Lectures and Handouts

Devenish Island, County Fermanagh

 

An old broom knows the dirty corners best. - Irish Saying

 


I have been presenting courses on Irish genealogy since 2003.  I regularly present the topics listed below, however other topics can be developed as needed.  

By clicking on a topic you will be able to download and save the associated handout.  (This gives you easy access to many useful clickable links.)  You should be able to access these files regardless of operating system or software.  If there are any problems reading the files, please contact me.


Course I - Searching US Records for your Irish Ancestors          (PDF file updated: 17 Oct 2019)
Course I - Civil War Addendum          (PDF file updated: 12 Sep 2015)
Course I - Slides          (PDF file updated: 17 Oct 2019)
Course I - Census Inventory          (MS Excel file updated: 20 Oct 2012)

Course I - Advanced Irish Research Slides          (PDF file updated: 18 Nov 2019)

Course II - Searching Irish Records for your Ancestors         (PDF file updated: 17 Oct 2019)
Course II - Slides                                                                      (PDF file updated: 13 Oct 2016)

Course III - Irish Name Variations & Search Techniques           (PDF file updated: 28 Mar 2014)

Course IV - Searching US Records for your Immigrant Ancestors           (PDF file updated: 27 Jun 2018)

Course IV - Slides                                        (PDF file updated: 26 Apr 2022)

Course Civil War - Slides                            (PDF file updated: 17 Apr 2023)

Course Civil War - Handout                       (PDF file updated: 5 Apr 2023)

Course Revolutionary War - Slides                            (PDF file updated: 15 Jan 2024)

Course Revolutionary War - Handout                       (PDF file updated: 15 Jan 2024)
 

Irish Genealogy ...highlights from Course I & Course II        (PDF file updated: 19 Oct 2018)

Irish Genealogy Handout                                                 (PDF file updated: 19 Oct 2018)

Griffith's Valuation - Background & Usage      (PDF file updated: 12 Sep 2015)

Dual Citizenship for Irish-Americans           (PDF file updated: 12 Sep 2015)



Technology Topics:

Fulton History Website                                 (PDF file updated: 25 Apr 2023)                                                                                            Fulton History Website Handout                       (PDF file updated: 25 Apr 2023)

RootsFinder                (PDF file updated: 11 Apr 2019)

When and How to Use a Consultant                  (PDF file updated: 19 Oct 2018)
When and How to Use a Consultant Handout     (PDF file updated: 19 Oct 2018)

Maximizing the Benefits of FamilySearch      (PDF file updated: 6 Apr 2022)

Google Maps for Genealogy                 (PDF file updated: 10 Oct 2017)
Google Earth for Genealogy                 (PDF file updated: 13 Oct 2016)
Survey of Brick Wall Techniques                     (PDF file updated: 4 Mar 2020)
Quick and Easy Cousin Bait                               (PDF file updated: 10 Apr 2015)

 

DNA for Genealogy                                 (PDF file updated: 19 Sep 2019)

DNA for Genealogy Handout              (PDF file updated: 19 Sep 2019)

Transferring your DNA Results to other Databases              (PDF file updated: 16 May 2016)

You Can't Take It With You!            (PDF file updated: 19 Sep 2022)

Googling for Genealogy                     (PDF file updated: 25 Aug 2020)




Other Resources:

Given Name Alternatives for Irish Research  When researching, you will often see alternate forms of given names (first names, middle names, etc.) many of which are not obvious.  As you know, people can be referred to by different names in different times and places.  Searching the file below for a "strange" name may lead to names used in other records.  I've included abbreviations (ex: Jno. for John), nicknames (ex: Nabby for Abigail), Synonyms (ex: Delia for Bridget), Irish (ex: Alaois for Aloysius) and Latin (ex: Ioannes for John).
Given Name Alternatives for Irish Research          (PDF file updated 21 Mar 2020)  

Heritage Centres  There are heritage centres in Ireland that provide genealogical services.  Some of these are independent and some are part of a loosely-connected organization, Irish Family History Foundation (IFHF).  The services and fees vary from centre to centre.  Many of the centres provide free online searches of their databases.  This is an extremely helpful service.  (Most of the centres will prepare research reports for fees.)  The following file is a directory of heritage centres, features and contact info.
Irish Heritage Centres        (PDF file update 12 Sep 2015)


Feel free to contact me for more information about my presentations.


