Family and local history in Donegal County Archives

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Family and local history in Donegal County Archives Niamh Brennan County Archivist, Donegal County

Family and local history in Donegal County Archives Niamh Brennan County Archivist, Donegal County Council

Donegal County Archives ØPart of Cultural Services, Donegal Co Council. ØEstablished in 1999. Remit

Donegal County Archives ØPart of Cultural Services, Donegal Co Council. ØEstablished in 1999. Remit is the whole county. ØBased in Lifford; one person service. ØPrivate and public collections from across the county. ØServices include to researchers, outreach, schools packs, exhibitions, events, website, Facebook /Twitter

Donegal County Archives’ Mission � ‘Donegal County Archives seeks to preserve the inheritance of

Donegal County Archives’ Mission � ‘Donegal County Archives seeks to preserve the inheritance of the people of Donegal for present and future generations by preserving, acquiring and making accessible the documented heritage of the County’.

Overall- The Collections Public collections including: �Local authority collections �National School records; �Some health

Overall- The Collections Public collections including: �Local authority collections �National School records; �Some health and hospital records; �Selection of court records. �Electoral records. �Valuation records. �Co Committee of Agriculture

The Collections Privately acquired collections ØPhotographs, postcards ØLanded Estate papers ØRailways ØLiterary papers ØDonegal

The Collections Privately acquired collections ØPhotographs, postcards ØLanded Estate papers ØRailways ØLiterary papers ØDonegal Historical Society ØBusiness records ØPolitical papers

Donegal Grand Jury Ø Local Authority from Norman Times until 1898. Ø Comprised largest

Donegal Grand Jury Ø Local Authority from Norman Times until 1898. Ø Comprised largest landowners; Ø Services- construction, maintenance & repair of infrastructure; Ø Management of County Jail; Ø Hospitals, schools, prisons, piers and harbours; Ø Upkeep of ‘deserted children’.

Donegal Grand Jury Oldest Public Collection Last Grand Jury 1899

Donegal Grand Jury Oldest Public Collection Last Grand Jury 1899

Donegal Grand Jury ØBefore Assizes, Presentment Sessions held. ØHeld Meetings called Assizes, where contracts

Donegal Grand Jury ØBefore Assizes, Presentment Sessions held. ØHeld Meetings called Assizes, where contracts for public works to be done were ratified. ØGives names of Grand Jury members and contractors.

Poor Law- Boards of Guardians ØExisted under Poor Law Act 1838; from 1840 –

Poor Law- Boards of Guardians ØExisted under Poor Law Act 1838; from 1840 – 1922 ØInsight into poverty, social conditions in county from the famine to 1920 s; ØWorkhouses built in 1840 s in our county: Ballyshannon, Donegal Town, Dunfanaghy, Glenties, Inishowen (Carndonagh), Letterkenny, Milford, Stranorlar.

Poor Law- Boards of Guardians ØMinute books for all workhouses- names of staff, members,

Poor Law- Boards of Guardians ØMinute books for all workhouses- names of staff, members, contractors. ØAdmission, indoor and outdoor Relief Registers; records of deaths; ØUnder Medical Charities Acts: dispensaries, vaccinations, boarding-out orphaned children.

Petty Sessions (court records) ØMost held in National Archives, Dublin. ØBallyshannon from early to

Petty Sessions (court records) ØMost held in National Archives, Dublin. ØBallyshannon from early to mid 19 th century held in Donegal Co. Archives. ØOnline at www. findmypast. ie

Find My Past project

Find My Past project

Find My Past project Øwww. findmypast. ie ØGrand Jury and Board of Guardian records,

Find My Past project Øwww. findmypast. ie ØGrand Jury and Board of Guardian records, including admission & discharge registers which are searchable online. ØBallyshannon ( and other) Petty Sessions online.

Donegal County Council ØLegal deeds; ØPlanning & Housing records, Environmental Services; and Roads; ØMotor

Donegal County Council ØLegal deeds; ØPlanning & Housing records, Environmental Services; and Roads; ØMotor Tax Registers, 1903 – 1923 and 1951 – 1992 ØMinutes of the County Council. ØRecords of staff; ØCounty Managers Order, 1942 – 1975. ØElectoral registers, 1880 s – 1980 s (with gaps).

