ISSN 1649-7937

Cumann Geinealais na hÉireann Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette (incorporating “The Genie Gazette”)

Vol. 8 No. 4 www.familyhistory.ie April : Aibreán 2013 Genealogy—A National Resource?

The recent launch of the newly website www.rootsireland.ie on to operate their services, others revamped and much improved a ‘pay-for-view’ basis. These were absorbed by the local www.irishgenealogy.ie as a centres were established during authorities. The IFHF with- ‘Genealogy Portal’ by the the 1980s as part of a nationwide drew from IGL which soon Minister for Arts, Heritage & community employment and after was dissolved. The IFHF the Gaeltacht, Mr. Jimmy training programme to provide continued to coordinate and to Deenihan, TD, has been jobseekers with computer skills. develop the services of the IGP widely welcomed at home and Details of baptisms, marriages heritage centres and eventually GENEALOGY abroad. This new facility is an and burials from the local parish established a central ‘pay-for- exceptionally useful ‘one-stop- registers were transcribed onto view’ facility rootsireland.ie. HERALDRY shop’ for family history as it index cards and later entered During the 1990s questions provides access to the main into a computer database. The arose as to the rightful owner- VEXILLOLOGY on-line resources and offers centres were fully funded by the ship of the databases compiled advice on their use. Although State including staff costs, train- by the IGP, especially, since SOCIAL HISTORY it contains links to ‘pay-for- ing, office and computer equip- this work was largely funded view’ sites, its main website ment, utilities and services. They by the taxpayer. As many now Heritage Matters provides access to records of were managed by local compa- appreciate that genealogy is a baptisms, marriages and buri- nies established for that purpose ‘national resource’, maybe it is Book Reviews als free of charge from an with, initially at least, voluntary time to re-examine this issue in increasing number of parishes boards of directors. During the view of the enormous eco- Open Meetings throughout Ireland. Whilst first half of the 1990s concern nomic and cultural potential of News & Queries most genealogists, at home was expressed about the slow the ‘free-to-view’ websites like and abroad, are rejoicing at the pace of the computerisation and www.irishgenealogy.ie prospect of viewing more and following a very critical report more of these parish registers in 1996 by the Comptroller and Bratacha 2013 on-line free of charge, the Auditor General into the opera- operators of the heritage cen- tion of the Irish Genealogical “The Fighting Irish….. tres have reportedly con- Project (IGP), a new company, in Defeat, in Victory, the www.eneclann.ie demned the move as injurious Irish Genealogy Limited (IGL), to the financial viability of was established to promote and Music Lives On”

their centres. The Irish Family coordinate the marketing of the Pavilion, Dún Laoghaire CONTENTS History Foundation (IFHF) centres. During the Celtic Tiger represents the operators of the years the numbers of trainees Friday May 10th 2013—8pm Irish Elites in the Nine- 2 various IGP heritage centres available plummeted and many Tickets €12 (concessions €10) teenth Century that provide access to local centres were forced to close or parish records through the to rely on purely voluntary staff www.paviliontheatre.ie The Roscommon Famine 2 Diaspora

Weekend Genealogy 2 Bratacha E-magazine & Event Guide Courses The Bratacha 2013 Steering Saturday May 11th 2013. This Soci- Genealogy Village’ and a ‘Parade Group has just published a full ety is one of the four ‘lead organisa- of Flags’ through Dún Laoghaire. James Scannell Reports .. 3 colour e-magazine to promote tions’ hosting Bratacha 2013 as part The e-magazine has a full listing

