His successor as chairman will be determined by the Maple Leaf Foods board. His funeral will be held at St. Paul’s Bloor Street in Toronto on May 20. For more information, please visit www.wallacemccaintribute.ca.

(The McCain family originates in Donegal and has branches in Canada and the USA)

Strabane & West Ulster Ebook Available

2011-05-15T13:35:00.001-05:00

Strabane & West Ulster In The 1800s
History From The Broadsheets
Selections from The Strabane Morning Post 1812 – 1837

Strabane & West Ulster in the 1800s, is an in-depth look at the lives and time of people of all classes and creeds in the early decades of the 19th century. The information is extracted from the pages of the weekly newspaper, The Strabane Morning Post, and much previously unavailable material has now been brought into the public domain. Descriptions of floods, fevers and famines provide insights into the problems of everyday life, while advertisements demonstrate the extent of economic activity and the range of products available to those who could afford to pay. The copious coverage of court cases sheds light on the extent of lawlessness and the severity of law enforcement while regional and parliamentary affairs are also highlighted.

This compilation is therefore both an entertaining examination of the foibles of a past age and a comprehensive source base for further analysis of key events and responses. It is a must for anyone interested in the everyday responses of ordinary people in their own environment to a rapidly changing world and a major addition for researchers and genealogists in unraveling an era in which evidential material has been difficult to locate. This limited edition publication should take pride of place among a range of local materials from West Ulster and provide endless hours of pleasurable engagement in the concerns of another age. Click for Full Index

This e-book is every-word-searchable. Includes Introduction, Dedication, Preface, Appendix, Index. 428 pages. Instantly Downloadable - Only $16.95.

Link:

Ulster Heritage Books

Tyrone Parish E-book now available.

2011-05-10T11:26:00.000-05:00

Three centuries of life in a Tyrone parish.
A history of Donagheady from 1600 to 1900

This book tells the story of the parish of Donagheady and its families over three centuries. Donagheady occupies the most northerly portion of County Tyrone. It is a large parish, stretching from the River Foyle to the Sperrins. In the period covered by this study Donagheady experienced massive changes with the result that the parish in 1900 was a very different place from the one it had been in 1600. Through the Plantation and subsequent waves of migration in the seventeenth century, especially from Scotland, the character of much of the parish was transformed.

The creation and disintegration of the estate system in Donagheady is also charted in this volume and the fate and fortunes of the landowning families and their tenants is explored. The histories of the main religious denominations are covered, as well as the nature of rural society itself. Other chapters in this book examine the impact of the Great Famine on the parish, the development of the village of Dunnamanagh, attempts to improve educational provision, the rise and decline of rural industries, and the relationship between Donagheady and the wider world.

William Roulston is from the townland of Gortavea in the parish of Donagheady, and was raised on a farm that has been in his family’s possession since 1830. He is the Research Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation. His other books include The parishes of Leckpatrick and Dunnalong: their place in history (2000), Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors (2005), and Restoration Strabane, 1660-1714 (2007).

This e-book is every-word-searchable and includes Griffiths Valuation for the Parish. 390 pages

To Purchase use this link: Ulster Heritage Ebooks

Ireland's last witch trial reexamined

2011-04-08T08:13:00.000-05:00

The verdict in Ireland’s last witch trial was handed down three centuries ago in 1711, but a new historical study is reexamining the evidence which convicted eight Co. Antrim women of “possessing” a teenage girl, Mary Dunbar.

Dr. Andrew Sneddon from the University of Ulster has undertaken a new investigation of the Islandmagee witches case, presenting the theory that the women were wrongfully convicted and that the girl fabricated the entire story.

He told the Irish Independent: “My research is based on a wide variety of contemporary documentation, including witness statements, letters and eye-witness accounts…It suggests that Mary Dunbar’s symptoms of bewitchment were that of demonic possession: fits, swearing, throwing bibles, vomiting household objects, and trances.”

Based on testimony by the “possessed” 18-year-old, eight Presbyterian women were tried at a court in Carrickfergus and sentenced to a year in prison. They were also placed in the public stocks on market days.

In Sneddon’s new work Witchcraft and Magic in Ireland 1586-1946, he argues Dunbar chose to accuse these women because they were already perceived to be outside polite society.

“Dunbar chose to blame her possession on the witchcraft of the Presbyterian Islandmagee women because they had reputations locally as witches and failed to meet contemporary standards of female behavior and beauty,” he said.

