Wednesday 27 January 2016

Silver Spruce Lodge - accommodation in Silvermines



4*Self – Catering Accommodation - Silvermines
‘SILVER SPRUCE LODGE’
Address: Mucklin, Dolla, Silvermines, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.

Silver Spruce Lodge is a 4**** Fáilte Ireland approved newly constructed modern holiday home nestled in the picturesque rural area of Silvermines -10 minutes from Nenagh. It is a luxury home away from home.

Silver Spruce Lodge is tastefully furnished, sleeps six people (1 Master Bedroom with ensuite, 1 double and 1 Twin Room) main bathroom and separate toilet. Cot available on request. The modern kitchen/dining room is fully equipped with dishwasher, electric oven and hob, microwave etc. The utility room has a washing machine and dryer. The relaxing tranquil living room has a TV and DVD player.  Every room has a spectacular view. 

Contact:  Nora or Brendan Gleeson at +353 (0)86 8614463






Monday 25 January 2016

Exploring Silvermines

Silvermines and the surrounding area was home to generations of Gleesons and is one of many hidden gems in rural Ireland. It has a wealth of virtually unexplored scenery and historical sites, even though it lies just a few kilometres from Nenagh (Aonach Urmhumhan), close to the main artery from Dublin to Limerick and the south. The area also has a choice of walking routes, from Glown right across to Templederry and beyond, all chaperoned by the majestic Keeper Hill.

Some of the stunning scenery around Silvermines
The parish of Silvermines covers a wide area with two churches and three graveyards. Our Lady of Lourdes Church in the village of Silvermines was newly opened in 1961 and Our Lady of the Wayside Church in Ballinaclough was built in 1830 and renovated in 1985. These were the sites for the baptisms and marriages of many a Gleeson over the course of the last 200 years.

There is a long history of mining in the Silvermines area incorporating mine sites at Shallee, Magcobar, Mogul of Ireland lead and zinc mines, and old workings in Silvermines village. Records show that many Gleesons from the area were employed there. Plans were recently announced for a major investment in a Hydro Electric Power Station at the disused Magcobar site.

The SHS Annual Journal
Silvermines Historical Society was established on a January night in 2012 with some 30 people turning up for that first meeting. Today over seventy SHS members represent an interested and active group who keep in mind their mission statement which is 'to collect and record local history and folklore which would otherwise be lost'. A lot of these marvellous collections have already been published in the local history journal Mining the Past which has been produced every year since 2012. The first issue of the journal can be purchased from the Society's website as an easy-to-download pdf document (10 euro) and includes an account of the Gleesons of Kilmore by local genealogist Nora O'Meara. You'll find 2013, 2014 & 2015/16 copies of the SHS journal for sale in local bookshops or by emailing the society directly at:
silvermineshistoricalsociety@gmail.com

More recordings and collections are in the archives for future use including a valuable photographic collection, gleaned in the locality in 2014. This project is ongoing and the SHS acknowledges the generosity and goodwill of the community in contributing to its success. A mobile scanner is used which means a photo donor need not part with their precious photos.


SHS outing to Arigna Mines
Walks, talks and outings, too numerous to mention have been undertaken. The  Mining Heritage Walk in the early days of 2015 was a great success attracting 100 people. More walks and talks are planned for 2016 so keep an eye on the SHS website for further details in due course.

The SHS website and Facebook page have been instrumental in connecting the Irish diaspora back to find their ancestors in the locality. Silvermines is a welcoming place for all visitors to the region and will most especially welcome all the visiting Gleesons in August of this year for the Gleeson Clan Gathering 2016


Betty Gleeson
Silvermines Historical Society



650 million euro investment



Thursday 21 January 2016

Free Access to FindMyPast this weekend

FindMyPast has announced free access to their ENTIRE record collection for this coming weekend, starting at 12 noon on Friday 22nd January and finishing at 12 noon on Monday 25th January (GMT, i.e British & Irish time).

This is great news for everyone, particularly those researching their Irish ancestors as FindMyPast has a great collection of Irish records, many of which are not available from other pay-per-view sites (see below for a complete listing of Irish records held at FindMyPast). 

Additional records of Irish interest include the following:

So be sure visit FindMyPast this weekend and mine their database for your ancestors, Irish or otherwise! It's free to set up an account if you don't have one already.

