THOSE WITH AN interest in family and local history should pop down to the National Library of Ireland in Dublin this month, which will host a series of free lunchtime talks.

Twenty experts in the field of family history will speak throughout August, with a view to helping people unveil their family trees.

The short talks will be held at 1pm on most days throughout the month in the Seminar room (see schedule here). While there’s no need to book ahead, organisers say they has been a wonderful response in the past and recommend getting there early to secure a spot.

The talks are being run as part of the free Genealogical Advisory Service – which is available to anyone who calls in to the NLI or the National Archives – and are being organised by Eneclann and Ancestor Network, in partnership with the NLI.

Speaking this week (from Monday 13th August) are:

• Susan Hood of the Representative Church Body Library on ‘Records for genealogical research at the Representative Church Body Library’
• Turtle Bunbury, author of Vanishing Ireland, on genealogical resources for ‘Big House’ families
• Jennifer Doyle, Eneclann, speaking on using newspapers to trace your family history
• Brian Mitchell, author of A Guide to Irish Parish Registers will be talking about Irish placenames
• Eileen O Duill, professional genealogist will be giving a talk on ‘Irish births, marriages and deaths for beginners’

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