“Some were physically disabled, others swore and drank alcohol. All were poor. The local male authorities believed Dunbar’s version of events because she was beautiful, educated, and from a respected family.”

The book will not be published until early 2013, but Sneddon will give a paper on the topic in July at the annual conference of the 18th Century Ireland Society in Trim, Co. Meath.

£30m Public Record Office opens in Belfast

2011-04-08T08:11:00.000-05:00

(from the Belfast Telegraph)

More than 800 years of history can now be viewed at Belfast’s dockland with the opening of the new £30m Public Record Office.

The state-of-the-art building, which holds the millions of papers forming Northern Ireland’s official archives, opened its doors yesterday, two months ahead of schedule.
Situated in the city’s Titanic Quarter, the new building is twice the size of the former site at Balmoral Avenue and comprises four huge vaults holding papers dating back to the 13th century.

Construction work on the purpose-built premises began in November 2008, and the relocation process involved the transfer of some 40km of documents.
Those papers cover every facet of public life, and range from Cabinet minutes to the records of a local corner shop.

And Stephen Scarth, head of public services at PRONI, is hoping the new facilities will help to attract more visitors in the coming months and tap into the public’s quest for knowledge of their family history.

“This isn’t just a facility for historians — there really is something for everyone,” he said.
“With programmes like Who Do You Think You Are? more and more people are interested in tracing their family history.

“We have records which go back hundreds of years, for example church records, school records, even records from the old workhouses, so it’s possible for people to trace their histories over quite a long period.”

The building has a public search room holding 52 computer desks and a reading room that seats 78. “The biggest change is the scale of the operation — this building is much bigger than our old premises at Balmoral Avenue,” he added. “We are able to offer more modern resources and services, including an exhibition covering the last 100 years which opens next month.” Mr Scarth said new technology has brought different challenges for the office, with more and more records being held digitally. “This is probably the last decade where we will have original records to display,” he added. “Everything is being born digital and that has changed the landscape of how archiving works.”

Family Tree DNA Update 8 April 2011

2011-04-08T08:07:00.000-05:00

(The Ulster Heritage DNA Project uses the Family Tree DNA firm to do genetic testing. Updates for our lab below)

Family Tree DNA has the largest DNA database in the world for genetic genealogy. As of April 02, 2011, the Family Tree DNA database has 329,073 records. We also have:

6,355 SURNAME PROJECTS
101,171 unique surnames
203,473 Y-DNA records in the database
124,230 25-marker records in the database
105,023 37-marker records in the database
46,117 67-marker records in the database
125,600 mtDNA records in the database
14,077 FGS records in the database

Launched on March 4, 2011 – Y Chromosome Phylogenetic Tree Update

We are excited to announce that we have updated our Y Chromosome Phylogenetic Tree to reflect new haplogroup sub-branches! Family Tree DNA, in partnership with the YCC, periodically reviews known SNPs in order to evaluate those that meet the requirements to be added to the haplotree. The SNPs that passed this review are now included in the haplotree and considered for deep clade testing.

Along with this update to the tree, we have implemented some changes in the ordering process for deep clade and SNP testing:
We now offer a universal deep clade test for $89. This will identify a customer’s terminal SNP for any haplogroup. If a customer has pending results for a deep clade test, they will automatically be tested according to the new tree.
If a customer has never ordered a deep clade test, they will have the option either to order the universal deep clade for $89 or order individual SNPs from the tree.
Follow these instructions for the new SNP ordering system if you already have results for the first 12 markers of a Y-DNA test–

Log in to your “My FTDNA” page and click the ‘Haplotree’ button.
If you see the words “You Are Eligible For An Upgrade” then click the “Continue for more information” button which will take you to an order page for the Deep Clade test.

Or, if you already have Deep Clade results and do not see the “You Are Eligible For An Upgrade” button, you can click “Continue to Choose SNPs.” If you do not have any SNPs available to order, an alert box will appear letting you know “You currently have no SNPs available to order.”

9 April Scots Irish Festival

2011-04-01T12:34:00.000-05:00

Lexington’s Fifth Annual Scots/Irish Festival Set April 9
The Sheep Dog Trials are back this year at the 5th Annual Scots Irish Heritage Festival!!

Lexington, VA- Lexington’s Fifth Annual Scots/Irish Heritage Festival will be held Sat., April 9th, from 10am to 5pm on the Maury River Middle School campus. Weather permitting, the event will be held outside but will be moved indoors in the case of inclement weather. The goal of the event is to present the culture of the Scots/Irish, and the lasting impact they made on the history of the Shenandoah Valley.

