So many potential rabbit holes

Back at almost 2 a.m. I was just heading to bed to try and catch up some of the sleep I'd missed last night but I've been dipping in and out today. Are you having fun with it?

It didn't crash and it went live at 12.01!! #Genealogy

Just encountered one that looked "reasonable" at first glance, but deeper in the fine print it started attacking IPAS provision and support for Ukrainian refugees. Rapidly approaching 10k signatures

The Woman Who Refuses to Let History Disappear | The Saturday Evening Post Genealogist Megan Smolenyak is a “history detective” who can spend decades piecing together clues to bring a long-forgotten life back into view.

An excellent article about @megansmolenyak.com in the Saturday Evening Post (@satevepost.bsky.social). #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2026/03/the-...

Delighted to have an essay in this new volume - the narrative around early 19th c relationships between Catholic & Protestant communities is often one of tension & conflict, so I really wanted to highlight the many examples of cooperation across denominations as part of the story here #speirgorm

In 2006 I told the late (great) Prof. Ray Gillespie that I wanted to publish every surviving scrap from the 1766 religious census, by 2016. I missed the 🎯by 10 yrs, but 😃 to report that on the 260th anniv. it's done. Everything, >50k names & population details, now online.
@maynoothuniversity.ie

Fantastic achievement Brian - Bravo and míle buíochas! #Genealogy

YOU ASKED FOR THIS!

Downfall. Kristi Noem Edition:

I'm reading about Kathryn Gleadle's Borderline Citizens and I'm
curious about how her surname is pronounced - does it rhyme with Ladle or Wheedle?

@saytheirnamesir.bsky.social

Those were the days - Friday evenings sitting on the kerb with the bells of Christchurch ringing, and a packet of the best chips ever made.

Mary Ward portrait

For #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience, we’re highlighting #MaryKingWard (27 April 1827 – 31 August 1869), an Irish naturalist, microscopist, author, artist and astronomer from Co. Offaly.

📷 : Mary Ward with her #microscope, c.1860 (public domain)

Military Archives | File Releases Since 1990, the Military Archives has been the official place of deposit for records of the Irish Defence Forces, the Department of Defence and Ireland's…

6 FEB: @msp-archive.bsky.social
will be releasing over 2,580 new files in the public domain. The files relate to 1,089 individuals/veterans who served during the Irish Revolution (1916-1923).
This release brings the total nominal entries on our database to 22,032.
share.google/fodhyupD9nE7...

@mikeobdublin.bsky.social

Was hoping to go but I'm in bed ill. Best of luck with it Lorraine!

oh wow, that's useful. The closest I think I've seen to that is the 1851 census which recorded deceased and absent household members. If only that census had survived!! www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/c19/00...

Ah. It sounds like Ireland, as with other developments, was the testing ground for this innovation. I must pull up some of the statistical reports on the Irish census for 1901 and 1911 and see whether it featured.

Hi Dave. I presume enumerators had similar in the compiled forms in England and Wales? I wonder if any of those statistical census reports compiled at the end of each census actually used the data collected and compared with 1901 responses?www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003686935/

#Genealogy We know the 1911 Irish census recorded disability (Form A). Did you know it also recorded how many in the household were ill on 2 April 1911 (see snip)? See Form B1, Column 17 e.g. Row 7 www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai002...
Every day, is a school day, even after all these years!

Hello historians - there is a specific purpose role now advertised in UL’s history department - Title of Post: Assistant Professor in Irish History (specialism History of the Family) - all details are over on UL vacancies! Do share! #jobsky #skystorians #speirgorm #speirghorm

Archives to Action: Historical Evidence for Policy Reform This one-day workshop showcases the results of a groundbreaking two-year interdisciplinary project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council: 'A New Methodological Approach to the History of ...

All welcome, register for your FREE space to join us online here:

www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/new...

#socialsciences #legalhistorians #legalhistory #economichistorians #economichistory #socialhistory #socialhistorians

How did employers recruit their servants in the 18th century? In a previous article I looked at those who worked at Kenwood House, which led me on to take a look at how employees were recruited. Many servants acquired their position via word of mouth and were able to supply a good reference from a previous employer, although of course, at that time there was no legal requirement to provide one, but without such a reference it would have been virtually impossible to find employment. I have also looked at the typical wages of servants in a previous article which can be found…

How did employers recruit their servants in the 18th century?

In a previous article I looked at those who worked at Kenwood House, which led me on to take a look at how employees were recruited. Many servants acquired their position via word of mouth and were able to supply a good reference from a…

As my Inbox fills up with stupid Black Friday emails.

Here's a little reminder of our starter pack, celebrating #IrishDesign.

Lots of lovely things to buy, and you will feel all squishy inside for supporting small Irish business.

#spheirgorm

#SLATED

#Boycottamazon

go.bsky.app/9sh8HQq

#speirgorm and @msfrugalone.bsky.social and #booksky for spreading the word

Yes, I think my 3GGF's will cost a tenner. Pricey for one line of rubbish "To my beloved wife - everything" or words to that effect!

🤣

a man in a suit and tie says well you have found my flabergast button and ALT: a man in a suit and tie says well you have found my flabergast button and

What??? That can't possibly be right!!!

10 of the best Irish short story collections We are a nation of storytellers - and if you ever needed proof, you need look no further than our short story writers.

Oh wow, nice to get a mention here, the book that refuses to die! www.rte.ie/culture/2025...

International African American Museum to open national slavery archive exhibit Downtown Charleston’s International African American Museum will open an exhibit next week to serve as a national archive on family histories of slavery.

Downtown Charleston’s International African American Museum will open 'Speaking Truth', an exhibit next week to serve as a national archive on family histories of slavery. www.live5news.com/2025/10/22/i...