Welcome to the Petty Sessions Project webpage.
Enniskerry Courthouse Petty Sessions are available from May 1859 on microfilm in the National Archives, and this project involves the transcribing of these and placing them online. The archives are a very rich source of both the social history of the area and of information for genealogists looking for references to their family names.
About Petty Sessions
You can read about the role of Petty Sessions in the justice system and their use to historians and genealogists, illustrated with local examples, in Úna Wogan’s article: Petty Sessions at Enniskerry Courthouse.
Petty Session Records
The information as it is collected will be added by year to the links below. The records have the following information included:
- The Complainant and Defendant, usually with the defendant’s address (townland).
- The Names of Witnesses, if any.
- The Cause of Complaint (these are abbreviated for common complaints).
- The Particulars of Order or Dismissal.
Records (Check back for updates):
- 1859 – Petty Sessions Enniskerry, 1859
- 1860 – Petty Sessions Enniskerry, 1860
- 1866 – Petty Sessions Enniskerry 1866 (Jan to June)
[Updated July 19th 2011]
If you would like to donate some time to transcribing the records, please contact me!
Thanks for this excellent resource .
Looking forward to 1865 onwards, would love to help transcribing but unfortunately don’t live close to the National Archives sorry
Hi Allen,
Thanks for the note. Yes, they are very interesting. If you haven’t already, I recommend Una’s article on Petty Sessions in the new Journal – they really put a lot of what I was transcribing into the context of the time.
The rate of transcription is turning out to be roughly one year per month, so hopefully I’ll have 1865 around about November.
Talk soon,
Michael
thanks for the updates Michael
Thanks Allen. Congratulations on having the 100th comment on the website!
Moving on to 1866 now as part of a new project, so watch this space!
First half of 1866 added, which includes several references to Capt. Thomas Halpin.
This is a wonderful collection of memories in words and photos.Pity we dont have more names to accompany the photos.I lived in Kilternan in the 40,50 and 60’s and remember a number of the faces including Kevin ?O’Connor in the band photo.A number of us would bus it up to play football in the Bog Meadow against the locals.We got to know many travelling in to work,school etc.on the 44 having organised our weekly ticket in transit.My Dad,a lorry man Charlie Walsh was a great friend of Robbie Kavanagh and drew sand from Coogans pit and turf from Glencree.Those were the days.Keep up the good work on your wonderful website.JW
Thanks Joe for sharing that.
Michael
Glad to contribute Michael.I had just discovered your site and intended it for the relevant section to cater for general memories.I submitted it in error to the Petty Sessions Project and would be delighted if you could transfer same as intended.
Hope to have more material for you in due course.
Thanks and best regards
Joe