A big thank you goes out to Claire Santry who has written a blog post about it on her IrishGenealogyNews website. Incidentally, Claire's blog is a great resource for all the latest news in Irish Genealogy and is one of the Top 100 Most Popular Genealogy websites. In addition, her free Irish Genealogy Toolkit is invaluable for beginners and experts alike. It is written in a clear easy-to-follow style with excellent links to practically every Irish genealogy resource you might ever want to consult. Thank you Claire!

The following is an extract from Claire's blog post about the free access to FindMyPast:
To access the records you'll need to be registered and signed in, so if you don't already have an account, you can set that up before the free weekend starts (it doesn't cost anything and you don't have to provide any financial details).
Existing 'local' subscribers ie those with an active Ireland, UK, USA/Canada or Australia/NZ subscription will find they have access to the entire world collection over the weekend.
Those researchers with an existing World subscription will find their sub extended by three days at no extra charge.
Please note that while nearly all World records are included in the free access, just a few collections are excluded due to licencing agreements. These excluded collections are the 1939 National Register, the UK Electoral Registers (2002-2013) and the UK Companies House Directors (2002-2013).
Choose the most appropriate 'territory' for your research, and enjoy the weekend!

Here is a complete alphabetical listing of the Irish Family History Records at FindMyPast. 
Just click on any of the links to be taken directly to that record collection.

