A while back, Family Roots Publishing got in two Irish Research books – one a book on Irish research in New York City, and the other on Irish history. The Irish research in New York book is brand new (2014) and contains a lot of previously unavailable information on New York City research. The book on Irish history has been in print since 2007, but I had never seen the book prior to getting a review copy a few weeks ago. I have learned an amazing amount about Ireland and Irish research just in the few hours I’ve had with these titles.
Since I think that both of these books will be valuable to genealogists with Irish roots, I’ve decided to bundle the books together as this weeks FRPC Exceptional Bargain Offer, cut the price 15%, making it just $25.42 for two volumes, and ship them together as if they were only one book ($5.50 p&h), saving the buyer another $2.50. The books are also available individually at 10% off, as announced in blogs and the Genealogy Newsline earlier. This offer ends Thursday at Midnight MDT, May 15, 2014.
Click Here to purchase the bundle.
Following are reviews of the two books that Andy Pomeroy wrote earlier:
Finding Your Irish Ancestors in New York City
From the late 1600s on, millions of Irish Immigrants have landed on the shores of North America. One million alone came during the Irish Famine, from 1846 to 1851. A significant majority of these immigrants landed, and many stayed, in New York. This has been covered many times and in many publications. Now, however, someone has finally put together a comprehensive research guide for finding and using sources of Irish records in New York. Joseph Buggy has created and published for 2014 Finding Your Irish Ancestors in New York City.
Just what does this new book offer? I think the author introduces the book nicely in his Introduction:
“The aim of this book is to present a comprehensive overview for anyone wishing to trace their Irish ancestors within the five boroughs of New York City. It is especially beneficial for those researching ancestors form the beginning of the 19th century to the early 20th. The Irish immigrant ancestor who arrived in New York offers researchers a good chance of finding the place of origin in Ireland, whether he or she settle in the city for generations or moved on soon after arrival. Helping you find the at place of origin is one of the central objectives of this book. To assist you in your search, detailed information about records, resources, and strategies are provided.
The history of Irish emigration to the United States, and to New York City in particular, has been covered extensively and has been detailed in a number of excellent publications. This book does not set out to retell that story. Instead, it provides resources and strategies for tracing Irish ancestors in New York City.”
Inside this guide you will find a healthy dose of information about Irish immigrants. For those who stayed in New York, discover where they settled; Catholic churches in Irish areas and records kept; newspapers; vital records; cemeteries; and more. The book is a little bit history and a lot of resources. Even those ancestors who only stopped briefly in New York, after disembarking there, left records that can help lead back to their homes of origin.
Get a copy of Finding Your Irish Ancestors in New York City at 10% Off for a limited time from Family Roots Publishing.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
1. Introduction
- What’s Inside?
- Where do I Start?
- Why Not Go Straight to Irish Records?
2. Introductory Record Sets
- U.S. Federal Census, 1790-1940
- Vital Records, 1795-Present
- City Directories, 1786-1934
- Naturalization Records
- Wills and Letters of Administration
- Institutions
- Useful Resources
3. Underutilized Records
- Almshouse Collection
- Potter’s Field
- Public Sector Employment
- Nwespapers
- A Black Sheep in the Family: Criminal Ancestors
- Lesser Known New Your City Censuses
4. Strategies for Tracing the Irish in New York City
- Spelling Variations-Irish Accents and Illiteracy
- Irish Name Formations
- Did Your Ancestors Marry or Have Children in Ireland before Emigrating?
- Was There a Priest in the Family?
- It’s Not All About the Immigrant
- Your Ancestors’ FAN Club
5. Where the Irish Lived in New York City
- Manhattan
- Brooklyn
- Queens
- Bronx
- Staten Island
6. Sources for the Place of Origin in Ireland
- Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank
- Census of Inmates in Almshouses and Poorhouses
- Headstone Transcriptions
- Newspapers
- Travel Writing
- Marriage Records, Diocese of Brooklyn
- Church of the Transfiguration Marriage Register
- Passenger Lists
- Irish Immigrant Girls Organization
- Naturalization Records
- Chronological Bibliography of Sources
7. The Roman Catholic Church
- Parish Publications
8. Roman Catholic Parishes of New York City
- Manhattan
- Brooklyn
- Queens
- Bronx
- Staten Island
9. Cemeteries
- Catholic Cemeteries
- Public, Nondenominational, and Institutional
10. Periodicals
- Periodical Index
- Periodical Abbreviations
- Periodicals
11. Websites and Publications to Compliment Your Research
- Websites
- Publications
Notes and Index
——————————
101 Things You Didn’t Know about Irish History: The People, Places, Culture, and Traditions of the Emerald Isle
A month and a half before we put on our sombreros, sing about a drunk cockroach, and eat too many tacos in the cultural celebration acknowledging our southern neighbors on Cinco de Mayo, we will first don a little green and hope for a little luck of the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Most you have probably heard the legend of St. Patrick driving snakes out of Ireland. But, what do you really know about the man? Did you know St. Patrick:
- Was of British Celt ancestry?
- Came to Ireland as its Bishop around 432?
- Is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland?
- Used the shamrock (three-leafed clover) to teach about the Trinity?
- Argued with High King Laoghaire on behalf of Christianity?
- Was on “speaking terms with both God and an angel?”
- Wrote the prayer “Saint Patrick’s Breastplate.”