"Thanks so much for the wonderful genealogy program Tuesday. It was great! I went right home and uploaded your handout so that I would have direct access to the links as you suggested." ... "I had to laugh when you mentioned that the names "Delia" and "Bridget" were interchangeable! My Delia appears on two census records as Delia and two as Bridget and I have spent a considerable amount of time trying find a second marriage or something to explain who this Bridget was -- now I guess I know that they were one and the same! Who would have guessed??!! Thanks again. And I'm looking forward to sitting down and really studying your handout!"

Liz Albright, Town Historian
Town of Ontario, Wayne County, New York


"Dennis has been our guest speaker many times by popular demand!  In our collective great many years of genealogical research he has addressed nicknames like no other we have heard.  He is a man not afraid to share his years of knowledge with complete openness and those who apply his teaching benefit greatly."

Holly Canham, President
Orleans County Genealogical Society
Albion, Orleans County, New York


Recent Presentations:

Using FultonHistory Website, Capital District Genealogical Society, (Zoom), 23 Oct 2021

Survey of Brick Wall Techniques, Ontario County Genealogical Society, 4 Mar 2020

Advanced Irish Research, Fairport Library, 18 Nov 2019

Searching US Records for Your Irish Ancestors, Rochester Genealogical Society, 17 Oct 2019

DNA for Genealogy, Webster Library, 17 Sep 2019

DNA for Genealogy, Fairport Library Genealogy Club, 18 Mar 2019

Using the Fulton History Website, Ontario County Genealogical Society, 6 Mar 2019

Course I Searching US Records for Your Irish Ancestors, Fairport Library Genealogy Club, 21 Jan 2019

DNA for Genealogy, Ontario County Genealogical Society, 7 Nov 2018

Buffalo Family History Fair, 20 Oct 2018,  Topics:

    When to use a Consultant

    Irish Genealogy

    DNA for Genealogy

Searching US Records for Your Immigrant Ancestor, 27 Jun 2018, Irondequoit Library Genealogy Group

Maximizing the Benefits of FamilySearch, 17 Apr 2018, Ogden Farmers' Library Genealogy Group

Irish Genealogy, 20 Mar 2018, Genesee Area Genealogists

Researching US Records for Your Ancestors, 19 Mar 2018, Penn Yan Public Library

Maximizing the Benefits of FamilySearch, 7 Mar 2018, Ontario County Genealogical Society

Two Presentations, 20 May 2017, Central New York Genealogical Society
     Maximizing the Benefits of FamilySearch
     Irish Genealogy

