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Family History Festival
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WHAT IS IT?
The Route Back Home 2010 is a family history festival focusing on the genealogy of Ballymoney and district, the region traditionally known as "the Route". Click here to view Event Programme.
In recent years, Ballymoney Museum has discovered that more and more family historians are arriving in the North Antrim area to study their ancestors. The festival was organised in response to requests from enthusiasts across the world who wanted to come together in Ballymoney and learn more about their ancestors.
Click here to discover more about the history of Ballymoney.
WHO CAN TAKE PART?
Anyone interested in family history. In particular, we welcome visitors from across the world who have "roots in the Route"!
WHEN IS IT?
The main event will take place on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 October 2010.
In addition, a coach trip to local church graveyards and other historical sites is scheduled for Thursday, 30 September. This will be an optional event and requires an additional fee of £15 for each seat, including lunch. Only 30 places are available for the coach trip and all seats must be booked in advance.
WHERE IS IT?
The festival will be based in Ballymoney Town Hall. Click here to discover more about accommodation in Ballymoney and district. Explore the Causeway Coast & Glens website to find out more about the world famous tourist attractions and the outstanding scenery in the surrounding area.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
Ballymoney is one hour by road from Belfast and a comfortable 90 minute journey by train or bus. Ballymoney can be easily accessed by air with 3 airports within easy reach - Belfast International, Belfast City and City of Derry - with direct flights from a number of international destinations. The region can also be reached via international connections in Great Britain.
HOW DO I BOOK MY PLACE?
Download "THE ROUTE BACK HOME 2010" booking form.
A FESTIVAL DEVOTED TO FAMILY HISTORY IN THE ROUTE
Speakers will include representatives from:
· Public Record Office of Northern Ireland;
· NI Libraries;
· Ulster Historical Foundation;
· Centre for Migration Studies, Ulster American Folk Park;
· North of Ireland Family History Society.
Subjects have been selected to appeal to genealogists with research interests in North Antrim. Delegates will be able to explore themes such as:
· Archive resources from the 17th & 18th centuries;
· Griffith's Valuation;
· Family history on-line;
· Researching migration;
· Graveyards and church records in Ballymoney & district.
General advice will also be available and there will be an opportunity to discuss research techniques with local genealogists that have years of experience studying family history in this region.
Ballymoney is close to the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland with Bushmills Distillery, the Giants Causeway and Dunluce Castle nearby. Visitors can also enjoy golf, watersports, horse riding, angling, cycling, beautiful countryside walks or the golden beaches. Over the coming months, there will be further details of group activities and possible discounts for attractions in the Causeway region.
THE ROUTE
"The Route" was an ancient name given to this north eastern region of Ulster. The name may have been associated with an ancient road named Slige Midlauchhra. The road ran from the seat of the Irish Kings, at Tara, to Dunseverick Castle on the coast. Another theory is that 'Route' is a corruption of 'Riata', the name of an ancient ruling dynasty.
For further details, please email museum@ballymoney.gov.uk or telephone +44 28 2766 0230