The festival will start with a parade at 10am. Attraction are scheduled throughout the day and will include Highland games demonstrations, Medieval Reenactments, living history presentations, vintage British Cars (weather permitting), music, entertainment, traditional food items, craft demonstrations and a variety of other vendors that represent the culture and its importance to the Valley. “The biggest news this year is that we are bringing back sheepdog demonstrations, a huge crowd favorite,” said John Morman of Celtic Tides.

The Highland games demonstration will display events that take part in Highland Festivals. The Highland games are believed to be one way Celtic societies used to determine the worthiness of their future leaders and a “safe” means for men to stay in shape.

Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Highland Pipes and Drums, Shenandoah Valley Pipes and Drums and Warpipe will give pipe and drum performances. Mary Smith of Richmond, Carl Peterson of Kutztown, PA. and Cranruach of Lexington will perform traditional Scots/ Irish/Welsh and Breton music on a variety of instruments.

The event is primarily sponsored by the Lexington Lions Club and The Chamber of Commerce, serving Lexington Buena Vista and Rockbridge County. Other confirmed sponsors are VMI and Bath Fitter; additional sponsors may be added later.

Admission for the event is $5 dollars for adults, $3 for children (ages 6-16) and no fee for children under six. Proceeds from the event will go to the Lexington Lions Club's project at the Rockbridge Area Free Clinic, where a complete vision Center is being installed.

For more information about the event visit www.lexcelts.com or contact The Chamber of Commerce, serving Lexington, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County at (540) 463-5375 or by email to lisa@lexrockchamber.com.

New Northern Ireland heritage trail launched

2011-03-26T12:09:00.001-05:00

New Northern Ireland heritage trail launched: "A new 92-mile (148km) signed driving route - the St Patrick's Trail - has been launched in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland."

Ulster Heritage Haplogroups

2011-03-25T12:36:00.001-05:00

Some basic facts upon the Ulster population haplogroups.

Your Haplogroup will not show if you are related to someone; it will show distant relationships from thousands of years ago. Your haplogroup will also give you an idea of your family's migration route in the distant past, thousands of years ago. A Backbone test determines which haplogroup, or major branch of the Y-DNA tree, your paternal line belongs to. It tests the “backbone” of the tree or the SNPs that determine the haplogroup.

Once your haplogroup has been confirmed, a subclade panel test for your particular haplogroup will trace your subclade. Subclades are determined through SNP subclade testing.

Your haplogroup will not confirm ethnicity as this data relates to generations that lived before early modern or medieval concepts of nationality or ethnicity were formed. However, there are associations between ethnic groups and haplogroups.

Most of the participants of the Ulster Heritage DNA Project belong to the Atlantic Zone Celtic population as described by Dr John Koch and Dr Barry Cunliffe in their recent books on early western Atlantic Zone people and society. These are the indigenous people of the Isles and the Atlantic western seaboard. It is from this base population that the 'Atlantic Zone' Celtic societies emerged circa 2,000 BC. Eventually from this population developed the 'ethnicities' in Scotland and Ireland that we know today and that became the Ulster people.

Saint Patrick's Day 17 March 2011

2011-03-16T12:18:00.000-05:00

Saint Patrick was born circa anno domini 387 and died 17 March 493. He was a Cymreig Celt from north Britain and was born in what is now southern Scotland. When Patrick was about 16, he was captured by Gaelic raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland. He lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After entering the Church he returned to Ireland as an ordained bishop and was a leading figure that brought Christianity to the north and west of the island. By the seventh century, he had come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland. Irish folklore tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Gaels. In Ulster he is still celebrated and remembered by Catholic, Presbyterian, and Anglican communities there. Veneration have been carried overseas to the vast Irish Diaspora.

