GRONI records to On-line November 2013

[frankie-d]

Thanks to Claire Santry for highlighting that its on the web already -

http://irish-genealogy-news.blogspot.co.uk/

My first impression is of slight disappointment. It's ok if you already know when and where something happened, but only allows a 5 year search period. I'm looking for the deaths of my g-grandparents John and Jane Boyd in the late 1800's. Don't know if they died in the Larne or Antrim district so it will involve a lot of searching at 40p per non-match.

[twitter]

Thanks Folks  for letting me know this is up and running. I have registered but will begin my searches a little later and see how it goes. The 5 year span is a bit troublesome as I don't know exact information pre 1900 for my kin but will muddle through.
Twitter

[scotmum]

I weep, but not with joy.

What could have been so wonderful, whilst better than the previous nothing, is, to me, a huge disappointment, as it is a mere tiny shadow of the excellent scotlandspeople website service, but costs more, seems far less flexible in how searches are done and extremely limited in the '5 year' window. It also only seems to allow viewing of previous searches/purchases for 72 hours (unless I have misunderstood - possible as I am in a hurry to go out), and I haven't yet found an option to download the full copy entry. *it seems GRONI prohibit printing, dowloading or taking screenshots*

As for 'user interface', first impressions are that it lacks a welcoming appearance. This was the chance for Northern Ireland to 'shine' on the genealogy stage, to showcase their facility and encourage both locals and the wider diaspora to delve into their genealogy. Instead, it comes across as clumsy in places and somewhat lacking in appeal. It could be somewhat confusing too, for those not familiar with the main www.nidirect.co.uk website and who initially land there ( eg this page  http://www.rootschat.com/links/0ypy/ , especially as not many genealogy researchers will be interested in the local government news bulletins that appear across the top of the pages, nor the links on some pages to 'most popular' items on the whole website such as 'controlling your dog in public'). Albeit, and you would be advised to bookmark it, you can get to the sub-site directly using https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/.

I didn't expect it to be 'all bells and whistles', but I did hope for some of the well-proven style and functionality of scotlandspeople mixed with some of the warm, friendly and welcoming 'feel' that many tourists to Northern Ireland have so often experienced over the years and that makes them want to return again and again.

Will play around with the site more again this evening to see what I've missed and if things are any better than first impression.

That said, I did have success with my first search, but only because I knew exactly who/where/when. A certificate I have long waited sight of.

[twitter]

Hi Again
First attempts have been at best futile! I have no idea of the registration and sub registration districts. As for exact birth date I only have a year so no luck. The thing is, if I knew all this information I wouldn't need The Records. After waiting so long this is truly  frustrating.
Twitter

[Rosinish]

Hi Twitter,

Not tried the site yet as I didn't realise it was up & running 'til now. Are you saying we need exact dates?

I was in one of the registration offices in Ireland a few yrs ago & it was done by the same (2 yrs either side) & cost me a small fortune & came away empty handed :-(

I don't think any could match our scottish records but they also have a new format which makes it a bit harder which in turn costs more.
I can't see why religion has to be separated in OPR's as some of the church names don't stipulate where in Scotland it is

Gripe over & may have a try for a death record which I do have a date for thankfully :-)

Annie

[twitter]

Hi Ammack
Yes I found the whole business very frustrating and will be tres expensive as they only give you a 5 year window and that muddled me as I typed in an 1864 to 1869 and got stopped - they include the 1864 as 1 year. I was trying to order a death cert. but it appeared to want all the information I didn't have and never knew. It sure isn't Scotlandspeople. I really hoped they would copy that model. Unfortunately it's the only game in town and we are stuck with it.

Twitter

[scotmum]

Mmmmmm....teething problems too, methinks.

Have just gone back and logged on. Gone to 'stored searches' and clicked on 'view' for the purchase I made earlier and instead of opening the record again, it is taking me to an 'error page'.

No obvious 'contact' button on the sub-site to report this  (scotlandspeople works well as reporting issues can be done from a 'logged on' state and so they know your account details) and 'help' button takes you back to the parent site, which again is not ideal, as parent site is multi-purpose and from a genealogy point of view, 'cluttered' with too many things that have nothing to do with research and purchasing records. Will attempt to report the 'error page' issue using the email address I finally found on the main site's 'GRONI search fees explained' page....(not the most obvious place many would think to look).

[Rosinish]

Welllllllllllllllllll

Just tried to get my cert. with d.o.d 1896 in from & to boxes (1896 in both boxes)

It then asked for "Enter a Year from that is no earlier than 5 years before this value"

I then put from 1892 to 1897
& request was met with same "Enter a Year from that is no earlier than 5 years before this value"    

Has anyone else had the same

Annie

[Rosinish]

As the saying goes "They're a long time dead" 

With this site that sure is fact 'cause we won't be able to find out the length of time they've been dead.

Site a DEAD loss 

Annie