Vona Groarke to deliver 2026 Committee on Genealogy and Heraldry Lecture

The National Library of Ireland (NLI) is delighted to welcome acclaimed poet, Professor Vona Groarke, to deliver the 2026 Committee on Genealogy and Heraldry Lecture, 'Filling in the Gaps', on Wednesday, 8 July at 6.30pm in the Joly Lecture Theatre, NLI.

Presented by the National Library of Ireland's Committee on Genealogy and Heraldry, this free public lecture explores the creative possibilities that emerge when archival research leaves unanswered questions. Drawing on her award-winning book about a young Irish emigrant in New York, Hereafter: The Telling Life of Ellen O'Hara, Groarke will reflect on how combining poetry and history with archival research and imagination illuminates family stories that survive only in fragments. 

Vona Groarke has published fifteen books, including nine poetry collections with The Gallery Press. Her latest collection, Infinity Pool, was shortlisted for the 2025 T.S. Eliot Prize. Hereafter won the Michel Déon Award in 2024. She is a member of Aosdána, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and the current Ireland Professor of Poetry (2025–2028).

The NLI Committee on Genealogy and Heraldry assists and advises the NLI Board on matters relating to genealogy, heraldry and the functions of the Office of the Chief Herald. Its work supports the Library's stewardship of the Genealogical Office collections, the development of public access to genealogical and heraldic resources, and the promotion of informed engagement with family history and heraldic heritage.

The NLI is home to extensive genealogy and family history resources, including the Genealogical Office collections, manuscripts, newspapers, photographs and other archival material to support all researchers from first-time to experienced genealogists.

Whether you are interested in tracing your ancestry, Irish history or the stories hidden within the archives, this lecture offers a fascinating insight into how research and creativity can come together to bring the past to life.

Admission is free, but booking is essential. Book your place to attend:

In Person | Lecture: ‘Filling in the Gaps’

Live stream | Lecture: ‘Filling in the Gaps’

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To discover more about family history research at the National Library of Ireland and for a free consultation service, visit the Library’s Family History website.