New Resources for Irish Research, 12 Mar 2017, Orleans County Genealogical Society
You Can't Take It With You, 1 Mar 2017, Ontario County Genealogical Society
Full Day Conference, 15 Oct 2016, Heritage Hunters of Saratoga County
      Searching Irish Records for Your Ancestors
      Survey of Brick Wall Techniques
      Fulton History Website
      Googling for Genealogy 
Searching US Records for Your Immigrant Ancestor, 15 Sep 2016, Rochester Genealogical Society
DNA for Genealogy, 8 May 2016, Orleans County Genealogical Society
Evernote for Genealogy, 6 Apr 2016, Ontario County Genealogical Society
Irish Genealogy, 2 May 2015, NYSCOGO Spring Meeting
Full Day Conference, 11 Apr 2015, Central New York Genealogical Society
      Google Maps for Genealogy
      Google Earth for Genealogy
      Survey of Brick Wall Techniques
      Quick and Easy Cousin Bait
Genealogy Computer Programs, Legacy and Family Tree Maker, 4 Mar 2015, Ontario County Genealogical Society
Searching US Records for Your Irish Ancestors21 Oct 2014, Genesee Area Genealogists
Searching US Records for Your Immigrant Ancestors, 27 Sep 2014, Genealogy Club at Geneva Public Library
Googling for Genealogy, 19 Aug 2014, Ogden Farmers' Library
Genealogy Seminar, 23 Aug 2014, Yates County History Center
Course I - Searching US Records for Your Irish Ancestors, 25 Mar 2014, Wayne County Genealogical Society
(1-Researching US Records for your Immigrant Ancestors, 2-Irish Name Variations, 3-Searching Irish Records for your Ancestors), 22 Mar 2014, Western New York Genealogical Society
Googling for Genealogy, 5 Mar 2014, Ontario County Genealogical Society
Irish Genealogy, 11 Feb 2014, Phelps Genealogy Club
Googling for Genealogy, 26 Nov 2013, Wayne County Genealogical Society
Fulton History Website (fultonhistory.com), 12 Oct 2013, Central New York Genealogical Society
Course II - Searching Irish Records for Your Ancestors, September 8, 2013, Celtic College at the Rochester Irish Festival
Course I - Searching US Records for Your Irish Ancestors, September 7, 2013, Celtic College at the Rochester Irish Festival
Researching Your Famine Ancestors, 19 May 2013, Rochester Irish Gathering at St. John Fisher College
Fulton History Website (fultonhistory.com) & Googling for Genealogy, 18 May 2013, Western New York Genealogical Society
Fulton History Website (fultonhistory.com), 12 May 2013, Orleans County Genealogical Society
Course III - Irish Name Variations & Search Techniques, March 20, 2013, Ogden Farmer's Library
Fulton History Website, March 6, 2013, Ontario County Genalogical Society
Using the 1940 Census, November 7, 2012, Ontario County Genealogical Society
Irish Genealogy, October 21, 2012, 11th Annual Irish Cultural Day, Nazareth College of Rochester
Course II - Searching Irish Records for Your Ancestors, September 9, 2012, Celtic College at the Rochester Irish Festival
Course I - Searching US Records for Your Irish Ancestors, September 8, 2012, Celtic College at the Rochester Irish Festival
How to Begin Researching Your Irish Ancestry, March 16, 2012, Irish Studies Conference, St. John Fisher College
Course II - Searching Irish Records for Your Irish Ancestors, March 14, 2012, Ogden Farmer's Library
Googling for Genealogy, March 10, 2012, Central New York Genealogical Society
How to Get Ready for 1940, March 8, 2012, RGS Computer Interest Group
Researching Your Irish Ancestors, March 7, 2012, Ontario County Genealogical Society
Griffith's Valuation - Background & Usage for Genealogy, November 8, 2011, Irish American Cultural Institute at St. John Fisher College
Course I - Searching US Records for your Irish Ancestors, October 15, 2011, Family History Fair/Batavia
Course II - Searching Irish Records for your Ancestors, October 15, 2011, Family History Fair/Batavia
Dual Citizenship for Irish-Americans, September 11, 2011, Celtic College at the Rochester Irish Festival
Course II - Searching Irish Records for your Ancestors, September 11, 2011, Celtic College at the Rochester Irish Festival
Course I - Searching US Records for your Irish Ancestors, September 10, 2011, Celtic College at the Rochester Irish Festival
Googling for Genealogy, April 10, 2011, Orleans County Genealogicial Society
Course I - Searching US Records for your Irish Ancestors, March 16, 2011, Ogden Farmer's Library
Course I - Searching US Records for your Irish Ancestors, March 8, 2011, Ontario Public Library
Hands-On Version of Course II, March 3, 2011, Irish American Cultural Institute at St. John Fisher College
Hands-On Version of Course I, March 1, 2011, Irish American Cultural Institute at St. John Fisher College
Irish Genealogy & Research Strategies Dec 2, 2010, Irish American Cultural Institute at St. John Fisher College
Course III - Irish Name Variations & Search Techniques Nov 14, 2010, Orleans County Genealogical Society
Googling for Genealogy, Oct 14, 2010, Rochester Genealogical Society - Computer Interest Group
Course II - Searching Irish Records for your Ancestors, Sep 12, 2010, Celtic College at Rochester Irish Festival
Course I - Searching US Records for your Irish Ancestors, Sep 11, 2010, Celtic College at Rochester Irish Festival
Course II - Searching Irish Records for your Ancestors, Aug 8, 2010, Orleans County Genealogical Society
Course I - Searching US Records for your Irish Ancestors, Mar 14, 2010, Orleans County Genealogical Society
Course II - Searching Irish Records for your Ancestors, Sep 13, 2009, Celtic College at Rochester Irish Festival
Course I - Searching US Records for your Irish Ancestors, Sep 12, 2009, Celtic College at Rochester Irish Festival
Course I - Searching US Records for your Irish Ancestors, Feb 24, 2009, Fairport Public Library
Course II - Searching Irish Records for your Ancestors, Sep 14, 2008, Celtic College at Rochester Irish Festival
Course I - Searching US Records for your Irish Ancestors, Sep 13, 2008, Celtic College at Rochester Irish Festival

 


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