Portfolios Allocated Bratacha 2013—Festival of Flags of The Gathering Ireland. The oth- of the topics to be covered by the & Emblems . Produced by Irish ers are Dún Laoghaire Harbour lectures and seminars, including Irish DNA Atlas Project 3 Lives Remembered Ltd of Dun- Company, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown biographies of the expert speakers dalk, this e-magazine is probably County Council and the National from Ireland and overseas. All the Diary Dates 4 the first use of this medium to Maritime Institute of Ireland. lectures and seminars are open to promote an event in Ireland. The Amongst the events to be held is a the public and are free of charge. The Famine Irish: 4 e-magazine has articles on geneal- full and varied programme of lec- The lectures and seminars will be Emigration & New Lives ogy, heraldry, vexillology, local tures and seminars, an exhibition, held at the County Hall, Dún history, maritime history and a Ireland’s first ‘Heraldic Collo- Laoghaire, Co. . See the Précis of March Lecture 4 full guide to all the events to be quium’ , a ‘Military History Collo- website: www.bratacha.com or held during Bratacha 2013 which quium’ , a world premier concert at http://interactivepdf.uniflip.com/2/ Outreach Programme runs from Thursday May 9th to the Pavilion Theatre, a ‘History & 71043/299167/pub/

Monthly Newsletter of the Genealogical Society of Ireland ISSN 1649-7937

PAGE 2 IRELAND’S GENEALOGICAL GAZETTE (INCORPORATING “THE GENIE GAZETTE”) VOL. 8 NO. 4 Irish Elites in the Nineteenth Century A new publication from interesting subject of ‘blocked mobility’. The challenge elites, politicians and journalists, and compares the Four Courts Press deals for each essayist, from an Irish perspective, was essen- numbers of journalists and newspapermen connected with an often overlooked tially two-fold involving the evaluation and, in many with the Irish Parliamentary Party and the post- and under-researched aspect ways, the deconstruction of the prevailing narrative independence position. Pamela Emerson (U ) of the Irish historical narra- and the exploration of a wider definition of elites in looks at the influence of the overtly respectable tive—the emergence of nineteenth-century Ireland. The essays begin with pastime of reading by examining the membership of elites in Irish society. ‘Irish Andrew Tierney (U. Liverpool) exploring the some of Belfast’s book lending institutions, including Elites in the Nineteenth ‘architectures of gentility’ as expressed in domestic the Belfast Literary Society and the Belfast Society Century’ edited by Ciarán buildings designed in the context of a ‘polite culture’ for Promoting Knowledge, and their impact on Bel- O’Neill (ISBN: 978-1- as statements of mobility or arrival. Susan Galavan fast’s civic identity. Brian Griffin (Bath Spa U) looks 84682-3510 : 280pp : H/bk (TCD) looks at the expansion of the city of Dublin and at archery as an elite pursuit and its social trappings : Price €55.00) published in in particular, the buildings erected by Meade & Son. from the 1830s to the 1870s. Patrick Maume (RIA) association with the Society Interestingly they converted Georgian mansions for the traces the fascinating life and times of Canon Samuel for the Study of Nine- poor and erected villas for the rich, indeed, one of the Hayman (1818-86), who wrote for the Patrician , a teenth-Century Ireland family, Alderman Joseph Meade was elected Lord London-based genealogical publication run by Sir (SSNCI) explores the fascinating story behind the Mayor was simultaneously a philanthropist and a slum Bernard Burke. Anna Pilz (U Liverpool) examines the emergence of elites at all levels and for many reasons landlord. Kevin Mc Kenna (NUI Maynooth) examines complexity of Lady Augusta Gregory’s status within throughout Irish society, Catholic and Protestant, the role of the legitimisation and rituals of one of the society, her roles as landlord, widowed mother and during the nineteenth century. Nowadays the word most prominent and well-studied relationships in cultural nationalist within elite circles on both sides of ‘elites’ is widely used derogatively to describe an nineteenth-century Ireland, that of landlord and tenant. the Irish Sea. Neil Smith and Mervyn Busteed (U alleged sinister and cosy relationship between big Maeve O’Riordan (UCC) looks at elite women as Liverpool) explore the elites emerging in the Irish business, vested interests and the political classes in household managers in the late nineteenth-century and middle class in Manchester and the establishment of Ireland and around Europe. Ciarán O’Neill (TCD) in their relationship with the household servants, most of Catholic education in the city. Raphaël Ingelbien (U his introduction makes the point that ‘we live in an age whom, tended to be of the same religion as their em- Leuven) illuminates the much neglected phenomenon when ‘elite’ has become a multi-purpose and no- ployer. Joanne McEntee (NUIG) explores the world of of tourism amongst the rising Catholic elites and the purpose word’ and that a leading British academic, solicitors as elites in mid-nineteenth century Irish adoption of distinctively Irish ways of travelling. John Scott, has argued that the word ‘elite’ is one of landed society and, in doing so, she explains the multi- Timothy G. McMahon (Marquette U) explores Irish the ‘most misused in the sociological lexicon’ leading layered legal framework in which they operated. Anglican missionary activity in ‘the Empire’. Fintan many scholars to believe that the concept has become Matthew Potter (U Limerick) deals with what he Cullen (U Nottingham) examines the world of politi- ‘completely vacuous and without any significant recently dubbed the ‘Shannon Estuary Group’ of cal caricatures. Nicola K. Morris (U Chester) explores analytical value’. This collection of essays, the first to ‘improving’ landlords including the Perys of Dromore; the life and times of Jeremiah Jordan—Methodist and deal with such in an Irish context, takes up this chal- the Wyndham-Quins of Adare; the Spring Rices of Nationalist MP. Finally, John Hutchinson (LSE) lenge at it explores this phenomenon at various levels Mount Trenchard; the Monsells of Tervoe; the de investigates the dynamics of cultural nationalism and within seven themed areas including, the built environ- Veres of Curragh Chase, the O’Briens of Dromoland competing elites between ‘modernity’ and ‘Irish- ment, the landed estates, associational elites, the ascen- and the O’Briens of Cratloe Woods House. Felix M. Irelander’ attitudes in the run up to the First World dancy, the , political elites and the very Larkin (Ind.) takes a very interesting view of two War and the Easter Rising. An excellent read!! MM

