LeitrimMel
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melhowes.bsky.social
LeitrimMel
@melhowes.bsky.social
340 followers 390 following 85 posts
Genealogist, specialising in Irish and British research, based in Dublin and the west of Ireland. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory Owner and Chief Genealogist at https://DolmenGenealogy.com. Chairperson for the Irish Family History Society (http://ifhs.ie).
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melhowes.bsky.social
Great day was had at the Irish #FamilyHistory Society's annual conference yesterday. Thanks to all attendees and speakers for making it such a success. Our next talk is on Nov 22nd - all about #photography and family history. #Genealogy #IFHS
The committe: Louise, Mel, Kieran and Roy Louise at reception Mel introducing speaker Declan Brady. Mel chatting with Andrew Martin of the Irish Newspaper Archives.
November 2, 2025 at 1:21 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
Double #rainbow at Clogher Head, Louth, #Ireland. #photography
Double rainbow over view of Clogher Head.
October 30, 2025 at 11:17 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
Fowley's Falls, Rosinver, Leitrim. Peaceful spot. #photography #landscape #cascades
Looking upriver, small cascade The larger waterfall
October 27, 2025 at 11:27 AM
melhowes.bsky.social
#Samhain Parade in Manorhamilton, #Leitrim this evening. Good turnout on a damp night.
Samhain parade Samhain parade Samhain parade
October 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
Last call for the Irish #FamilyHistory Society's annual conference, next Saturday 1st November. Attend in person or via Zoom. Tickets available from the Shop on our website: ifhs.ie/shop #Genealogy #IrishRoots
Agenda for the conference. 9.30 am – 10 am Registration (tea & coffee available to purchase in adjoining cafe) 10 am Welcome by our chairperson Melanie Howes 10.15 Dr Declan Brady: Landed Estate Records as a source 11.30 Mr Andrew Martin: The Irish Newspaper Archives 1pm Lunch (included in admission) 2pm Comdt Daniel Ayiotis: The Irish Military Archive 3pm Dublin City Library: What’s on Offer 4pm Mr Roy Atkinson: Dublin directories and their uses 4.45pm Closing remarks & Distribution of spot prizes
October 25, 2025 at 9:41 AM
melhowes.bsky.social
Great talk and demo last night given to the Irish Family History Society by Brian Gurrin of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland about the census records in the VRTI. Very interesting insights for #Genealogy and #FamilyHistory research!
Home page of VRTI website
October 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
melhowes.bsky.social
The Director's tour of the National Library #NLI was fascinating last night. It's such a great resource for #FamilyHistory and #Genealogy research. Fabulous collections donated from estates and families. I can't wait to get back for my next research visit!
The Reading Room of the National Library of Ireland. Very ornate.
October 21, 2025 at 7:29 AM
melhowes.bsky.social
Beautiful autumn day here in the west of #Ireland Of course i should be finishing my @pharostutors.bsky.social assignment and not looking at the #Scenery 😀
View from hilltop in West of Ireland across a field with cattle, larch trees in autumn colours and the Atlantic Ocean in the far distance.
October 17, 2025 at 11:48 AM
melhowes.bsky.social
Hot off the press, Andrew Martin from The Irish Newspaper Archives will be demoing the new website at our Conference Sat 1st Nov. It launches that day!
He’s providing several spot prizes of A Years Gold Membership to attendees! You have to be in to win!
Tickets: www.ifhs.ie
#Genealogy #FamilyHistory
Breaking News text with globe, in blue. A bit geeky really but free from Pixabay.com.
October 13, 2025 at 7:07 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
Irish #FamilyHistory Society (IFHS) Annual Conference, November 1st, Dublin. We'd love to see you there!
See: ifhs.ie/event/ifhs-c...
#Genealogy #IrishRoots #History
Extract from the IFHS website showing attendees at a conference and a large microphone in the foreground. At the event, I'll be standing at that mic introducing folks. Gulp!
October 10, 2025 at 6:42 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
The Irish Family History Society will be at Flavours of Fingal, Donabate, Dublin, this weekend.
Pop by and say hello - half price membership only €12.50 available.
We have a very special mystery guest visiting on Saturday, a well known American who had asked us to trace his Irish Roots!
Ad for Flavours of Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland.
