The GGI2015 Fabulous Day Out (Mon Oct 12th)

As always, ISOGG Ireland representative Gerard Corcoran is putting together a marvellous programme for the GGI2015 Fabulous Day Out - a special event for the GGI2015 speakers as well as the volunteers manning the FTDNA stand at Back to Our Past. This is our way of saying thank you to everyone who makes Genetic Genealogy Ireland such a great success.

Gerard is a wonderful ambassador for genetic genealogy in Ireland and frequently works "behind the scenes" to establish contacts and relationships with various governmental and commercial bodies within Ireland. This year he has secured an audience with Mervyn Green (CEO of the CHQ)  as well as the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Here is the final agenda for the GGI2015 Fabulous Day Out which will take place on Monday 12th October, the day after the conference. There may be some future changes to the agenda (due to unforeseen circumstances) but such changes are not currently anticipated.

Places are limited to only 20 people and the GGI2015 speakers and volunteers on the FTDNA stand get first pick. Any places left available after that will be available on a first-come first served basis to ISOGG members only (so join ISOGG today). If you would like to be considered for a place among the Lucky 20, please leave your details in the comments section below. First-come first served, so be quick! I will notify you if you have been successful in getting a place in the week prior to Back to Our Past.

The GGI2015 Fabulous Day Out (Mon Oct 12th)

09:30 - 10.00   Assemble at CHQ

10:00 - 10.30   Meet CHQ CEO Mervyn Green

10:30 - 11:00   Visit CHQ and Vaults

11:00 - 12:00   Preview of EPIC Ireland Exhibition (officially opens May 2016)

12:00 - 13:00   Lunch at CHQ Ely Bar and Brasserie

13:00 - 14:00   Famine Memorial and Jeanie Johnson Famine Ship

14:00 - 16:00   Dublin City Hall, Tour

16:30 - 17:30   Reception at The Mansion House with the Lord Mayor of Dublin

19:00 - 21:00   Dinner and Craic at Cafe en Seine, Dawson Street

The agenda in detail:

9:30 - 10.00   Assemble at CHQ

Address: The chq Building, IFSC, Dublin Docklands, Dublin 1 (map)

The CHQ building is on the River Liffey. CHQ stands for Custom House Quay. It is several hundred metres downstream from the Custom House. Here it is on Google Maps.

A location like no other building in Dublin, the CHQ building overlooks the River Liffey and George’s Dock. Formerly known as Stack A, the CHQ building is a grade one listed building situated within the heart of the city’s bustling International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in the Docklands. Last year, it was bought for 10 million euro by Neville Isdell, ex-CEO of Coca Cola. Why are we visiting it? Because he is building Ireland's newest Diaspora Museum in its vaults ... and we are going to see it before anyone else!

The chq building

10:00 - 10.30   Meet CHQ CEO Mervyn Green

This is the man responsible for supervising the 12 million euro investment in the new museum, which has been christened EPIC Ireland. He will tell us how it came about, what is his vision for the future of this massive project, and how it will impact Ireland's connection to her 80 million strong diaspora.

Mervyn Green

10:30 - 11:00   Visit CHQ and Vaults

The vaults of the CHQ are vast and steeped in history. They are so big that they were made famous when the CHQ was the setting for the Crimean War Banquet in 1856 celebrating the return of 3,000 Irish soldiers.

The Crimean War Banquet 1856

11:00 - 12:00   Preview of Epic Ireland Exhibit (officially opens May 2016)

EPIC Ireland is the new state of the art visitor experience that showcases the unique journey of the Irish nation, where stories of old are told through the technology of now. EPIC Ireland spreads itself across 21 galleries of vibrant Irish life, as it illuminates the story of Ireland’s communities overseas - past, present and future.

Epic Ireland at the CHQ

12:00 - 13:00    Lunch at CHQ Ely Bar and Brasserie

A stunning destination for the lovers of food, wine and craft beer. In an 1821 year converted wine warehouse, ely bar & brasserie offers everything from a relaxed family dinner, a pre-theatre bite, private dining rooms and after work drinks.

Lunch at the CHQ

13:00 - 14:00   Famine Memorial and Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship

Address: Custom House Quay, Dublin 1 (map)

'Famine' (1997) was commissioned by Norma Smurfit and presented to the City of Dublin in 1997. The sculpture is a commemorative work dedicated to those Irish people forced to emigrate during the 19th century Irish Famine. The bronze sculptures were designed and crafted by Dublin sculptor Rowan Gillespie and are located on Custom House Quay in Dublin's Docklands

Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship

The original Jeanie Johnston made 16 emigrant journeys to North America between 1847 and 1855, carrying over 2,500 people with no loss of life.

The Jeanie Johnston

14:00 - 16:00   Dublin City Hall, Tour

Address: Dame St, Dublin 2 (next to Dublin Castle - map)

City Hall is an outstanding example of the Georgian architecture for which Dublin is world-renowned. It was designed by Thomas Cooley and built as The Royal Exchange for a then-prosperous Dublin’s merchant population between 1769-1779. Dublin City Council have owned the building since 1851 and have recently restored it to its original beauty. 

Dublin City Hall

The City Hall now host the multi-media exhibition, 'The Story of the Capital'. This exciting exhibition traces the evolution of Ireland’s capital city, from before the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1170 to the present day. It tells of the city’s founding, through Viking times, and into the unique and vibrant city of today. The story is told through multimedia displays, which offer a fascinating insight into the city’s evolution. Some of the city's wonderful treasures are also on display.

16:30 - 17:30   Reception at The Mansion House with Ardmhéara Bhaile Átha Cliath / Lord Mayor of Dublin, Críona Ní Dhálaigh

Address: Dawson St, Dublin 2 (map)

In 2015, Dublin’s Mansion House celebrates 300 years as the official Mayoral residence. The house was built by developer Joshua Dawson between 1705 and 1710 and is a rare surviving example of Queen Anne style architecture in Dublin. In 2015 the Mansion House will celebrate this milestone with a number of events throughout the year.

The Mansion House

Críona Ní Dhálaigh is the 346th mayor of the city, but only the eighth woman to hold the office. She also has the distinction of being the first Sinn Féin politician to take up the position. As first citizen, Ms Ní Dhálaigh will preside over the 1916 Rising centenary commemorations in the capital, alongside the President and the Taoiseach. Mansion House protocol stipulates that the mayor comes second only to the President at official ceremonies in the city.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin
Críona Ní Dhálaigh

19:00 - 21:00   Dinner and craic at Cafe en Seine

Address: 40 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 (map)

Visitors who cannot join us for the day's events can join us in Cafe en Seine in the evening. 

Welcome to a little bit of Paris right here in Dublin. With fabulous food that oozes contemporary Parisian flair, a tempting drinks menu that’s hard to match, and with entertainment that ranges from live artists to live theatre, Café En Seine offers a feeling you won’t find anywhere else in Dublin.

Join us for the craic!

Cafe en Seine

ISOGG Ireland says thank you to everyone who helps to make Genetic Genealogy Ireland the great success it has become.

Thank you!

Maurice Gleeson
Gerard Corcoran 

12th Sep 2015