Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS) International Lecture Series
The London Event
Join the Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS) for a special London event as part of its 90th Anniversary International Lecture Series.
Founded in 1936, the IGRS is the world’s oldest organisation dedicated to Irish family history. For nine decades, it has championed the preservation and understanding of Ireland’s rich documentary heritage.
This event brings together leading historians and researchers to explore Irish history, genealogy, and the global Irish diaspora. It also reflects the Society’s international reach, connecting audiences across Ireland, Britain, and beyond.
10.30am - 4pm
Tickets: £8 for 1 Lecture OR £14 for both
Event Programme
10.30am – Doors Open
Arrival, networking
11am – Morning Session
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Welcome and introduction to the IGRS and its 90th anniversary series
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Lecture: Records relating to the Irish War of Independence held at The National Archives, Kew
– Michael Mahoney -
Q&A discussion
12.30pm – Lunch Break
Networking
2pm – Afternoon Session
-
Welcome and introduction
-
Lecture: An Undiscovered Country: Irish Military Pensioners of the United States in Ireland and Britain, c. 1845–1905
– Dr Damian Shiels -
Q&A discussion
4pm – Close
Speakers
Michael Mahoney
Learning & Outreach Officer at The National Archives, Kew, with a focus on public history and archival engagement.
Dr Damian Shiels
Historian, archaeologist, and author specialising in the Irish diaspora. Former curator at the National Museum of Ireland and Research Fellow at Northumbria University.
About the Lectures
Records relating to the Irish War of Independence
An exploration of key archival materials held at The National Archives in Kew, shedding light on one of the most significant periods in Irish history.
An Undiscovered Country
This talk examines the largely untapped U.S. military pension records that document the lives of Irish emigrants and their families, offering rare insights into 19th-century Irish social history.
Additional Information
- This is an in-person event
- There will be opportunities for networking throughout the day
- Ticket holders are also welcome to bring their own food and purchase any basic snacks or drinks from the Irish Cultural Centre’s bar and tuck shop
- Genealogy materials and resources may be available on-site
About The Irish Genealogical Research Society
The Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS), the world’s oldest organisation dedicated to the study and preservation of Irish family history, was founded in 1936 in response to the destruction of Ireland’s Public Record Office in 1922. The Society has spent nine decades championing the research, recording and understanding of Ireland’s documentary heritage.
John Grenham, one of Ireland’s foremost genealogists, described the IGRS in The Irish Times in 2011 as “the great granddaddy of all Irish family history societies”, a testament to the Society’s pioneering role and enduring influence on Irish genealogical research.
Learn more at https://www.irishancestors.ie/90th-anniversary.
About the Anniversary
There will be a combination of in-person, Zoom and hybrid events, so that there will be an event once a month throughout 2026. The hybrid lectures will be presented in partnership with three prominent genealogical societies in Australia, Canada, and the United States (see lecture series details below). In person events will take place in Dublin, Belfast, London and Edinburgh. This aspect of the celebration is in recognition of the Irish heritage of people throughout the world, embracing all traditions that contribute to Irish identity.
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