emigrants scattered and many pushed west- In Search of the Roscommon Famine Diaspora ward as the railways progressed in the second half of the nineteenth-century. Maryland, Wis- Since 2008 the Park Archive, earthed information on thousands of people who consin, Iowa, St Louis, Marin County in Cali- Ireland's largest and most informative collection left the Strokestown and wider east Roscommon fornia, Passaic County in New Jersey and Ohio of material relating to the Great , area during this period. Of particular interest are were just some of the centres where has been deposited on loan in the OPW/NUI the 1,432 tenants who were assisted in emigra- Strokestown natives settled and in many cases Maynooth archive and research centre at Castle- tion from Strokestown at the behest of Major led successful lives. Amongst the names in- town. Here ongoing restoration and cataloguing Denis Mahon and his agent John Ross Mahon in cluded in the database are Brennan, Feeney, of the archive, over 50,000 documents, has the summer of 1847. Using the voluminous Murray, McGuire, Hogan, Fitzsimons, facilitated ground breaking research into a Strokestown Park Archive, Dr Ciarán Reilly has Gannon, Freeman, Conry, Casserly, Doherty, variety of aspects about the . created a database of those who emigrated from Burke, Murtagh, Moran, Duffy, Fahey, Kelly, Chief amongst this research is the details of an this part of Roscommon during the Famine. Goodman, Bowens, Doyle, Kenny, Moore, estimated 5,000 people who emigrated during Combining this information with a myriad of Beirne, Gibbons, Healy, Finnegan, Quinn, the period 1845-1855. Roscommon was genealogical resources, Dr Reilly has been suc- Egan, Fallon, Hanly, Tighe, Donnelly, Hunt, amongst the worst affected counties in Ireland cessful in establishing where the Roscommon Cox, Dempsey, Donegan, Dwyer, McCormick, during the Famine with a decline of almost Famine emigrants settled. In Britain they settled Glancy, Madden, Lannon, Rush, Duffy, thirty-two percent of the population. Naturally chiefly in areas such as Hampshire, Lancashire, McLaughlin, Conneally, Higgins and Flanni- those with the means to do so emigrated and Sussex, Kent; Cheshire, Yorkshire. In Australia gan amongst others. Dr Ciarán Reilly is a Postdoc- settled in England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, many settled in emerging cities like Melbourne toral Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of United States of America, Argentina, Australia where the Dwyer’s, O’Keefe’s and Byrne’s from Historic Irish Houses & Estates, Department of and South Africa. To date research has un- Roscommon lived side by side. In America the History, NUI Maynooth . www.strokestownpark.ie

