Tuesday 6 August 2013

Familar faces return to NAI Genealogy Service

The Consortium of Accredited Genealogists, Ireland (CAGI) will be taking over the reins of the National Archives of Ireland's Genealogy Service (GS) today.

The GS provides free genealogy advice to researchers on a first-come, first-served basis. Since it was set up in 2003, it has guided thousands of family historians from Ireland and all around the world. Although primarily aimed at beginners, the service is also available to those who have hit a brickwall or need direction towards more advanced resources. The genealogists offer time-saving tips and provide researchers with a strategy to fit their own particular family.

Researchers will find the GS located in a dedicated room off the National Archives of Ireland's Reading Room in Bishop Street, Dublin 8. It operates from 10:00am to 1:30pm.

For CAGI members, today will be a return to familiar ground as each of them worked in the Genealogy Service during the nine years that it was operated directly by the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI). Each of the Consortium's members is a member of APGI, so researchers can be confident they are receiving advice from professional genealogists. Admission to APGI membership follows the recommendation of an independent board of assessors, and recognises a high level of in-depth knowledge as well as the vital ingredient of practical experience.

On hearing that CAGI had won the contract for the GS for the next year, Pamela Bradley MAPGI, a member of the new consortium, said: "I'm delighted to be returning to the National Archives. We hope to live up to APGI's past record of sterling service – one that has contributed in no small way to raising Ireland's reputation in the world of genealogy."

Please note: Original version of this news story advised that the GS hours had changed to 10:30–2pm. They haven't. I was mis-informed. I have edited the post to reflect the correct, unchanged hours. Apologies.