New Issue of Donegal in Touch on line magazine

2011-03-11T13:26:00.001-06:00

http://www.donegalcdb.ie/publications/donegalcommunityintouche-zineissue11.pdf

For further information on Donegal or on the Donegal Diaspora Project, please contact Maria Ferguson at maria.ferguson@donegalcoco.ie or Roisin McBride at rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie.

http://www.donegalcdb.ie/publications/donegalcommunityintouche-zineissue11.pdf

With kind regards

Happy Christmas and Best wishes for 2010 from,

The Donegal - community in touch / Dún na nGall - pobail i d'teagmháil Publication Team

______________
Roisin McBride

Research Officer
Strategic Policy Unit
Donegal County Council
Tel: +353 74 9172562
Fax: +353 74 9142130
E-Mail: rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie
Website: http://www.donegalcoco.ie/

The Atlantic Zone Celts; The Latest Research

2011-03-04T07:09:00.005-06:00

A watershed moment has taken place in the field of early Western European history. It is a paradigm shift that has totally changed forever how early European history will be taught. It is the concept that Celtic languages and the people that spoke them originated in the Atlantic Zone during the Bronze Age. Dr Barry Cunliffe and Dr John Koch have co-edited Cetlic From the West which has an excellent presentation of exactly where the the field of Celtic studies stands in the first part of the 21st Century.

The Celtic from the West theory is a major departure from the long-established, but increasingly problematic paradigm from late Victorian times in which the story of the Ancient Celtic languages and people were linked to the Hallstatt and La Tene cultures of Iron Age west-central Europe.

Celtic From the West also brings to an English-language readership some of the rapidly unfolding and too often neglected evidence of the pre-Roman peoples and languages of the western Iberian Peninsula.

Celtic from the West is a multidisciplinary project and multi-year research initiative undertaken by the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. It represents the current state of Celtic studies and the thoughts of the leading researchers. Contributors are: (Archaeology) Barry Cunliffe; Raimund Karl; Amilcar Guerra; (Genetics) Brian McEvoy & Daniel Bradley; Stephen Oppenheimer; Ellen Rrvik; (Language) Graham Isaac; David Parsons; John T. Koch; Philip Freeman; Dagmar S. Wodtko.

Celtic From the West is available from the Ulster Heritage Amazon Associate Book Shop under the 'Ancient History' section: Link... Ulster Heritage Book Shop

Virginia Scots-Irish Festival on 9 April

2011-03-03T09:20:00.001-06:00

Lexington’s Fifth Annual Scots/Irish Festival Set April 9
The Sheep Dog Trials are back this year at the 5th Annual Scots Irish Heritage Festival!!

McDaid's Football Speical

2011-03-03T07:09:00.003-06:00

Edward McDaid, owner of McDaid?s of Ramelton, Co Donegal, will launch his soft drink Football Special nationally this summer

By Anita Guidera

A SOFT drink made from a secret recipe that has been enjoyed for over 50 years by a select few is about to be launched nationwide.

Outside of north Donegal, few people have even heard of McDaid's Football Special, a cola-style frothy drink which is synonymous with Ramelton, the small heritage town where it is made.

But owner Edward McDaid plans to take Football Special into the soft drinks premiership.

"It is a strange product in many senses. Whatever it is about it, it seems to hit a memory button and conjure up pleasant memories of childhood, even with people who haven't tasted it before," he explained.

His father Jim and his uncles chanced on the unique combination of ingredients over 50 years ago and luckily his uncle Eamon -- who had trained in a soft drinks company in Belfast -- recorded the quantities so it could be recreated.

"My father was a founder member of the Swilly Rovers Football Club in Ramelton and they were trying to come up with a soft drink that could be put into the cup after a win, instead of whiskey.

"The fruit syrup flavours that are used are all fairly common and shouldn't belong together but they do," he said.

The base ingredient for the drink is indeed unique to Ramelton in the form of spring water from McDaid's very own underground spring well, less than 100 metres away from the production plant.

Production

Sugar, seven different syrups and a heading liquid are added to the water, which is then carbonated and bottled.

Edward is about to add a marketing and sales person to his six-strong staff and aims to rebrand and triple production at his plant as the product goes nationwide in June. Although business has been hit by the recession, he believes Football Special, and its sister flavours, banana, pineapple and cream soda, will go down well with fizzy drinks fans.

"If Donegal people for all these years have been having this experience and enjoying it, could we be so different from everywhere else in the country?" Edward asked.

As for the secret recipe, as with Coca Cola, its maker's lips are sealed.

"Only myself and one other person know and we never travel on the same plane. I fly Ryanair and he takes the Swilly Bus," he laughed.

- Anita Guidera

Irish Independent

Texas Independence Day Today

2011-03-02T12:24:00.003-06:00

The Texas Declaration of Independence was produced, literally, overnight on 2 March 1836 was adopted. It reason that the measure was done with such urgency was while it was being prepared, the Alamo in San Antonio was under siege by Santa Anna's army of Mexico.

