Irish Times archives free through December 14 2009

[Paddy Casey]

The Irish Times newspaper is celebrating 150 years in publication by letting you access its digital article archive free through December 14 ( http://www.irishtimes.com/search/archive.html ).

The Irish Times has these freebies from time to time and because the archives are an absolute goldmine they are not to be missed, i.e. drop everything between now and Dec 12, cancel all appointments, call in sick at work, buy in a stock of food , don't bother to sleep, and mine this source for what it's worth. Newcomers can get a taste by punching in "Clare" and wallowing in the results. Then punch in the name of your home town and note down the hanky-panky that your neighbours' ancestors were up to in 1870. It'll really get the conversation going down at the local shop, ho ho. Then punch in your family name. You may be very surprised at some of the stuff that comes to light.

And so forth.

Paddy