Image what else you don’t know about Ireland and the Irish. How about Vikings in Ireland? Who was Kevin of Glendalough, the tree hugger, or other Irish saints? How was Dublin founded? What about Gaelic? Irish communities around the world? There is a rich history and heritage from which millions the world over have descended. Many know they come from an Irish heritage, and most probably know more of the myths than they do the truths of the Emerald Isle. 101 Things You Didn’t Know about Irish History: The People, Places, Culture, and Traditions of the Emerald Isle was written to help those of Irish descent better know the homeland of their ancestors, as well as any other reader with a broad interest in history.
Authors Ryan Hackney and Amy Hackney Blackwell created this reference to educate the reader on:
- the lives of the ancient Celts before the British invasions
- famous Irish including Michael Collins, Charles Parnell and Bono!
- the potato famine and emigration (were there really gangs of New York?)
- Irish music and dance, and much more…
The guide even provides an Irish language prime and pronunciation guide. The book is compact in size to make reading easy; yet, full of the historical information useful to have at hand when researching Irish ancestry. Plus, the book is simply fun to read. I have always found interesting historical evidence for where myth is derived from truth. There are four sections and two appendices as outlined below in the Contents.
10% Off of 101 Things You Didn’t Know about Irish History: The People, Places, Culture, and Traditions of the Emerald Isle for a short time only from Family Roots Publishing
Contents
Introduction
Part One: Prehistory and Mythology of Ancient Ireland
- The Earliest Inhabitants
- Mesolithic Age and the First Farmers
- Legends and Archaeology
- The Bronze Age
- Iron Come to Ireland
- Who Were The Celts and Kings
- Gaelic and Indo-European Languages
- Celtic Ireland
- Wild and Crazy
- The Seat of Ancient Kings
- Brehon Laws
- The Celtic Class System
- The Learned: Druids
- Celtic Art and Poetry
- Celtic to the End: The Never Conquered Nation
- The Celtic Pantheon
- The Otherworld
- Celtic Festivals
- Creation Myths
- The Battle of Magh Tuirdh and the Invasions of Milesians
- The Tain
- Heroic Deeds of Cuchulain
- Conchobar and Deirdre
- Finn MacCool
- Christianity Arrives
Part Two: The Arrival of Christianity (and the British Too!)
- Who Was St. Patrick?
- St. Brigid the Generous
- St. Columcille, Felonious Monk
- St. Columbanus, Missionary to Europe
- Wild and Crazy Irish Saints
- Irish Blend: Christian Traditions
- Monasteries in Ireland
- Schools and Universities
- The Pre-Xerox Age: A Life of Copying
- The Book of Kells
- The Rise and Fall of Irish Dynasties
- Anglo-Saxons in Britain
- Bring On the Vikings
- Dublin is Founded
- Life with Vikings
- What Would Brian Boru Do?
- An Ireland Unified
- The Normans Are Here!
- The Irish Strike Back
- I’m Henry VIII, I Am: Tudor Colonization
- The Protestant Reformation
- Elizabeth I’s Reign
- The 1641 Rebellion and Oliver Cromwell
- The Williamite War
- Protestants Take Hold
- Catholic Life
- The Second City of the British Empire
- Protestant Irish Nationalism
- Wolfe Tone’s Rebellion
- Hasta La Vista, Baby: Daniel O’Connel, the Liberator
- Catholic Emancipation
Part Three: Preserving Irish Culture and History
- Before the Reformation
- Ireland’s Counter-Reformation
- Religious Tensions in the North
- Modern Catholicism
- Scandals in the Church
- Traditional Irish Life
- Irish Language
- Irish Music
- Before There Was Riverdance…
- Death and the Supernatural
- Irish Sports
- Rich Folklore and Heritage
- Potatoes, for Better or Worse
- Life During the Famine
- Help! Responses to the Famine
- Results of the Famine
Part Four: Emigration to Modern Life
- Why the Irish Left–and Where They Went
- The Hardships of Emigration
- The Immigrant Experience in the United States
- Irish Communities in Other Lands
- The Rebirth of Nationalism
- The Home Rule Party
- A Celtic Revival
- An Ireland Divided
- World War I and the Easter Rebellion
- War of Independence
- Irish Civil War
- Irish Free State
- De Valera and the Fianna Fail Path
- World War II
- A New Republic
- Trouble in the North
- Sunday, Bloody Sunday
- The Peace Process
- The Good Firday Agreement
- Ireland’s Celtic Tiger
- Ireland and the European Union
- Modern Irish Politics
- The Liberalization of Ireland
- Women’s Rights
- Family Life
- Irish Food: Potatoes, Beef, and More Potatoes–and a Cuppa!
- For the Love of Irish Beer and Whiskey
- Irish Contributions to Literature and Art
- Tracing Your Roots
Appendix A: A Primer of the Irish Language
Appendix B: Irish Proverbs and Blessings
Index
Again – since I think that both of these books will be valuable to genealogists with Irish roots, I’ve again decided to bundle the books together as an FRPC Exceptional Bargain Offer, cut the price 15%, making it just $25.42 for two volumes, and ship them together as if they were only one book ($5.50 p&h), saving the buyer another $2.50. The books are also available individually at 10% off, as announced in blogs and the Genealogy Newsline earlier. This offer ends Thursday at Midnight MST, May 15, 2014.
