Mourne International Genealogy Group | |
On July 12, 2008 the inaugural meeting of the Mourne International Genealogy Group (MIGG) was planned. The meeting came about when it was discovered that several members of the LIST would be in County Down on vacation on this date. Raymond Kelly was staying in Ballymartin close to Sheila Phillips, Fiona Jones was in Newcastle and Linda Holley was travelling in Belfast. Several leading local genealogists were invited and agreed to attend, including Catherine Hudson and local author John Newell. In total 12 members had confirmed that they would be present and a room was reserved at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle. It was then that the plan fell apart! |  It's tea - honest!! |
Guests of honor Raymond Kelly and his wife Cathie had to cancel their plans due to ill-health. Several other confirmed attendees expressed concerned about traveling to Newcastle on the “12th” due to the fact that the parades were being held in Newcastle. Sheila decided that with numbers down to ten guests that she could fit everyone into her house and so the room at the Slieve Donard was cancelled. Sheila graciously opened her home to the MIGG and with traditional Irish hospitality laid on a beautiful “high tea” for everyone to enjoy. So finally, guests arrived and the inaugural meeting of the MIGG got underway. Genealogy and family history was the subject of much discussion but generally, everyone just had a good ol’ natter! Two awards were handed out on the night courtesy of NIR-DOWN LIST member Eric Macklin, one to Sheila for her work researching at PRONI and one to myself. Thanks Eric! During the meeting an email was received from Linda Holley to say that she had taken ill en route to the meeting and was booking herself in to a B&B somewhere near Crossgar (but she wasn’t exactly sure where). So all-in-all it was quite an eventful day and one that we will try an repeat next year with hopefully a few less last minute change of plans!!
Back row: Sheila, Angela, Ricky, Fiona | 
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