WEEKEND GENEALOGY COURSES GSI LECTURE PROGRAMME

Weekend Genealogy Courses are provided in and use of census, vital, valuation, church and Details of the forthcoming lectures: Tues . 9th conjunction with John Hamrock of Ancestor other records. Practical advice will be shared April ‘Ancestry.com by Eric Booth . [ late can- Network Ltd. These very successful and popu- with participants as they embark on the quest to cellation—replacement—Billy Saunderson, lar courses are specially designed to help begin- trace their ancestors. Courses are held at the GSI MGSI ‘Researching a manor house and the ners unlock the mysteries of their ancestry. Archives and Research Centre, An Daonchart- families who lived therein’ ] Tues . 14th May — Classes are small providing better tuition. An- lann, where the major on-line genealogy re- ’The Preservation of Old Documents’ by Chris- cestor Network Ltd. is the provider of the Gene- sources will be covered in a ‘hands-on’ way for tine Deakin. Tues. 11th June —’The Ordnance alogy Advisory Services for the National Li- best results. For further information please con- Survey Office as a Genealogical Resource’ by brary of Ireland and the National Archives of tact John Hamrock by phone on 087 050 5296 or TBA. VENUE: Dún Laoghaire College of Ireland. The course beginning on Sunday by e-mail on [email protected] Further Education , Cumberland St, Dún April 21st 2013 includes guided tours at the Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Directions on National Library, Dublin City Library and other IRELAND’S GENEALOGICAL GAZETTE www.familyhistory.ie The Director of the GSI centres of research. Learn how to be your own Lecture Programme, Séamus Moriarty, FGSI, researcher. Topics to be covered include the Past issues of this newsletter are available in pdf will be supplying details of the lectures for the principles of genealogy, computers and the format to read or to download free of charge on remainder of the year soon. Meanwhile Séamus internet, place names and surnames, location the Society’s website www.familyhistory.ie can be contacted at [email protected]

