For those who haven't heard about it, the North of Ireland Family History Society [NIFHS] has been active for more than 25 years and currently has 11 branches:
Ballymena, Belfast, Coleraine, Killyleagh, Larne, Lisburn, Mourne, Newtownabbey, N. Down & Ards, Omagh and Portadown. Each branch meets once a month and welcomes new members. For more information see
www.nifhs.org. If you would like help in setting up a new branch elsewhere in Ulster, contact the Society.
The Belfast Branch meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 in the Holywood Arches Library; the new season starts on September 7th and you are welcome to attend; either just turn up or 'phone the Branch Chairman first on 028 9066 6383 for more information. The September meeting is particularly suitable for newcomers to family history. The programme for the 2006-2007 year is as follows:
Sep 7 Researching Your Family History - Alan Hyndman, Anne Johnston & Brian Watson
Oct 5 Pre-1800 Ulster Records - William Roulston
Nov 2 Preserving and Restoring Old Photographs and Documents - Harry Hunter
Dec 7 Christmas Party, with A Genealogical Story - Cyndy Cotton
Jan 4 Scottish Records - Alistair MacKerracher
Feb 1 Pre-1600 Ulster Records - Katharine Simms
Mar 1 Researching Down Ancestors - Duncan Scarlett
Apr 5 A.G.M. and Presbyterian Records - Alan McMillan
May 3 Ulster and the Great War - Paul Clark
Jun 16 Summer Outing