Killyleagh venue for AGM

Killyleagh venue for AGM

24 May 2017

THE Killyleagh branch of the Northern Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS) hosted the organisation’s AGM on Saturday.

NIFHS is a not-for-profit organisation encouraging an interest in family history with particular reference to the nine counties in the historic province of Ulster. There is also a research centre based in Newtownabbey.

The Killyleagh branch, chaired by Elizabeth Fleming, arranged for the AGM to take place in 2nd Killyleagh Presbyterian Church with the support of Newry Mourne and Down Council.

The election of office bearers took place with the present holders agreeing to continue in post for the incoming year. There was also a debate on the possibility of a move of the research centre to another unit within the complex to make the facilities more accessible.

After the meeting, a light meal was provided by the church. Delegates attending were then treated to a guided history walking tour of Killyleagh led by local historian Clive Scoular, and a guided visit to Killyleagh Castle, hosted by Gawn Rowan-Hamilton, who gave a brief history of his family’s occupation of the castle for the past 400 hundred years.

He named the often colourful characters involved along the way, and how the castle and surrounding bawn had evolved through the years. 

The 2018 AGM will be hosted by the Causeway coast and Glens of Antrim branch.

Killyleagh Family History Society has a monthly meeting during the months of September to May with a short break over the summer.

The meetings are held at 8pm in the Killyleagh Masonic Hall, 50 High Street, Killyleagh, on the evening of the first Monday each month.