July 3, 2025 at 9:59 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
Upcoming talks and outings with the Irish Family History Society. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #IFHS
Why not join us? ifhs.ie
I'm very proud of the calendar of events the new Committee have put together in less than 3 weeks! Calendar shows 3 events.
April 9, 2025 at 5:14 AM
melhowes.bsky.social
Beautiful end to a beautiful day #SligoSunset
Sunset over Sligo Bay.
April 5, 2025 at 7:43 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
Stunning evening in #Ireland
Me staring at the camera blinded by the Light. There's a good song title! Small trees and scrub with conifer plantation behind.
April 3, 2025 at 5:37 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
Ripley the collie-jack russell terrier mix looking magnificent whilst chewing my shopping list! #TerrierTuesday
Ripley the collie-jack russell terrier looking magnificent whilst chewing my shopping list!
March 26, 2025 at 12:03 AM
melhowes.bsky.social
The AGM of the #Irish #FamilyHistory Society, of which I'm a committee member, is coming up on Sat 22nd March, 2.30pm via Zoom. Anyone interested in Irish family history research should join the society, and committee - please, we need additional person-power for the future. ifhs.ie #Genealogy
The Home page of the IFHS with the society's shamrock logo and nice idyllic, green ring forts in the background. Just needs a leprechaun playing a harp to complete the traditional view of Ireland!
March 9, 2025 at 7:28 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
Rainy day, do the housework or crack on with my #Genealogy assignment for @pharostutors.bsky.social course "Researching Online for Advanced Genealogists"? Haha, is that even a question! Have coffee, brain engaging gears....
A notebook and a very smart looking cup of coffee with a heart shape outlined in the froth - clearly a stock image because my coffee pouring skills are just not that good, and I could never train as a barista as it would be too much like an alcoholic working as a barman.
February 8, 2025 at 11:12 AM
melhowes.bsky.social
Congratulations to Michael Walsh and Anne-Marie Smith. They were both excellent tutors on the City Colleges (Dublin) courses I completed last winter. News taken from the AGI Facebook page: AccreditedGenealogistsIreland
Michael and Anne-Marie standing in front of the AGI banner.
January 5, 2025 at 4:59 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
New #Genealogy reading delivered today! That's the weekend sorted 😀
Cover of book entitled "Credentials for Genealogists" by Paul Gorry.
January 3, 2025 at 5:11 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
Definitely a night for a puppy huddle.
Two pups snuggling on the sofa. Nippy outside!
January 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
#Genealogy #NewYearsResolutions are to continue with my 5-year plan to swap out current full-time job for my own genealogy business. That means, continuing with year 1 @pharostutors.bsky.social Advanced Certificate, making connections, being active on social media and releasing a website.
Image of goal setting created by kalhh on pixabay.com. It is a notepad and pencil with 3 steps written: Dream, set goal and action. Surrounded by lightbulbs. Light bulbs really don't look like that anymore - they're all LED nowadays.
January 1, 2025 at 5:20 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
Oh dear, despite the weather there are some folks with fireworks. We are on high alert and shivering.
Scared terrier collie cross.
December 31, 2024 at 10:48 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
In my review of 2024, one area I feel went well for me was prioritizing my #MentalHealth. I made a conscious effort to manage stress: swimming twice weekly, lunchtime dog walks in the countryside (or at least along a Dublin canal). Focus on the positive. How do you survive daily 21st century life?
A photo taken last August of a peacock butterfly in the meadow with purple and white clover flowers.
December 30, 2024 at 3:21 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
I like to take stock at this time of the year, review the past year, start making plans for the next one. Financially, I like to check just how much my genealogy subs costs...... Not too bad, ~€900. Some clear "biggies" in there regarding the larger sites, of course. How about you? #Geneaology
Scary numbers related to my genealogy subscriptions. I do have the most expensive Ancestry and FindMyPast subs, but SoG is expensive too. And all the smaller societies and learning sites add up!
December 29, 2024 at 12:03 PM
melhowes.bsky.social
Good morning and Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. A bit too early for me to greet the day with Slade at full volume methinks 😀
Stock photo from congerdesign on pixabay of gingerbread Christmas trees, night lights and fake snow, clearly arranged in a pet free environment, good for them!
December 25, 2024 at 6:39 AM