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Welcome to the PRONI Express

Welcome to the latest edition of the PRONI Express. PRONI will now be using the DfC Engaged Communities Group Eventbrite page to host our talks and events. So please follow and keep an eye on the page for all our upcoming events. 

Extended Opening on Thursdays and Saturdays in 2026

February to March 2026, onsite at PRONI

We are extending our opening hours on selected dates for the beginning of 2026.

During extended opening on Thursdays, the Search Room and Reading Room will be open until 8pm so that everyone has an opportunity to access our facilities.

We will also be open on selected Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.

Upcoming Late Thursdays:

Thursday 19 February
Thursday 19 March

Upcoming Saturday Openings:

Saturday 7 February
Saturday 7 March

 PRONI Public WiFi - Disruption to Service 

From Monday 15 December

Due to essential maintenance and infrastructure upgrading, PRONI’s public Wi-Fi will be unavailable to all customers from Monday 15 December until further notice. 

Public internet machines on the ground floor (ie in the Heritage Café) will also be unavailable until further notice. Public internet will continue to be available on the internet machines in the Public Search Room.  

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Now We're Talking - The Team and Our Work

 Photograph of Seán Hayes, Project Archivist for the Now We’re Talking project.

Check out the latest blog from the Now We're Talking Project from project archivist, Seán.

This blog explores the behind-the-scenes work of the project, outlining what each member of the team does to make the records of Michael J Murphy available to the public at PRONI.

The Story of Charles Thomson and the Declaration of Independence

Friday 28 November from 4pm to 5pm, onsite at PRONI

We are delighted to welcome you to the launch of the children’s book, The Story of Charles Thomson and the Declaration of Independence, by Philip Johnston.

Charles Thomson from Maghera, Co Derry~Londonderry, was one of the most significant Founding Fathers in American history. He was the only Secretary of the Continental Congress (forerunner to United States Congress), one of only two signatories on the first printed Declaration of Independence, the co-designer of the Great Seal of the United States and published the first English translation of the Greek Septuagint version of the Old Testament.

Philip Johnston came across the story of Charles Thomson quite by chance, having learned about him on the radio. It is hoped that this latest book will restore Thomson’s lost voice to the public consciousness.

Booking required.

Upcoming Exhibition - The History Detectives: An Exploration of the History of Balloo and Killinchy

Wednesday 3 December to Friday 19 December, onsite at PRONI

Join us at PRONI for a new exhibition from The History Detectives; Moira Concannon, Leanna Russell and Lesley Simpson. This exhibition is based on the research carried out for their recently published book, Balloo, Killinchy: a hidden history.

The main sources were original documents in PRONI and newspaper archives, along with birth, marriage and death certificates and genealogical sites such as Ancestry. These sources are explored in the exhibition, using examples of the stories uncovered.

No booking required.

PRONI on Tour - Ballymena Library Visit 

Thursday 4 December from 10am to 4pm, Ballymena Library

Join us on Thursday, December 4 for a day of family history and local heritage at Ballymena Library.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to delve deeper into your family history, our team will be available to answer any questions.

No booking required.

Conservatism and Unionism Conference

Thursday 4 December from 1pm to 7:30pm, onsite at PRONI

This conference will examine the evolving relationship between Conservatism and Unionism across the UK in the last three decades of the twentieth century. This was a critical juncture when a previously close relationship, forged amid the politics of the Irish Question in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, unravelled – with far-reaching implications for the survival of the Union today.

This is a partnership between PRONI and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) project on 'Conservatism and Unionism in the UK, 1968-1997', led by Professor Paul Corthorn (QUB), Dr Malcolm Petrie (St Andrews) and Dr Robbie Johnston (QUB).

Booking required.

The PRONI Digest is now available to view online

This publication brings together key statistics on PRONI into a single publication. It presents statistics on topics such as collections, visitors, education and outreach activity.

Highlights include…

Our celebration of 100 years of collecting
3,022 new visitors registered onsite
16,060 visits by audiences including those who attended talks, events and exhibitions

PRONI on YouTube

View over 12 years of recorded PRONI talks on our YouTube channel.  From family and local history talks, to specialist research topics, there is sure to be something for everyone.

New recordings are added regularly. Subscribe today to make sure you don’t miss any!

Admission to all events is FREE, however booking is essential as spaces are limited.

Get more great PRONI content by following us today - just click or tap the icons to find our pages. PRONI regularly records its public events and talks - view these on our YouTube channel.