Monthly Newsletter of the Genealogical Society of Ireland ISSN 1649-7937

VOL. 8 NO. 4 IRELAND’S GENEALOGICAL GAZETTE (INCORPORATING “THE GENIE GAZETTE”) PAGE 3 James Scannell Reports... INFORMER’S LETTER FOR IRISH HISTORY—100 OBJECTS ‘CELEBRATING SIR EDWARD AUCTION LOVETT PEARCE’ A book and exhibition which illustrate more On April 16 th 2013 leading Dublin auctioneers than 7000 years of Irish history was launched On Thursday 18 April 2013, Cllr. Tom Joyce, Adams and Company will auction a letter writ- during March at the Museum of Archaeology An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown ten in 1919 by H. Quinlisk, a former corporal and History, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. The County Council, will launch an exhibition on in the Royal Irish Regiment to the Under Secre- exhibition is currently in view in the Museum Sir Edward Lovett Pearse at 18.00hrs in Stillor- tary in Dublin Castle, offering to betray the and the accompanying book, ‘A History of gan Library, Co. Dublin. This exhibition will be Irish leader, Michael Collins, to the British Ireland in 100 Objects’ can be purchased there on view in the library during normal library - there is also an app available at 100objects.ie. hours until mid-June 2013. On Saturday April authorities. In the letter with an address of 21 th Gardiner Place, Dublin, Quinlisk wrote “ I was DUBLIN LOCKOUT 1913 20 2013 the Kilmacud-Stillorgan Local His- the man who assisted [Sir Roger] Casement in tory Society will hold a Morning Seminar, ‘A capital in conflict - Dublin city and the 1913 Celebrating Sir Edward Lovett Pearce’ - Ire- Germany, and in coming home, I have been Lockout’ by Francis Devine, Editor, published connected with the Sinn Féin. I have decided to land’s foremost neo-Palladian architect from by Dublin City Council to mark the Decade of 09.00hrs. to 13.00hrs in the Stillorgan Park tell all I know of that organisation and my Commemorations 1913-1923, is a collection of information would be of use to the authorities. Hotel, Stillorgan Road, at which the speakers essays which range over a wide number of will be Christine Casey, Eddie McParland, and The scoundrel Michael Collins has treated me topics relating to the Lockout and contextualiz- scurvily.” At that time the Irish War of Inde- James Howley. Places at the seminar are limited ing it, including the role of women and chil- and must be booked in advance by e-mail on pendence / Anglo-Irish War was in progress dren; the Gaelic revival; the proposal for a with a £10,000 reward on the head of Michael [email protected] or call 087- Bridge Gallery to house the Lane collection of 2895653 Collins, the most wanted man in the British pictures; housing, public health and medicine; Empire. Quinlisk’s motives or writing the letter as well as an overview of the Lockout by Fran- The April 2013 issue (No. 11) of are believed to have emanated from Collins’ cis Devine and the international context sup- the excellently produced and very refusal to bankroll his gambling habit but it plied by Colin Whitston. Contributors are popular e-magazine ‘Irish Lives never reached its intended recipient as it was Lydia Carroll, Patrick Coughlan, Kate Cowan, Remembered’ is now available to intercepted by one of Michael Collins’s confi- John Cunningham, Francis Devine, David read or to download to your PC, dential informants within Dublin Castle, Ned Durnin, Karen Hunt, Leeann Lane, Enda mobile or tablet free of charge on Broy, who copied it and passed on it to Collins. Leaney, Ann Matthews, Thomas J. Morrissey, www.irishlivesremembered.ie Quinlisk was later killed by the I.R.A. and its John Newsinger, Séamas Ó Maitiú, Niamh Checkout the previous issues too!! expected that the letter may sell for as high Puirséil, Ciarán Wallace and Colin Whitston . €3000 at the auction.

PORTFOLIOS ALLOCATED Public Office]. Director, Cemetery Projects: Barry O’Connor, FGSI [Recording & Publication of Memo- IRISH DNA ATLAS PROJECT rial Inscriptions, Group Projects]. Director, Digital The following Members were elected at the AGM held The Irish DNA Atlas is a collaborative academic Archive : Maura Flood, MGSI [creation of the GSI on March 12th 2013 to serve on the Board of Directors research project undertaken by Dr. Gianpiero digital archive to include manuscript collection & for 2013-2014. Besides the Cathaoirleach, Leas- Cavalleri of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland publications], Director, Education & Social Inclusion: Chathoirleach, General Secretary and the Director of (RCSI), the University of Leicester in the UK and the John Hamrock, MGSI [Education Programmes, Finance who each receives their main portfolios on Society. The main objectives of the project are (1) to Outreach & Volunteerism Programmes, Liaison with election at the AGM, the following portfolios were further our knowledge of the population history of Educational Establishments & Repositories, Educa- allocated at the April meeting of the Board of Direc- Ireland and (2) to help us understand how genes influ- tional & Social Agencies. GSI Rep. at The Wheel]. tors. Cathaoirleach: Pádraic Ingoldsby, MGSI ence health in Ireland. Participants continue to be Director, Lecture Programme: Séamus Moriarty, [Liaison with the President, Vice-Presidents, Honorary sought from across the island of Ireland and, indeed, FGSI [Evening Meeting Lecture Programme, Liaison Herald, Honorary Vexillologist and College of Fel- from overseas who can trace each of their eight great- with Speakers & Venue]. Director, Outreach Policy: lows]. Leas-Chathaoirleach: Gerry Hayden, MGSI grandparents to the same general area of Ireland. Eddie Gahan, MGSI [Public Office, Exhibitions & [Buildings & Utilities, Liaison with Dún Laoghaire Participants are requested to present a Birth Brief Outreach Programme]. Director, Internet Services: Harbour Company]. General Secretary: Michael (Pedigree Chart) and to provide a DNA sample (kit Tony O’Hara, MGSI [GSI website & on-line re- Merrigan, MA, FGSI [Company Secretary, Policy provided) for analysis. Participants are sought, male or sources]. Three new members elected were at the Matters, Gazette, Legislative Matters, Publications, female, with ancestry from any part of Ireland meeting AGM, Ciarán Hurley, Maura Flood and Tony O’Hara. Heraldry]. Director, Finance: Billy Saunderson, the criteria regarding the eight great grandparents. Whilst wishing the new Board every success in the MGSI [Budgets, Financial Control and Grant Applica- Members are asked to assist the project by inviting coming year, GSI President, Rory Stanley, FGSI , tions, Corporate Matters.]. Director, Sales, Marketing friends and colleagues to participate. If you are inter- praised the excellent work undertaken by Séamus & Membership: Tom Conlon, MSc, MGSI ested in participating or have a query about participat- O’Reilly FGSI at the Society’s Archives between [Marketing & Promotion Strategies, Advertising, ing, please don’t hesitate to contact Séamus O’Reilly 2005 and 2013. Séamus stepped down at the AGM, Membership Matters, Sales, Bratacha 2013]. Director, by e-mail on [email protected] Also, check- however, he will still coordinate the genealogical side Archival Services: Ciarán M. Hurley, MA, MGSI out the project newsletter on the GSI website. [Archival Collections, Archival Policy, GSI Files, of the Irish DNA Atlas Project.

