Photo by permission of Glens of Antim Historical Society

California Genealogical Society 2025 All Ireland Genealogy Seminar

with the Ulster Historical Foundation

We are happy to announce that the California Genealogical Society will host the first stop of the 2025 Ulster Historical Foundation US Tour. The stop covers two events on two different days at two different Oakland locations.

The Ulster Historical Foundation is a non-profit organization, founded in 1956, dedicated to helping individuals, groups, educators and global diasporas gain a deeper understanding of the rich history of Ulster and its families.

Ulster Historical Foundation has been bringing its historical research expertise and knowledge of Irish archives to North America since 1979, delivering Irish and Scots-Irish genealogy programs through its annual lecture tours. The programs are of value to researchers, no matter where your ancestors originate on the island of Ireland.

LECTURE DAY

Saturday, March 1, 2025, will be a full day of in-person lectures at Preservation Park near Martin Luther King and 12thStreet, Oakland, a short walk from the 12th Street BART station and there is parking for $25 daily fee across the street with a security guard. A box lunch can be ordered separately.

The sessions help the beginner and the seasoned genealogist alike: from the basics (for those new to Irish genealogy) to guidance and research tips on utilizing obscure and unusual archival sources for 17th- and 18th century research.

Topics for 2025:

  • Introduction to Irish and Scots-Irish Family History Research
  • Getting the most out of Griffith’s Valuation
  • Using printed sources for Irish family history: Directories, newspapers and more
  • Using the Registry of Deeds: an important source for 18th century research
  • The Irish Poor Law and local government records including workhouse registers
  • Solving Your Brick Walls – interactive session for questions you may still have

Pricing:

$120 for members and $145 for non-members

Optional box lunch available for $30. Other information about nearby cafes and takeout will also be provided.

The lecture tickets are capped at 100 participants, so register today.

 Register on Eventbrite to reserve your seat.

CONSULTATION DAY – SOLD OUT!

Friday, February 28, 2025, will be a day of 30 minute consultations with Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Oakland.

Meet Your Speakers

Fintan Mullan is Executive Director of Ulster Historical Foundation, which he joined in 1995, and has been responsible for the management of this successful Belfast-based, educational non-profit since 2001. He has extensive experience in Irish family history research and is a regular international speaker on Irish genealogy, having spoken in Ireland, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most of the lower 48 states of the USA. He has managed the production of over 150 Irish history and genealogy titles. Fintan has helped to ensure that the Foundation has been at the forefront of developments in Irish genealogy, including heritage tourism products and the provision of online resources. He helped to pioneer www.rootsireland.ie, the unique database with over 22 million Irish historical records. He is a non-executive director of the Irish Family History Foundation.

Gillian Hunt is Research Officer with the Ulster Historical Foundation and manages the Foundation’s many genealogical activities; she has been with the Foundation since 2001. As well as looking after the genealogy side of the Foundation’s work, Gillian carries out research for clients and is a hugely experienced user of the General Register Office and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, where she sits on PRONI’s Stakeholder Forum. She regularly teaches courses in Northern Ireland and gives talks on family history in the rest of Ireland, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, co-presenting our annual North American lecture tours since 2014.

Gillian also co-delivered (with Fintan Mullan) the British Institute’s week-long Irish genealogy course in Salt Lake City in October 2018 (hosted by the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History) and again in October 2022 this time online. Gillian has carried out the research for a number of television programmes, as well as appearing in several of them, most recently BBC’s ‘Stephen Nolan: Ulster-Scots, My Family and Me’

Policies:

The California Genealogical Society shall not be held liable for any loss or damage to property. Additionally, CGS will not be liable for any loss, damage, or injury caused by strikes, weather, illness, or any other cause beyond its reasonable control.

Non-Discrimination Statement

The goal of the California Genealogical Society is to connect people to their family heritage and to promote a spirit of diversity and inclusivity for our members and patrons. The California Genealogical Society does not tolerate discrimination in any form.    

Photography Notice

California Genealogical Society (CGS) may take photographs, audio recordings, and video footage in our library, classrooms or events for historical records or publicity purposes.  If you do not want to be photographed or filmed, it is the individual’s responsibility to ‘opt out’ by notifying the event leader or photographer at the event.