Paul Gorry, F.S.G., F.I.G.R.S., M.A.P.G.I.

Gorry Research,

84 Ardglass,

Baltinglass,

Co. Wicklow,

Ireland.

E Mail: gorry@indigo.ie

Areas of research: All of Ireland

Special interests: Cos. Wicklow, Carlow & Kildare; Registry of Deeds

Paul Gorry has had a lifelong interest in local and family history, dabbling in both by the age of ten. As a teenager he joined the Kildare Archaeological Society, and in 1980 he was a founder of the West Wicklow Historical Society, of which he served as Chairman in 1980-1981. He has been engaged in genealogical research on a professional basis since 1979. Paul began his career as a freelance researcher for the Genealogical Office (GO). In 1980, with his colleagues on the GO's research panel he was a founder of Hibernian Research, the first independent Irish genealogical company. Since 1987 he has been trading entirely through the firm of Gorry Research.

Paul has been a member of the Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS) since 1980 and of the Society of Genealogists [London] since 1987. When the Ireland Branch of the IGRS was established in 1986 he was elected to its committee. He served on that committee in 1986-1989 and 1997-1998. He was a founder member of APGI, was its Hon. Secretary in 1988-1991, and became its President in 2007. In 1989 he brought together a group of individuals to organise an international conference on Irish genealogy. This group staged the 1st Irish Genealogical Congress (IGC) in 1991. It was followed by three further IGCs, held in 1994, 1997 and 2001. Paul was Chairman of the IGC from its inception to 2002. He helped found the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations (CIGO), and in 1995/1996 he also served as its Chairman. In 2005 he was appointed to the National Library of Ireland Committee on Genealogy and Heraldry.

Paul Gorry has written extensively on genealogical and local history topics. He has been a frequent contributor to Family Tree and Irish Roots magazines over the years. He has also published articles on Irish golf history. With his APGI colleague, Máire Mac Conghail, he was joint-author of the book Tracing Irish Ancestors, (HarperCollins, Glasgow, 1997). He also wrote Baltinglass Golf Club, 1928-2003, published in 2003, and Baltinglass Chronicles, 1851-2001, published in 2006.

Paul has considerable experience in teaching and lecturing on genealogy. With Eileen Ó Dúill, he is joint co-ordinator of the Diploma in Family History course at Independent Colleges, Dublin, run in conjunction with APGI. As well as speaking at various events and venues in Ireland and England, Paul has lectured at conferences in Jacksonville, Long Island, Cleveland, Boston and Detroit in the U.S.A., and in Hervey Bay in Australia.

In June 1999 he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Genealogists. In September 2005 he was awarded the Fellowship of the IGRS.

 

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