jects; Members’ internet forum (under construction); WILL YOUR RECORDS WELL GSI MEMBERSHIP genealogical, heraldic and vexillological advice; and the facility to publish your research in the GSI Journal. In the course of our research over many years we natu- The Annual Review of the Membership Package was Special Membership concessions on products and rally amass a huge amount of paper and computer undertaken by the Board of Directors at its meeting on services obtained, from time to time, by the Society. records. We love these records, we’ve worked hard to Thursday November 1st, 2012. It was agreed under The Board also agreed to provide a number of conces- collect the information—it is of great value. Books, Res: 12/11/952 to keep the cost of the Annual Sub- sionary rates at €20.00 for persons under 25 years of photographs, charts, interview notes, copy certificates, scription for 2013 for Irish and Overseas Members at age and persons attending recognised genealogy parish register and census transcripts—all lovingly €40.00. The Membership Package for 2013 includes courses etc. This Membership Package shall be applied collected over many years. But have you made provi- the following: Member voting rights; optional second as and from January 1st 2013 and be subject to annual sion for the preservation of your records, files and notes household adult member ( 18 years or over ) with review, however, existing Membership Packages shall after we die? Don’t let your hard work end up as landfill voting rights; Membership Certificate [ Res: be honored until their annual renewal date. or all of your books be sold off after you’ve gone. 11/09/859 ]; right to use GSI post-nominal; copy of the Please make provision in your Will to donate them to Annual Journal; monthly newsletter by e-mail; use of NOTE: In accordance with Res: 10/09/785 all Mem- the Society’s Archives for future generations. the Society’s Archive; monthly meetings/lectures; bership Packages fall due for renewal on the anniver- special prices of up to 50% off selected Society publi- sary of joining—please check your Membership cations; right to register your own assumed Arms or MEDAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND Certificate. Apply on-line at www.familyhistory.ie or emblems with the Society free of charge; right to have if you prefer, download the form and send it to Mr. Ancestors or relatives who served in the Irish, British, your Club, School or Institutions assumed Arms or Billy Saunderson, MGSI , Director of Finance, Commonwealth, American or other armed forces or in emblems registered with the Society free of charge to a ‘Suzkar’, Killiney Avenue, Killiney, Co. Dublin, the mercantile marine of these countries? Checkout the maximum of ten registrations; occasional group pro- Ireland. New Members always welcome! Medal Society of Ireland on www.msoi.eu

Monthly Newsletter of the Genealogical Society of Ireland ISSN 1649-7937

IRELAND’S GENEALOGICAL GAZETTE Précis of the March Lecture is published by the Genealogical Society of Ireland Limited 11, Desmond Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland ‘For a Want of Judgement’

