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ISSN 1649-7937 Cumann Geinealais na hÉireann Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette (incorporating “The Genie Gazette”) Vol. 3 No. 2 www.familyhistory.ie February : Feabhra 2008 “Clear Blue Water” between the NLI Board and the “Shambles of the Past” In another serious blow to the from the Chief Herald of Ireland reputation of both the National were basically advised in a Media ANNUAL GENERAL Library of Ireland and Irish her- Statement issued by the Chairper- MEETING aldry, documents released under son of the National Library on the Freedom of Information Act, October 24th 2007 that if they had The Annual General Meeting of 1997 indicate that the current a problem with legality of their the Society will be held on GENEALOGY Board of the National Library of grants don’t contact the National March 11th 2008. This AGM, Ireland sought to put “clear blue Library as it was the Minister’s our 18th, will coincide, as usual, HERALDRY water” between itself and what problem. The following day in with the March Open Meeting. was described as the “shambles of Dáil Éireann Minister Brennan However, this occasion in tinged VEXILLOLOGY the past”. This NLI Board was conceded that the State had with some sadness as two promi- appointed in May 2005 following “probably no power to grant nent long-serving members of the SOCIAL HISTORY the implementation of the Na- arms” until 2005. Whether, this Board, Cathaoirleach, Rory tional Cultural Institutions Act, total abdication by the National Stanley, FGSI and Liam Mac Heritage Matters 1997 by the then Minister Mr. Library (including the Chief Her- Alasdair, FGSI have announced John O’Donoghue, TD. Under ald of Ireland) of any responsibil- their intentions not to seek reelec- Book Reviews its Chairperson, the eminent bar- ity whatsoever to its former cli- tion at this AGM. Rory has been rister Mr. Gerard Danaher, SC , ents would withstand a challenge at the helm of the Society for 12 the Board has sought to distance under Irish or EU consumer law is years since joining the Executive Open Meetings itself from the various controver- debatable. Understandably, many in January 1996. He was elected sies surrounding the Office of the will view the use of the word Cathaoirleach at the AGM in Oct. News & Queries Chief Herald of Ireland dating “shambles” by the Chairperson as 1996. Liam has been a member of back to the “bogus Chiefs” affair unfortunate. Indeed, as this Soci- the governing body of the Society and possibly, earlier. Clearly in ety has rightly praised Mr. Gerard since 1991 and was the first Edi- the documents released under the Danaher for his decisive action in tor of the Journal and centrally FOI, the Chairperson is deter- the past, we now urge him to involved with many other publi- mined that it will be the govern- proactively seek an early resolu- cations. He directed the restora- ment and in particular, the current tion to the problem now facing all tion of the Martello Tower and Minister for Arts, Sport and Tour- pre-May 2005 grantees. But given most recently, he was responsible ism, Mr. Séamus Brennan, TD , the complexities of the situation for building the on-line shop. CONTENTS that will be responsible for sorting and the desire by all that a suitable With a combined 29 years service out the mess created by the total regulatory regime would be put in to the Society, both Rory and lack of any statutory basis for the place to prevent another heraldic Liam have contributed immensely to the success of this Society and Theft of the Irish Crown 2 State’s delivery of heraldic ser- “shambles” emerging, maybe it is vices from 1943 to 2005. Hun- time now for all to support this will be greatly missed by all. We Jewels dreds of grantees of coats-of-arms Society’s legislative proposals. wish them both all the very best. Elections to the Board of 2 the Society CIGO Award for Pearse 2 Irish-Welsh Link Celebrations Street James Scannell Reports... 3 The member oganisations of the other events. This Society has courage innovation, development Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire Link been an active member of the and enterprise. Our shared cultural will celebrate its tenth anniversary Link since 1998 and has greatly heritage is a central theme running Précis of the January 3 at a function to be held on March valued this type of international through the Link’s activities and Lecture 15th 2008 in the Trearddur Bay cooperation. The Society has objectives. Individual members of Hotel outside Holyhead, north presented a number of important the participating organisations, Diary Dates & Queries 4 Wales. This unique international discussion documents to the ple- like this Society, are invited to organisation