Immediately upon the assemblage of the Convention of 1836 on 1 March, a committee of five of its delegates were appointed to draft the document. The committee, consisting of George Campbell Childress, Edward Conrad, James Gaines, Bailey Hardeman, and Collin McKinney, prepared the declaration in record time. It was briefly reviewed, then adopted by the delegates of the convention the following day and Texas became a free and independent republic.

Sam Houston

The Anglo-Celtic settlers in Texas at this time had very large percentage of Scots-Irish among them. Many leaders of Texas independence were of Scots-Irish ancestry: James Bowie, Sam Houston, Judge Jesse Grimes, David Crockett, David Burnet, Robert Cochran and others. Sam Houston, was the head of Texas Republic's army and it first president. His great grandfather immigrated from Ireland in 1735.

Historian T R Fehrenbach wrote in his Lone Star history of Texas, “The Anglo-Celts had not crossed the sea to become servile tenants.”

New Issue of An Gael

2011-03-01T20:03:00.004-06:00

Seo iris oifigiúil Chumann Carad na Gaeilge, iris a dhíríonn ar phobal idirnáisiúnta na Gaeilge, cairde ar fud an domhain. Ficsean, filíocht agus níos mó! This is the official magazine of the Philo-Celtic Society, a magazine which focuses on the international Irish language community, friends all around the world. Fiction, poetry and more! (Mura bhfuil tú sna Stáit, sa Ríocht Aontaithe ná i gCeanada, tá an iris seo ar fáil ag www.litriocht.com freisin).

Issue 8: Earrach 2011

Eagarfhocal Team,le Muiris Ó Bric Dánta le Eoin Dunford Mittelalter Metal le Séamas Ó Neachtain Seanchas le Gearóid Ó Ceallaigh Echtra Mhérais Ferritér, leis an Dr. Séamus Ó Diollúin Fonn an Phíobaire le Lugh D. DePaor Sean-ábhar ó An Gael agus The Wolfe Tone Annual

Link to purchase: An Gael

Ulster Heritage Forum

2011-02-25T07:48:00.003-06:00

Jim McKane of Wiarton, Ontario, Canada, is the webmaster of the Ulster Heritage Project and runs the Ulster Heritage Forum. The Forum is an excellent place to post family history notes and to communicate with others with similar research interests. Many of the participants on the UH Forum are also participants of the UH DNA Project, so this is an excellent opportunity to chat with family historians that have the great advantage of access to their DNA results. To join and participate in the Forum is free, just email Jim McKane.

Link to the Ulster Heritage Fourm:

Ulster Heritage Forum

Joy Dunlop, Rising Gaelic Star

2011-02-03T08:48:00.003-06:00

Mu dheidhinn Joy | About Joy

It’s little surprise that 2010 has been described by many as “Bliadhna Joy Dunlop.” (Joy Dunlop’s Year) In addition to winning the prestigious Royal National Mòd Gold Medal, releasing her critically acclaimed solo album “Dùsgadh” (Awakening) and being nominated as ‘Gaelic Singer of the Year’ at the 2010 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, Joy also found time to entertain a global audience including performances in the UK, Ireland, USA & Canada.

With talents ranging from singing to television presenting, dancing to award-winning Gaelic journalism, Joy certainly has more strings to her bow than most. A multi-prize winning Gaelic singer and popular international performer, she combines her singing with regular media stints and also writing for numerous Gaelic publications. A regular on the traditional music circuit, Joy has won numerous illustrious awards and is as much at ease entertaining audiences at local cèilidhs as performing at major festivals, such as Cape Breton’s ‘Celtic Colours’ and Glasgow’s ‘Celtic Connections.’ In recent years, she has toured the UK & Ireland extensively and also performed frequently in Europe, Canada and New Zealand.

In addition to her solo work, Joy is a dedicated supporter of Gaelic choral music and Scottish step dancing & is a prolific figure in both fields, especially in her native Argyll. With an extensive academic background in Gaelic language and culture development work, she is also increasingly in demand as a teacher, speaker and translator. Lately, Joy has become a familiar face in Gaelic broadcasting, appearing frequently on both television and radio, while her Gaelic journalism was commended at both the Scottish Press Awards and Highlands and Islands Media Awards; a heady combination of achievements that has raised her profile as a new and powerful Gaelic voice.

