In the mid-1980s, with the growing international
interest in family history and the emergence
of new genealogical services of varying standards
within Ireland, it was felt that a professional
body was needed. The initiative was taken in
Belfast, where the embryonic APGI had its first
meeting in 1986. Its members suggested to their
Dublin-based colleagues that a similar group
should be formed there. After a number of meetings,
a panel of independent assessors was appointed
and each potential member submitted a sample
of work for assessment. This began in 1986.
Initially the Belfast and Dublin groups operated
as two
branches, each with its own committee. Since
the first Annual General Meeting in December
1988, at the Belfast members' suggestion, APGI
has functioned as a unit under a single council.