Title Category Sub-category 
1798 Claimants and SurrendersArmed forces & conflictCivil war & rebellion
Alumni Dublinenses - 1924 EditionEducation & workSchools & education
Ardagh Wills 1690 - 1857Life events (BMDs)Wills & probate
Ashe's Limerick and Clare Directory 1891-92Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
British Army Pensioners - Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Ireland, 1783-1822Armed forces & conflictRegimental & service records
Burke's Landed Gentry Of Ireland, 1899Newspapers, directories & social historyFamily histories & pedigrees
Cantwell's Memorials Of The DeadLife events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Church Of Ireland Parish Record Search FormsLife events (BMDs)Church Registers
Clare Poor Law Unions Board Of Guardians Minute BooksInstitutions & organisationsWorkhouses and poor law
Clonfert Marriage Licence Bonds, Wills, AdministrationsLife events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Clonfert Wills and AdministrationsLife events (BMDs)Wills & probate
Deputy Keeper Of Ireland, Index To The Act or Grant Books, and To Original Wills, Of The Diocese Of Dublin 1272-1858 (26th, 30th and 31st Reports, 1894, 1899)Life events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Deserted Children DublinInstitutions & organisationsCourts & legal
Donegal Cemetery RecordsLife events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Dublin City Census 1901: Rotunda WardCensus, Land & SurveysCensus
Dublin Poor Law Unions Board Of Guardians Minute BooksInstitutions & organisationsWorkhouses and poor law
Dublin Registers & RecordsNewspapers, directories & social historySocial history
Dublin Workhouses Admission & Discharge Registers 1840-1919Institutions & organisationsWorkhouses and poor law
Estate Commissioners Offices, Applications From Evicted Tenants, 1907Census, Land & SurveysLand & estates
Farrar's Index To Irish Marriages 1771-1812Life events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Title Category Sub-category 
Farrar's Index To Irish Marriages 1771-1812 - BaptismsLife events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
Farrar's Index To Irish Marriages 1771-1812 - DeathsLife events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Fermanagh Cemetery RecordsLife events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Fermanagh Parish Registers BaptismsLife events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
Fermanagh Parish Registers BurialsLife events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Fermanagh Parish Registers MarriagesLife events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Freemen Of Dublin City 1774-1824Education & workGuild & Trade Associations
George Bassett, County Down Guide and Directory (1886)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
George Bassett, Kilkenny City and County Guide and Directory (1884)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
George Bassett, Limerick City and County and Principal Towns In The Counties Of Clare, Tipperary, and Kerry (1881)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
George Bassett, Louth County Guide and Directory (1886)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
George Bassett, The Book Of Antrim (1888)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
George Bassett, The Book Of County Armagh (1888)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
George Bassett, Wexford County Guide and Directory (1885)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Griffith's Survey Maps & Plans, 1847-1864Census, Land & SurveysLand & estates
Griffith's Valuation 1847-1864Census, Land & SurveysLand & estates
Guy's Directory Of Munster 1893Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Guy's Limerick Directory, 1912Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Harvey's Waterford Almanac and Directory For 1866Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Henderson's Belfast Directory 1850Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Title Category Sub-category 
Henry & Coughlan's General Directory Of Cork and Munster For 1867 (1867)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
I. Slater, National Commercial Directory Of Ireland (1846)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Index Of Irish Wills 1484-1858Life events (BMDs)Wills & probate
Ireland Billion Graves Cemetery IndexLife Events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Ireland Census 1821-1851Census, Land & SurveysCensus
Ireland Census 1901Census, Land & SurveysCensus
Ireland Census 1911Census, Land & SurveysCensus
Ireland Census Search Forms 1841 & 1851Census, Land & SurveysCensus
Ireland Deaths 1864-1870Life events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Ireland Diocesan and Prerogative Marriage Licence Bonds Indexes 1623-1866Life events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Ireland Diocesan and Prerogative Wills & Administrations Indexes 1595-1858Life events (BMDs)Wills & probate
Ireland Dog Licence RegistersInstitutions & organisationsCourts & legal
Ireland Down Anaghlone Presbyterian Baptisms 1839-1913Life events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
Ireland Down Anaghlone Presbyterian Communicants 1868-1913Churches & religionReligious ceremonies
Ireland Down Anaghlone Presbyterian Marriages 1845-1913Life events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Ireland Down Annaclone (Coi) Baptisms 1877-1900Life events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
Ireland Down Annaclone (Coi) Burials 1877-1900Life events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Ireland Down Annaclone (Coi) Marriages, 1845-1900Life events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Ireland Down Ballyroney Presbyterian Baptisms, 1819-1913Life events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
Ireland Down Ballyroney Presbyterian Burial Plots 1895Census, Land & SurveysLand & Estates
Title Category Sub-category 
Ireland Down Ballyroney Presbyterian Communicants 1861-1913Churches & religionReligious ceremonies
Ireland Down Ballyroney Presbyterian Marriages 1831-1906Life events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Ireland Down St Colmans Annaclone (RC) Baptisms 1834-1913Life events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
Ireland Down St Colmans Annaclone (RC) Burials 1851-1913Life events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Ireland Down St Colmans Annaclone (RC) Marriages 1851-1913Life events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Ireland Marriages 1619-1898Life events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Ireland Medical Directory 1852Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Ireland Memorial and Burial Register, 1618-2005Life events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Ireland National School RegistersEducation & workSchools & education
Ireland Roscommon Kiltullagh CemeteriesLife events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Ireland, Clare County Government Proceedings 1732-1882Institutions & organisationsGovernment
Ireland, Clare Electoral RegistersCensus, Land & SurveysElectoral Rolls