Link: Joy Junlop

An Droichead in Belfast

2011-02-03T08:19:00.003-06:00

Bunaithe i ndeisceart Bhéal Feirste, i bhfoisceacht cúig bhomaite ó lár na cathrach, tá An Droichead ar thús cadnaíochta ó thaobh cur chun tosaigh na Gaeilge dó agus an chultúir dhúchais.

Foirgneamh nua aoiseach den scoth atá i Lárionad an Droichid a bhfuil roinnt duaiseanna bainte aige as ucht a dhearadh , ionad ceoil agus ealaíne úrscothach ina bhfuil spás taispeantais agus aiseanna don phobal. Tá an lárionad fóirsteanach don lucht míchumasaithe agus tá páirceáil shábháilte ann mar aon leis. Sa bhliain 2007/8 chuaigh breis is 4000 cuairteoir fríd an doras.

Based in south Belfast, five minutes walk from Belfast’s city centre, An Droichead is at the cutting edge in provision of the Irish language and culture.

Lárionad an Droichid is a modern, multi-award winning, purpose built, cultural centre boasting a state of the Art music and arts venue, exhibition space and community facility. The centre has full disabled access with the addition of secure parking. In 2007-08 An Droichead welcomed more than 4,000 people through its doors. Link: An Droichead

Gallóglaigh, Ulster 1500s

2011-02-02T09:08:00.001-06:00

Three Gallóglaigh (said Gall-og-glee) from the 1500s. The photo above courtesy of the Claíomh group that provide Museum-quality Medieval & Early Modern Gaelic-Irish and Scots Military Interpretations. Their link: Claíomh

Lá Fhéile Bhríde

2011-02-01T08:47:00.004-06:00

February 1st is St. Brigid's Day and is also known as Candlemas. Since Christian times the day was in honour of St Bríde who was one of Ireland's greatest saints. It was a day of celebration to the ancient Gaels and after the arrival of Christianity, was incorporated into the new faith and her celebration and feast day continues on into the 21st Century. The day is also called Imbolc and is one of the four great calendar festivals of the pre Christian year.

'Anois teacht an Earraigh beidh an lá dúl chun shíneadh, Is tar eis na féil Bríde ardóigh mé mo sheol.'

(Now Spring is here, the days will grow shorter, And after Brigid's Day, I'll head for the hills-Raftery (1784-1835)

Accommodation Options in Ireland and Northern Ireland | UlsterHeritage.com - All Thinngs Ulster

2011-01-29T10:26:00.000-06:00

Accommodation Options in Ireland and Northern Ireland | UlsterHeritage.com - All Things Ulster

Robbie Burn's Day

2011-01-25T14:52:00.000-06:00

A Bottle And Friend

There's nane that's blest of human kind,
But the cheerful and the gay, man,
Fal, la, la, &c.

Here's a bottle and an honest friend!
What wad ye wish for mair, man?
Wha kens, before his life may end,
What his share may be o' care, man?

Then catch the moments as they fly,
And use them as ye ought, man:
Believe me, happiness is shy,
And comes not aye when sought, man.

County Antrim Gaelic Course

2011-01-24T19:42:00.002-06:00

One Day Intensive Irish language course for Adult beginers & Intermediate learners.

One Day Intensive Irish language course for Adult beginners & Intermediate learners.
We expect interest to be high and places are limited, so put your name down and reserve your place asap.

The courses will be held in Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach's school premises on Saturday 26th February 2011 starting at 10am and finishing at 4pm.

The Address is:
...Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach
15c Glenavy Road,
Crumlin,
Antrim, UK BT29 4LA.

The school is located just inside the main gates to St Josephs primary school on the right hand side - in mobile facilities. There is a car park at the Mater Dei church next to the school that you can use to park your car if need be.

Enrolment fee of £15 can be paid on arrival. You will be asked to fill in an registration form on arrival.

One class will be an adult beginners level conversational Irish class and the other will be an intermediate level learners class for those who already have some Irish.

You should bring a pen and notebook to take notes if you wish during the class.

Lunch and refreshments i.e. tea/coffee, and sandwiches will be provided.

If you would like to reserve a place for the 26th February, please let me know as soon as possible.

Details: Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach

Please state which class you are interested in and provide a contact telephone number.

Robbie Burns Celebrated in Derry City

2011-01-24T07:20:00.002-06:00

Rabbie Burns comes to town

21/01/2011

The City of Culture Office in Guildhall Square will host an afternoon of Ulster Scots Culture on Tuesday afternoon, January 25th, to celebrate Burns Day.

