Did you know? The world's worst novelist, Amanda McKittrick Ros, was born near Ballynahinch. The entire Kilkeel fishing fleet was sunk by a German U-boat on 30 May 1918 without the loss of a single life. Sir Hans Sloane, whose collection formed the foundation of the British Museum, was born in Killyleagh. The Little Book of County Down is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about this ancient county of Northern Ireland. Here you will find out about Co. Down's history, its literary heritage, its churches and castles, its festivals and fairs, and its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women. A reliable and quirky guide, this little reference book can be dipped into time and again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of this fascinating county.

Finding Your Family in County Down This illustrated, well indexed book, was created exclusively to help you find your family in County Down, Ireland. Focusing specifically on families within the county, it includes an introduction to research and sources in Down. The most numerous families from birth records are given, as well as rather rare Down families found in heraldic records. Included you will find a full page county map from the Atlas of Ireland, along with a listing of modern parishes and old townlands, along with the address and location of records for more research. Published by the Irish Genealogical Foundation, this book was originally made for members researching in Down. What this book does This work includes copies of actual records (some worn, torn and faded), from the IGF Library. It also includes rough sketches of family coats of arms and notes from centuries past - seldom found elsewhere. The resources provided here will help research any family in the county, including old Irish families, and settler families from England, Scotland, Wales and the continent. This book is a hands on guide for finding your family in Down - some family history is included - but it is not a gigantic collection of family histories . (For that see 'The Book of Irish Families, great & small', the first book in the Irish Families series by O'Laughlin.) The Irish Families Project for Down The Master book to the 29 volume Irish Families series is 'The Book of Irish Families, great & small'. That book gives hundreds of family histories from County Down and the surrounding areas. "County Down Genealogy and Family History Notes", volume 14 in the series, expands upon that coverage with added families and new resources just for Down. (In this way both books can work together as a set if desired, or they may be used independently for research.) Among the most numerous families here in the 19th century were: Thompson (Thomson) Smith (Smyth, Smythe), Campbell (Cambell, Camble), Martin (Martyn) Patterson (Paterson, Pattersen) Wilson (Willson) Graham, Johnston (Johnson), Murray (Murry), Brown (Browne), Robinson (Robenson, Robinsen), Hamilton, Bell, Scott (Scot) and Boyd. The most noted old Irish families in Down were those of McQuillan, Mac Gilmore, O'Neill, Mac Cartan, O'Neill and Magennis. Other noted family that hailed from Down were Hill, Bradshaw, Savage, Fraser, Jackson, Taylor, Walker, Watson. Remember also that part of Belfast is contained in County Down as well.

Discover your Irish roots! Trace your Irish ancestors from American shores back to the Emerald Isle. This in-depth guide from Irish genealogy expert Claire Santry will take you step-by-step through the exciting--and challenging--journey of discovering your Irish roots. You'll learn how to identify immigrant ancestor, find your family's county and townland of origin, and locate key genealogical resources that will breathe life into your family tree. With historical timelines, sample records, resource lists, and detailed information about where and how to find your ancestors online, this guide has everything you need to uncover your Irish heritage. In this book, you'll find: • The best online resources for Irish genealogy • Detailed guidance for finding records in the old country, from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland • Helpful background on Irish history, geography, administrative divisions, and naming patterns • Case studies that apply concepts and strategies to real-life research problems Whether your ancestors hail from the bustling streets of Dublin or a small town in County Cork, The Family Tree Irish Genealogy Guide will give you the tools you need to track down your ancestors in Ireland.

These passenger lists, which cover the period of the Irish Famine and its aftermath, identify the emigrants' "actual places of residence", as well as their port of departure and nationality. Essentially business records, the lists were developed from the order books of two main passenger lines operating out of Londonderry--J.& J. Cooke (1847-67) and William McCorkell & Co. (1863-71). Both sets of records provide the emigrant's name, age, and address, and the name of the ship. The Cooke lists provide the ship's destination and year of sailing, while the McCorkell lists provide the date engaged and the scheduled sailing date. Altogether 27,495 passengers are identified.

Specifications: 6" x 9" size; 167 pages; 50 illustrations; well indexed by surname. Includes Castles in County Clare; family seats of power; locations; variant spellings of family names; full map of County Clare, coats of arms, and sources for research. From ancient times to the modern day. Second and most current edition. Author/Editor: Michael C. O'Laughlin. Please note that the first volume in the Irish Families Project, "The Book of Irish Families, great & small", has additional information on Families in County Clare.