E-mail: [email protected] th On Thursday March 12 2013 following the Society’s Annual General Meeting, our Charity Reference: CHY10672 guest speaker, James Scannell, recalled the 1876 tragedy that befell the Kingstown The Society is a Nominating Body for Seanad Éireann [now Dún Laoghaire] lifeboat at Bray. With an intriguing title for this lecture ‘For A Want of Judgement‘ he explained how the lifeboat capsized off Bray seafront after Board of Directors 2013-2014 rescuing the crew of the brig LEONIE, throwing all the occupants into the water and

Pádraic Ingoldsby (Cathaoirleach : Chairperson); Gerry Hayden resulting in the death of one lifeboat member and three of the crew of the LEONIE, due (Leas-Chathaoirleach : Vice Chair); Michael Merrigan (General to error of judgement by the lifeboat coxswain Henry Williams. The death occurred of a Secretary : Company Secretary, Publications); Billy Saunderson second crew member several months later as the result of his ordeal. In his presentation (Finance); Tom Conlon (Sales, Marketing & Membership); Ciarán James began by providing an outline of the Dublin Bay lifeboat service operated by the Hurley (Archive); Barry O’Connor (Cemetery Projects); Séamus Corporation for the Improving the Port of Dublin, forerunner of the present day Dublin Moriarty (Lecture Programme), John Hamrock (Education & Social Port Company, from 1800 to 1862 when this service was taken over the Royal National Inclusion) ; Eddie Gahan (Outreach Programme).: Maura Flood Lifeboat Institution, and the sinking of HMS VANGUARD in 1875 which was a (Digital Archive); and Tony O’Hara (Internet Services). indirect contributor to this accident. The captain of the LEONIE mistook the light over this wreck site as the Kish light and plotted an incorrect course which brought him off JOIN ON-LINE Bray seafront rather than Scotman’s Bay, eight miles further north. Signalling his dis- www.familyhistory.ie tress, the coastguards in Bray alerted the lifeboats in Greystones and Kingstown which were called out. The Greystones lifeboat could not be launched to due to the prevailing weather conditions and was brought overland to Bray only to discover on arrival that the Kingstown lifeboat was nearing the LEONIE and so was not launched. After this @GenSocIreland Bray accident, the Kingstown Lifeboat Committee held its own inquiry and censured Henry Williams for an error of judgement on his part. In 1881 Henry Williams was DIARY DATES involved in another memorable rescue off the North Dublin coast and mindful of what happened in 1876, exercised greater caution in his handling of the Kingstown lifeboat Tuesday Apr. 9th & May 14th 2013 and was subsequently awarded a medal for his heroism. Williams and his father were Evening Open Meeting members of the Kingstown lifeboat CIVIL SERVICE No. 7 lost with all hands on Dún Laoghaire College of Further Education Christmas Eve 1895 while going to the rescue of the PALME. James Scannell has Cumberland Street, Dún Laoghaire delivered a number of very fine lectures to the Society on a range of topics including 20.00hrs—22.00hrs Maritime History, Military History and, of course, Local History.

Wednesday Apr. 24th & May 22nd 2013 Morning Open Meeting FOUR COURTS PRESS Hardy’s Bar, Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire Irish History, Genealogy, Local History and much more 10.30hrs—12.30hrs www.fourcourtspress.ie Contribution €3.00 p.p. Evening & €4.00 p.p. Morning (Coffee/Tea included at Morning Meetings) Checkout the New Titles and Catalogue on-line