promotes cooperation nary sessions of the Link over the attend the 10th anniversary cele- and friendship between the com- years. Currently the Society is brations. For further info. contact munities in Ynys Mon (Anglesey) involved in formulating a pro- Paul Durkan, Link Secretary, Ireland & Wales in the 4 and the Dublin region through posal for INTERREG funding for E-mail: [email protected] for Middle Ages regular meetings, workshops and the Link’s activities and to en- costs, reservations etc. Monthly Newsletter of the Genealogical Society of Ireland ISSN 1649-7937 PAGE 2 IRELAND’S GENEALOGICAL GAZETTE (INCORPORATING “THE GENIE GAZETTE”) VOL. 3 NO. 2 Theft of the Irish Crown Jewels One hundred years ago on 25 January 1908, a sion's report, Sean Murphy, a Wicklow-based drawn to his association with the disreputable Vice-regal Commission of investigation into the genealogist, lecturer and author, has issued his Richard Gorges, who later effectively confessed theft of the Irish Crown Jewels released its own report on the theft of the Irish Crown Jew- to Bulmer Hobson that he and Shackleton had report. The Jewels were the regalia of the Order els. The full text may be read at stolen the Jewels, inspired by a prank carried of St Patrick which were found to have been http://homepage.eircom.net/~seanmurphy/jewel out by Lord Haddo, son of the Lord Lieutenant stolen from Ulster's Office in Dublin Castle in sreport08.pdf (1.06MB file, Adobe Reader of Ireland, Lord Aberdeen. Other interesting July 1907. While the actual theft did not receive required to view). The report concludes firstly points in the report include views of the scene much press coverage, details of the Commis- that certain key official records relating to the of the crime in Dublin Castle, a picture of the sion's report filled the newspapers a century theft of the Irish Crown Jewels were destroyed, Ratner safe in which the Jewels were held ago, with the Irish Times publishing the full secondly that the Vice-regal Commission report (returned to the Castle only last month), con- text of the report in its issue of 1 February 1908 scapegoated Vicars and was in essence a white- tinuing difficulties accessing surviving records (now retrievable online from wash, and thirdly that the prime suspect for the relating to the affair, the belief that the Jewels http://www.ireland.com/search). The Commis- crime remains Francis Shackleton, with Francis are buried somewhere and efforts to dig them sion found that Ulster King of Arms Sir Arthur Bennett Goldney a strong suspect number two. up, hoaxers and forgers active in the ruins of Vicars had not exercised due care as custodian The name of Goldney is not as well-known as Arthur Vicars's old home in Kilmorna, County of the Jewels, and while not displaying much Shackleton's, and the new report draws atten- Kerry (where he was shot by the IRA in 1921), interest in establishing who had stolen them, the tion to his compulsive theft of property while Ernest Shackleton's efforts to bail out his ne'er- report contained a surprising section stating that Mayor of Canterbury, which only emerged after dowell brother, and Vicars's sensational will in there was no evidence that Francis Shackleton, his death in 1918. In addition, details of an which he named his former friend Francis brother of Sir Ernest Shackleton, was the thief. account alleging (repeat alleging) that the Irish Shackleton as the thief, released only in 1976. Vicars was dismissed as Ulster, and there was Crown Jewels may have been sold by Goldney The story, as they say, reads like a novel, and widespread belief that the Commission's report to the wealthy art collector John Pierpont Mor- the final chapter has still to be written. was a whitewash designed to cover up a scandal gan is published for the first time. However, the EDITOR: the above is taken from a Media at the heart of British government in Ireland. To case against Shackleton remains the strongest, Release issued by Mr. Seán Murphy, MA on mark the centenary of the Vice-regal Commis- although not proven, and particular attention is January 25th 2008 Elections to the Board of the Society The Society’s Annual General Meeting will be with the exception of January when it meets on and a fresh outlook that comes to the Board held next month and, as usual, the AGM will the 2nd Thursday and these meetings are each with the election of new members to the various hear the Annual Report of the Board and the of two hours duration. The business conducted positions. The decision making process is usu- Annual Financial Report for the period up to includes all aspects of the Society’s operations, ally by consensus and the working atmosphere 31st December 2007.

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