Ireland, Electoral Registers 1885-1886Census, Land & SurveysElectoral Rolls
Ireland, National Roll Of Honour 1914-1921Armed forces & conflictFirst World War
Ireland, Poverty Relief Loans 1821-1874Institutions & organisationsGovernment
Ireland, Poverty Relief Loans 1821-1874 BrowseInstitutions & organisationsGovernment
Ireland, Thom's Directory, 1844-1900Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Ireland's Memorial Record: World War 1: 1914-1918Armed forces & conflictFirst World War
Irish Army Census 1922Armed forces & conflictRegimental & service records
Irish Births 1864-1958Life events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
Title Category Sub-category 
Irish Catholic Church Directories 1836-37Churches & religionDirectories & almanacs
Irish Death Notices In American NewspapersLife events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Irish Deaths 1864 - 1958Life events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Irish Marriage Notices In American NewspapersLife events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Irish Marriages 1845-1958Life events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Irish Petty Sessions Court Registers 1828-1912Institutions & organisationsCourts & legal
Irish Prison Registers 1790-1924Institutions & organisationsCourts & legal
James Alexander Henderson, The Belfast and Province Of Ulster Directory For 1856 (1856)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
John Watson Stewart, The Gentleman's and Citizen's Almamack For The Year 1814, 1814Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Kiltullagh Parish (RC) BaptismsLife events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
Kiltullagh Parish (RC) MarriagesLife events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Landed Estates Court Rentals 1850-1885Census, Land & SurveysLand & estates
Leet's Directory (2nd Ed., 1814)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Leighlin Administrations 1700 - 1857Life events (BMDs)Wills & probate
Macloskie's Directory Of Fermanagh 1848Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Matier's Belfast Directory For 1835-6Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Memorials Of The Dead: Galway & MayoLife events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Parliamentary Papers, Emigration (Canada)Canadian Emigration: 1826 Parliamentary PapersTravel & migrationMigration
Passenger Lists Leaving UK 1890-1960Travel & migrationPassenger lists
Pettigrew & Oulton, Dublin Almanac & General Register Of Ireland (1845)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Title Category Sub-category 
Pettigrew & Oulton's Dublin Almanack & General Register Of Ireland 1835-1845Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Pettigrew and Oulton, The Dublin Almanac and General Register Of Ireland, 1835Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Pigot & Co., City Of Dublin and Hibernian Provincial Directory (1824)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Quakers Annual Monitor 1849Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Raphoe Marriage Bonds 1710-55, 1817-30Life events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Registers Of Queen's Colleges Ireland 1849-1858Education & workSchools & education
Registers Of The French Non-Conformist Churches Dublin 1701-1831Life events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
Reports From Committees, Fictitious Votes (Ireland), Select Committee On Fictitious Votes, 1837-1838.Census, Land & SurveysElectoral Rolls
Shearman's Directory Of Waterford, Kilkenny & The Southeast 1839Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Sir Arthur Vicars, Index To The Prerogative Wills Of Ireland, 1536-1810, and Supplement (1914)Life events (BMDs)Wills & probate
Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory Of Ireland (1870)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory Of Ireland (1881)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Slater's Royal National Directory Of Ireland (1894)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Sligo Independent Newspaper, County Directory, Almanac and Guide (1889)Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Sligo Workhouse Admission and Discharge Registers 1848-1859Institutions & organisationsWorkhouses and poor law
T. George H. Green, Index To The Marriage Licence Bonds Of The Diocese Of Cloyne 1630-1800, 1899-1900Life events (BMDs)Marriages & divorces
Tempest's Jubilee Annual 1909Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
The 1831 Tithe DefaultersCensus, Land & SurveysLand & estates
The 1851 Dublin City CensusCensus, Land & SurveysCensus
The Census Of Elphin 1749Census, Land & SurveysCensus
Title Category Sub-category 
The King's County Directory, 1890Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
The Parish Register Society Of Dublin, The Registers Of St. Patrick, Dublin, 1677-1800, 1907Life events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
The Post Office Annual Directory and Calendar For 1843, Dublin.Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
The Post Office Dublin Directory and Calendar For 1858. 1858Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
The Register Of Derry Cathedral 1642-1703Life events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
The Sligo Chronicle Almanac and Directory For 1878Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
The Treble Almanac 1812Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
The Treble Almanac 1818Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
The Treble Almanac 1822Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
The Treble Almanac 1829Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
The Weekly Irish Times, Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook, Easter 1916. 1917Armed forces & conflictCivil war & rebellion
The William Smith O'Brien Petition 1848-49Armed forces & conflictCivil war & rebellion
Thomas Philip Le Fanu, Registers Of The French Church Of Portarlington, Ireland, 1908Life events (BMDs)Births & baptisms
Thom's Irish Almanac & Official Directory 1884Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Thom's Irish Almanac 1880Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory Of Ireland, 1868Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Thom's Irish Who's Who, 1923Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Thom's Official Directory Of Ireland, 1910Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Thom's Official Directory Of The United Kingdom Of Great Britian and Ireland, 1894. Irish SectionNewspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Tipperary Clans ArchiveLife events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
Title Category Sub-category 
Treble Almanack & Dublin Directory 1783Newspapers, directories & social historyDirectories & almanacs
Tyrone Cemetery RecordsLife events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
W.P.W. Phillimore & Gertrude Thrift, Indexes To Irish Wills 1536-1858, 5 Vols (1909-1920)Life events (BMDs)Wills & probate
Wicklow Cemetery RecordsLife events (BMDs)Deaths & burials
WW1 Irish Soldiers WillsLife events (BMDs)Wills & probate