Burns Day commemorates the life and work of the poet and lyricist Robert Burns who was born on January 25, 1759 and is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland. Celebrations of Burns’ memory are held globally but are particularly prominent in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Canada and New Zealand.

The event at the City of Culture Offices runs from 1.00pm to 5.00 pm on Tuesday afternoon and will be an ideal introduction to Burns for those who are unfamiliar with the poet’s work.

Following a short introduction by renowned Ulster Scots poet and scholar Wilson Burgess, Stuart Buchanan will address and toast the Haggis. Wilson Burgess will then perform “The Immortal Memory” and oration of the life of Burns which will be followed by a Sword Dance, a poetry reading and traditional singing. Along with the entertainment, traditional fare such as Haggis, Neeps and Tatties will be served providing a taste of Scotland.

Wilson Burgess is hopeful that the Burns celebration will increase awareness of the poet’s legacy across a wider audience:
“I think this event will be of interest to everyone from all sides of the community. As Seamus Heaney said ‘Burns’ way of speaking offered asylum to all vernacular speakers who hail from north of a line drawn from Berwick to Bundoran’. ”

James Kee of the Bready and District Ulster Scots Development Association, the Artistic Director of the event said: “We at Bready and District Ulster Scots are delighted to have this opportunity to showcase Burns Day celebrations at the City of Culture Office and looking forward to introducing Burns to a fresh audience,” he said.

Mayor of Derry Colum Eastwood said: “The City of Culture Office is the perfect location for this celebration. Rabbie Burns is an icon of Ulster Scots culture and I think those who pay a visit to Tuesday’s event will find it fascinating, entertaining and informative.”

First "OIREACHTAS CHEANADA" this July

2011-01-24T06:57:00.003-06:00

A Celebratory Competition of Indigenous Irish Language, Culture and Arts

July 1, 2011 will mark an exciting time for the Irish language and arts outside of Ireland. The first ever Oireachtas Cheanada will kick-off a three day competition held in the Irish language and feature events in singing, dancing, music and literature.

Events will be open to all ages and skill levels with the emphasis on promoting, fostering, celebrating, and above all, enjoying, indigenous Irish language, arts and culture.

Competitions and events will be hosted at Gaeltacht Thuaisceart an Oileáin Úir, by Cumann na Gaeltachta, winner of the 2007/2008 Global Gaeilge Award. The site is located in beautiful rural Ontario near the villages of Erinsville and Tamworth. Situated on 60 acres of rolling, arable land and with a scenic waterfront on the Salmon River, the Gaeltacht was officially opened in June 2007 by Irish Ambassador Declan Kelly and received an official letter of congratulations from the Minister of Rural Community and Gaeltacht Affairs at the time, Éamonn Ó Cuív. Cumann na Gaeltachta is thrilled to take on this inaugural event with an eye to its future growth and success!

Festivities commence Friday July 1, 2011 with a Canada Day parade and close Sunday July 3rd with a farewell brunch. All inquiries are welcome and general information is available by contacting: Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh - kenny-h@rmc.ca or Clár Ní Dhuibhir - claredwyer@aol.com

New Book on Donagheady Parish, Tyrone

2011-01-17T10:02:00.004-06:00

The creation and disintegration of the estate system in Donagheady is also charted in this volume and the fate and fortunes of the landowning families and their tenants is explored. The histories of the main religious denominations are covered, as well as the nature of rural society itself. Other chapters in this book examine the impact of the Great Famine on the parish, the development of the village of Dunnamanagh, attempts to improve educational provision, the rise and decline of rural industries, and the relationship between Donagheady and the wider world.
William Roulston is from the townland of Gortavea in the parish of Donagheady, and was raised on a farm that has been in his family’s possession since 1830. He is the Research Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation. His other books include The parishes of Leckpatrick and Dunnalong: their place in history (2000), Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors (2005), and Restoration Strabane, 1660-1714 (2007).
This work is highly recommended by the Ulster Heritage Project.

It can be ordered online from: www.booksireland.org.uk

Treasure Each Voice

2011-01-17T09:29:00.004-06:00

Treasure Each Voice, 400 Years of Anglo-Irish, Irish and Ulster-Scots Literature from Stanorlar is a 780 page volume will follows the rich history of language and literature of Stranorlar, County Donegal. The book includes poetry, short stories, essays, and more, in all three languages used in the Finn Valley, in Donegal. The book, edited by Dr Pauline Holland, is a masterpiece and welcomed edition to Irish letters.

