Foyle Branch
The Foyle Branch usually meets on the first Monday of the month at 7 PM from September to May (except Bank Holidays when the meeting moves to the second Monday of the month). Meetings are normally held in the City's Central Library at 35 Foyle Street, BT48 6AL.
| Monday 10th September | Jack Scoltok, local diver, author and historian, giving an illustrated talk on the discovery, history and recovery of 'La Trinidad Valencera', the Spanish Armada ship which sank in Kinnagoe Bay in 1588. |
| Monday 1st October | Brian Mitchell, local historian, genealogist and author, speaking on sources for genealogical research. He intends to cover basic sources for those just starting their genealogy and wider sources for those who are more advanced. (TBC) |
| Monday 5th November | Hazel Philson, retired librarian and historian, speaking on St. Augustine's Church & graveyard, the oldest in the City. Hazel has carried out some unique research and will take us back from the present to the Plantation and on for another thousand years or so! |
| Monday 3rd December | Members' Evening (mutual help with genealogy problems). |
| Monday 14th January | Strabane historian and researcher, Johnny Dooher, will be giving a talk on 'Life in Pre-famine Times in West Ulster'. Johnny will be talking about local life for our ancestors in the years before 1850 and covering some significant - but today almost unknown - events. Did you know for instance that there was a mini famine and a serious fever outbreak in the North-West around 1817? (NB. change to talk as previously scheduled) |
| Monday 4th February | Philippa Robinson has researched various unique histories locally and will tell us the very interesting story of "The Jewish Communities in Derry" which was part of a much wider European history. |
| Monday 4th March | Bernadette Walsh, the City Archivist will give a short presentation on the City Archives and will put on a select display of archive material for us to examine in the Work-House Museum. This will be a unique display of almost never-before-seen material especially for us. There will also be an opportunity to see the Work-House Museum. |
| Monday 8th April | Members Evening and AGM (mutual help with genealogy problems). |
| Monday 13th May | A talk by John Thompson, lecturer, barrister & historian. John intends to cover various little-known pieces of local history under the title of "Hidden History on our Doorstep." John's lectures are always lively and interesting. |
| TBC | Plus several outside visits - details to be confirmed. |
