Dr Brian Trainor Memorial Lecture

Ulster Historical Foundation's highly esteemed colleague Dr Brian Trainor passed away in August 2018 at the age of 90. In tribute to his immense contribution to preserving and promoting archives, the Foundation organised the inaugural Dr Brian Trainor Memorial Lecture at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland on 26 September 2019. Professor (Emeritus) Cormac Ó Gráda gave a wonderful presentation titled: ‘Irish emigration: new sources, new approaches, new results’.

We are delighted announce that the 2025 Dr Brian Trainor Memorial Lecture will be held on Monday, 12 May at PRONI. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of the first issue of the Foundation's journal, Familia: Ulster Genealogical Review, which Dr Trainor did so much to help conceive and launch in 1985.

The keynote speaker will be Trevor Parkhill, who has edited Familia for more than 30 years and who will be speaking on a subject close to Dr Trainor's heart: ‘Emigrants' letters as a source for Irish historians and genealogists’. Thanks to the work of Dr Trainor and his colleagues, PRONI has one of the best collection of emigrants' letters in the world.

We will again be joined by members of the Trainor family and Dr Trainor's daughter Rosana will act as MC of the event. In addition, Dr William Roulston will deliver a talk on the life of Dr Trainor - 'Ambassador for archives' - and there will be a series of contributions reflecting on 40 years of Familia and the impact that it has had on studies of migration and the Ulster diaspora.

The Dr Brian Trainor Memorial Lecture is free to attend and open to everyone, but registration is essential.

Speakers and Lectures

Trevor Parkhill worked initially as Archivist in the Business Records Survey of the Irish Manuscripts Commission then in PRONI (1974-95). Latterly (1995-2012) he was Keeper of History, Ulster Museum/National Museums Northern Ireland..

He has edited Familia. Ulster Genealogical Review since 1994.

One of Brian Trainor's many interests was the collection and interpretation of emigrants' letters. of which there is a substantial quantity in PRONI. The lecture will consider the value of emigrants' letters for historical and genealogical research.

Dr William Roulston is Research Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation. He worked with Dr Trainor for over 20 years on many projects as well as joining him on lecture tours to the United States.

Dr Brian Trainor: Ambassador for Archives

This short talk will discuss Dr Trainor’s life, from his upbringing in Coleraine, his education in Derry and Belfast, to his long career at PRONI and the Ulster Historical Foundation. Dr Trainor’s immense contribution to the preservation and promotion of Irish archives will be highlighted, including his many lecture tours in North America as well as his visits to Australia and China.

Dr Paddy Fitzgerald is Head of Research and Development at the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh. He completed his PhD on ‘Poverty and Vagrancy in Early Modern Ireland’ at Queen’s University Belfast in 1994 and is co-author of Migration in Irish History, 1607–2007 (Palgrave, 2008) with Dr Brian Lambkin.

Dr Fitzgerald will highlight Dr Trainor’s phenomenal commitment to archives and will also reflect upon Familia’s centrality as a hub at the core of Ulster history/genealogy over the decades under the able editorship of Trevor Parkhill.

Brenda Collins is a Visiting Research Fellow in the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, Queen’s University Belfast, and former curator, Lisburn Museum. Her research interests include the Irish linen industry and family and local history.

Dr Linde Lunney, born in County Antrim, was the first staff member on the Royal Irish Academy’s Dictionary of Irish Biography, 1983. Now retired after 777 biographies, her research interests include Ulster emigration and family history.