This course, organised by the Council’s Heritage Service in conjunction with the Community Development Service, offers an introduction to researching your own family history. Through a mix of presentations, workshops and site visits, participants from a range of community groups will be introduced to family history research methods and sources. This introductory course will be repeated in Spring 2007.

Above: Discovering Family History at Ballynure (left).

Discovering Family History at Mallusk (right).

 

For participants who wish to expand their initial research, a follow-up course will be held in 2007 offering workshops with researchers, oral history recording and film making.

During November and December 2006 participants on the first ‘Your History’ course attended a variety of sessions:

Session 1

Venue: Sentry Hill

An introduction to family history research using the Sentry Hill family as a case study

Session 2

Venue: Public Records Office NI

An introduction to PRONI facilities, resources and procedures with a focus on family history research

Session 3

Venue: Ballymena Local Studies library

An introduction to library facilities and resources with a focus on the Newtownabbey area

Session 4

Venue: Sentry Hill

Review of participants’ research and planning of a historical sites tour

Session 5

Bus tour of local historical sites

In early 2007, participants’ research will be gathered together and displayed at a ’Your History’ presentation to complete the introductory course.

This programme has been funded through the Newtownabbey Local Strategy Partnership.