For more information contact: Fiach Arts Circle

UTV documentary: "Plantation - the Truth and the Legacy"

2011-01-10T16:43:00.000-06:00

UTV documentary: "Plantation - the Truth and the Legacy"

Ulster Heritage Magazine

New Issue of the Donegal E-zine Available

Ulster Irish Migration Studies Reunion Lecture

Gaelic Language In Nova Scotia

The Northern Lights Come To Ulster

Hance Hamilton, Scots-Irish Icon and Mystery

Seven Wonders of Northern Ireland

Ulster Heritage DNA Test Sale

Holiday Promotion extended to January 7, 2012

Storms Batter Northern Ireland

Geese in flight over the lost Loughsisooly

St Stephen's Day Song

Merry Christmas

Thanksgiving!!!

USA Employment for Irish Speakers

Strabane & West Ulster In The 1800s

Damien O'Kane Trio in Concert, Belfast

Surnames, Beatty & McVitty

Donegal County Council News

Donegal CountyCouncil An bhfuil ranganna Gaeilge nó ciorcal comhrá Gaeilge ar siúl i do cheantar, áit ar bith i gContae Dhún na nGall?

Má tá, ba mhaith le hOifig Ghaeilge na Comhairle Contae a chluinstin faoi. Is féidir an t-eolas a thabhairt anseo, nó é a chur chuig sdaimhin@donegalcoco.ie.

Holiday Sale On Ulster DNA Testing

Medieval Irish Town Unearthed

New Issue of the Donegal E-zine Available

Copyright Issues in Ulster Anno Domini 560

First Alleged “Copyright” Dispute: 560 AD, Celtic Ireland; Battle Ensues; 3000 people die

Ulster Tourism Increase

The Route Back Home, Ballymoney, Antrim

Ballymena Heritage Events Upcoming

Samhain!

A history of Ireland in 100 objects

Treàsach

The Banks of the Foyle Hallowe’en Carnival 2011

Gaelic in the streets of New York City

Viking Grave Found In Ardnamurchan

Country legend Don Williams in Belfast gig - News, Music & Gigs - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Excellent Sale On Ulster DNA Testing

Gaelic Lessons Available in Belfast

Ulster Bluegrass Music Festival

20th Annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival Bands

Booking & Ticket information:

Camping information

Ballymoney Family History Symposium

Holywood Irish Lessons

Centre offers Scottish Gaelic class

New Issue of Donegal E-zine Available

October Genealogy Tour Details

Poitín And Moonshine

Cú Chulainn

Archaeological Exhibition Showcases Dunluce

Ozark Bluegrass News

Lexington Virginia Music Festival

Portrush Flyer Video

Congratulations Darren Clarke!

Fleadh Uladh 17-24 July in Dungiven

Summer Sale of Ulster Heritage DNA Testing

Portrush Flyer - approaching Dhu Varren Halt

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy Transcends Boundaries

Old Time and Bluegrass in the Ozarks

Prehistoric BBQ Leftovers Found

Canadian Headstone Project Update

FANS SWAMP MCILROY ON HIS ‘SECRET’ VISIT TO DONEGAL

County Tyrone Gaelic Classes Event

Clover South Carolina Scots-Irish Festival

New Issue of Donegal E-zine Available

Irish Language in Mid Ulster

John Fox's Massive Mule Marathon of Ireland

Omagh Living History Part Epic Event in June

Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival

Mince and Gravy, Ballybofey style, from Ciaran

Gaeltacht Areas To Be Defined By Use Not Geography

The Croghan Man 362 - 175 BC

Pre Colombian Gaels in the Carolinas

Kist O Wurds Programme

Decorated boulder in United States reveals links to Early Bronze Age Ireland | Irish News | IrishCentral

Pre Norse Gaelic Settlement in Iceland

The Heritage Tour of American

Historic Presbyterian Church in Derry Reopens

New Searchable Virtual Library for Ulster Family Historians

Wallace McCain Dies at 81

Donegal CountyCouncil

An bhfuil ranganna Gaeilge nó ciorcal comhrá Gaeilge ar siúl i do cheantar, áit ar bith i gContae Dhún na nGall?

Strabane & West Ulster In The 1800s
History From The Broadsheets
Selections from The Strabane Morning Post 1812 – 1837

Three centuries of life in a Tyrone parish.
A history of Donagheady from 1600 to 1900