An interesting Face Book experience.

So today I was informed that I am no longer part of the Ballymena Family History Group on Face Book. I am still laughing. Apparently because I don’t have time to post to the group or list my information I am not allowed to follow the conversations. I have never heard of a Face Book group like that. Who Knew??? I find nothing on the sign up page to tell me I had better post or else.

When I think of the hours of work my sister and I put into getting record books placed at the Braid museum, two trips from the U.S. to Ballymena to take pictures, record transcription, and recruiting Alistair Mccartney to redo the pictures and talking to him about spearheading the transcription project, I wonder if that wasn’t enough of a benefit to the Ballymena Family History Society to give me a pass into their little Face Book Group. Guess not. Am I insulted – yes. This doesn’t seem to me to be in the spirit of any genealogy group I have ever known.

The reason I am laughing is today I started thinking about the great newspaper clippings and death cards Kate Connelly has been adding to the Coleraine Branch FB page. I have some death card pictures from Ireland for families that I am not related to. I haven’t posted them on my blog because they are not my ancestors and I have been busy. So I thought I should maybe post them on the Ballymena FB page. Guess not.

UPDATE TO RUTH MCFETRIDGE’S DEATH BOOK

I have finally managed to get through transcribing the M’s – so the file to the right has been updated.  I will try to keep at it over the next few weeks to get the rest of the book transcribed.  I hope I have not made too many mistakes, but should someone see something they know is not correct I would appreciate hearing from them.

Ballymena District Births

I have added a transcription of some Ballymena birth records, mostly Morton and Stevenson but there are other names also.  You will find in at the right under Ireland records.

Our Home Away from Home

I thought some of you would like to see where we stayed.  Largy Coastal Apartments in Carnlough is my favorite place to stay.  Although it is 20 – 30 min. from Ballymena it is beautiful and is a good place to start when exploring the east coast of Northern Ireland.  St. Mary’s church is just a short walk up the road.  I always go there and take pictures – for no reason really – I just like it.  No ancestors in the graveyard!

 

Southwell Monor House. Court matrix Ireland

I don’t think I ever posted this picture. It is the manor house on the estate where many of the Shier’s were sent to live in Ireland. It is not far from Adair where there are still many Shier descendants. We took this picture in 2007.

Newgrange and Kells

I am going to add a few more Ireland pictures.  The following pictures are from Newgrange which is a Stone Age passage tomb.  You can learn more here:  http://www.newgrange.com/

After Newgrange we went to Kells.  The book of Kells which is in Dublin was written here.  The round tower and the high crosses were amazing.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_of_Kells

Arrived in Ireland

We we had a good flight to Dublin and survived trying to stay awake the first day. Got lots of sleep last night. Should anyone plan a trip to Ireland, I would be glad to give some pointers and ideas, especially for County Antim.

I will post a few pictures as we go along even though they won’t be genealogy pictures for the most part. If you want to see all of my pictures with my family etc. you can sign up for my travel blog.

These pictures are of the Temple Bar area in Dublin.

GREAT NEWS!

The Braid Museum has gotten the plot book and interment transcriptions up on their website!!  Take a look.  Lots of information. Look under Museum – Explore your Roots – Further Genealogical Resources.

Coming in the Fall on the Braid site will be a virtual churchyard trail of pre-reformation and Covenanter churches in the Borough.

 

Very exciting news!

Ballymoney Genealogy Conference

I just realized that the post I wrote with the information about the Ballymoney genealogy conference never got published.  So I am attaching the information sheet and the booking form for anyone who is interested in attending.  I have heard it is a wonderful event.  Unfortunately, my trip to Ireland is not at the same time.

 

It is only about 4 weeks until we leave for Ireland.  We already have a lot of things planned to do and cousins and friends to visit.  I am hoping my family loves it there as much as my sister and I.

 

I also just realized that I have my Shier descendant report on my blog but not my Mortons and Stevenson who came from Co. Antrim.  Sometime soon I will try to fix that and get the reports posted.

.RBC 2014 – BOOKING FORM

 

RBH 2014 INFO SHEET 27.02.2014

Ireland Trip

Well again it has been quite a while since I had time to add anything to the blog.  Life seems very busy.

 

My family and I are planning a trip to Ireland in June to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.  I am not sure how that could be possible when I am so young!  Anyway it will be a sightseeing trip and visiting with cousins rather than a genealogy trip.  Although at this point I really don’t know what more to do there.

 

Unfortunately I will be there at a different time than the Ballymoney Family History Conference.  I would love to go sometime.  This year it is 24-27 September.  I thought some of you might be interested in planning a trip there to attend so I am posting the booking form and the information sheet.  You will find it in a folder on the right labeled Ballymoney Family History Conference.  It is a great conference and I am sure many would benefit from it.  If you have any questions, let me know and I am sure I can find the answers from Kate Connolly.

There is still no new information about adding the cemetery book information to the Braid website.  I am finding it very frustrating.  Many people worked hard on the transcriptions and still they are not available to people who need them.