Electoral Registers �Some late 19 th century �Mainly from 1920 s – 1980 s

Electoral Registers �Some late 19 th century �Mainly from 1920 s – 1980 s (gaps) �Names only- but names of families (adults) �Women begin to appear in registers from 1899

Surveys and Valuations ØTopographical Surveys divided into parishes, townlands, and into each plot of

Surveys and Valuations ØTopographical Surveys divided into parishes, townlands, and into each plot of land -topographical and agricultural characteristics detailed, 1833 – 1859 houses worth over £ 5 only surveyed (in Donegal Co. Archives ) ØFirst major ‘Griffiths Valuation’ in Library and online. 1860 s – (library and online)

Valuations – th 20 century �Valuation records of County Council, divided into electoral divisions,

Valuations – th 20 century �Valuation records of County Council, divided into electoral divisions, townlands and plots- give size and value of plot of land, owner and occupier- from c. 1890 1970. �Also in Valuation Office Dublin, www. valoff. ie – more complete set

Rural District Councils ØIn existence from 1899 - 1925 ØDonegal, Dunfanaghy, Stranorlar, Strabane no.

Rural District Councils ØIn existence from 1899 - 1925 ØDonegal, Dunfanaghy, Stranorlar, Strabane no. 2, (London)Derry No 2, Letterkenny, Inishowen, Ballyshannon, 1899 - 1925. ØRoads, Building Labourers’ Cottages, Public Health and Sanitation. ØLife during the War of Independence and Civil War.

St Conal’s Hospital Ø Records from 1866. Includes minutes, admission registers, casebooks, administration records,

St Conal’s Hospital Ø Records from 1866. Includes minutes, admission registers, casebooks, administration records, records of discharges and deaths, medical and nursing journals. Ø Generally closed except by special permission of the HSE.

Schools Records ØPrimary schools from around the county- dates & survivals vary. From mid

Schools Records ØPrimary schools from around the county- dates & survivals vary. From mid 1870 s onwards. ØRollbooks ØRegisters ØInspectors’ report books. ØOther school records are held at schools and in National Archives, Dublin (www. nationalarchives. ie)

County Donegal Committee of Agriculture ØLetters from Dept of Agriculture to Donegal Co Committee

County Donegal Committee of Agriculture ØLetters from Dept of Agriculture to Donegal Co Committee of Agriculture, 1901 – 1930, subjects include training in various agricultural endeavours, garden, cottage, farm prize schemes; flax shows etc. ØMinutes of meetings- names of those in agricultural projects.

Private Collections – Landed Estates ØSteele Nicholsons, Falmore House, Gleneely; and Cochranes of Redcastle,

Private Collections – Landed Estates ØSteele Nicholsons, Falmore House, Gleneely; and Cochranes of Redcastle, Inishowen. ØMurray-Stewarts of South Donegal. Ø Alexander Stewart of Ards. ØMontgomerys of Convoy- farm books, rentals, accounts, photos, letters, legal dees. ØGroves of Castlegrove ØLord Leitrim, deeds.

Steele Nicholsons

Steele Nicholsons

Other Private Papers Ø Photographs: towns; family albums; Tory Island; Ø District Nursing Associations;

Other Private Papers Ø Photographs: towns; family albums; Tory Island; Ø District Nursing Associations; Ø Donegal Board of the GAA. Ø Gweedore Hotel books Ø OS maps second edition;

Donegal County Archives online �Workhouse and Grand Jury records via www. findmypast. ie �

Donegal County Archives online �Workhouse and Grand Jury records via www. findmypast. ie � Joseph Murray and the War of Independence, 1920 s. �Gweedore Hotel Books 1842 - 1874 � 1916 minutes of meetings of local authorities �Lifford Jail journal, 1820 s. �Other private collections of significance.

Donegal County Archives online �Gweedore Hotel Books, 1842 - 1874 �Lifford Gaol (Jail) Turnkey

Donegal County Archives online �Gweedore Hotel Books, 1842 - 1874 �Lifford Gaol (Jail) Turnkey Report book � 1916 minutes of meetings of local authorities �Fanad District Nursing Assoc. �Rockhill House, Letterkenny �Social life in West Donegal thesis, 1940 s

Gweedore Hotel book

Gweedore Hotel book

Contact Details Archivist, Donegal County Archives Service, Three Rivers Centre, Lifford. 074 91 72490

Contact Details Archivist, Donegal County Archives Service, Three Rivers Centre, Lifford. 074 91 72490 archivist @ donegalcoco. ie www. donegalcoco. ie/archives www. facebook. com/Donegal. County. Archives Access is by Appointment Only