THE FAMINE IRISH: OUTREACH PROGRAMME RESEARCH ADVICE EMIGRATION AND NEW LIVES Eddie Gahan, MGSI , Director of the GSI Out- An Daonchartlann, the Society’s Archives reach Programme, has produced a very busy A major international Famine and Research Centre, at the Carlisle Pier in conference is just one of the schedule including a stand at ‘The Genealogy th Dún Laoghaire, is open each Wednesday many events which will take Roadshow’ in Cork on Sat. 13 April 2013 and place in Strokestown, county in Derry on Sat. 20 th April 2013. If you would from 10.30hrs to 16.30hrs (except 4th Roscommon in July. The third like to volunteer to help out at the exhibitions Weds. open at 13.00hrs) and each Satur- annual International Famine contact Eddie at [email protected] day from 14.00hrs to 18.00hrs. Members Conference at Strokestown Meanwhile, the Director of the GSI Digital Ar- Park is part of the ongoing are on hand on those days to provide free collaboration between the chives, Maura Flood, MGSI, will deliver talks family history research advice to visitors Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses & Estates; on genealogy to the Greenhills Ladies Club, Com- th to the facility, however, the use of the the OPW/ NUI Maynooth Archive and Research Centre munity Hall, Limekiln Lane, on Thurs 11 April resources is reserved for members of the and Strokestown Park. The Taste of Strokestown Festi- 2013 at 20.30hrs and to the Harold’s Cross Ladies val will run from 19-28 July. For more information see Club, Holy Rosary Hall, on Weds. 22 nd May Society. Day research membership is www.strokestownpark.ie . On 19-20 July, the festival 2013 at 20.30hrs. available for €5.00 and payable on-line at begins with the Third Annual International Famine the GSI website. Travelling to the facility Conference hosted by the Centre for the Study of His- is best by public transport as Dublin Bus toric Irish Houses and Estates (CSHIHE) in conjunction with the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park SARAJEVO UNIVERSITY and the DART are nearby, however, pay- House. The theme of this international and interdiscipli- n-display parking is available in the Dún Calling all bibliophiles, academics and authors. Twenty nary conference is aptly The Famine Irish: Emigration Laoghaire Harbour Area. For directions and new lives . Bringing researchers together with a years ago over two million volumes, including priceless network of international experts, the conference will manuscripts, were destroyed in the fire that engulfed the see: www.familyhistory.ie approach the above theme from the broadest possible National & University Library in Sarajevo on August historical perspective. It aims to promote thoughtful and 26th 1992 during the Bosnian civil war. This Society is TRACING YOUR IRISH ANCESTORS wide-ranging analysis of emigration and diaspora proactively supporting a group of Bosnian students by John Grenham, MA, MAPGI, FIGRS, FGSI during and after the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1853. The seeking donations of contemporary academic works in field of international experts includes Dr Ciarán Reilly any discipline to restock their university’s library which The Society strongly recommends that for anyone and Dr Gerard Moran of the Department of History, was totally destroyed in August 1992. Have you any embarking on their family history quest one essential NUI Maynooth, Dr Patrick Fitzgerald of the Mellon books that you could donate? Please forward donated piece of kit must be John Grenham’s ‘Tracing Your Centre for Migration Studies, Omagh; Prof. Lawrence volumes to: Mrs Fuada Muslic, Senior Officer for Irish Ancestors’. Checkout: www.gillmacmillan.com W. Kennedy, University of Scranton and Prof. James P. Publishing, University of Sarajevo, Obala Kulina Bana Farrell, University of New Hampshire amongst others. 7/2, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tel: 00 STUDENT MEMBERSHIP This innovative research on the fate of the Famine Irish 387 3322 1946 : E-mail [email protected] in a number of locations including Boston, Texas, South NOTA BENE: Please e-mail Ms. Muslic when items To encourage students and young people to take up Africa, Canada and Britain will be discussed. The are put in the mail to her and include details of sender family history research, the Society offers a 50% conference keynote address will be delivered by Prof. and contents. An example of what is required by the reduction for persons under 25 years of age. Also, , Drew University, New Jersey. A full Bosnian authorities on the Society’s website. It's a persons who take up adult education courses in geneal- programme will be made available shortly. For more simple declaration of the contents etc. Please share this ogy can avail of a similar 50% reduction on the stan- information see http://historicirishhouses.ie/ appeal with your friends and colleagues. For further dard membership rate—that’s right, Student Member- information see: www.books4vijecnica.com ship for just €20.00. See GSI website for details.

Monthly Newsletter of the Genealogical Society of Ireland