tssN 0791-6329 ffi lrirhrlirlnr' \laPr tffi Afew TDords Irom the Editor ISSUE No 2 2006 rssN 0791-6329 AFTER A SIX year campaign, the Genealogical Society of Ireland have CoNrrNrs managed to devise, compose and bring to News the floor of the upperhouse of our nation- al parliament for consideration, a set of legislative proposals entitled the Genealogy & Heraldry Bill Genealogy and Hcraldry Bill. In itselt this is quite an achievement and a consid- erable development on previous impres- Nicholas Sinnott sive political actions which ir.rvolved the successful submission of amendments to heritage bills which werc initiated else- Duffy's Cut where. Much of the bill is rather technical, Cover Picture: Historic Map viewer Servrcc addressing shortcomings the law Bridging the Gap in launch (scc pagc 5) scated Minister for relating to the Genealogical Office and Environment, Heritasc and Local Govemmcnt the legal status oI grants of arms issued Mr Dick Rochc TD; standing( I--R) Geraldinc 11 Committee on Genealogy since 1941. However, several sections Tallon. Assistant SecreEry Dept of will be of substantial interest to family Envircnmcnt, cIc: Bdan McArdle, Channel hirlorians. lhe propo.al to change the Managcr Ordnance Survey of lreland (OSI)l and Gernldinc Rurnc Chicf F.xecutive Ofiicer OSI. t2 Our Heritage in Stone law to facilitate the release oI the 1926 Free State census returns for perusal by Editor/Publisher researchers will be welcomed by all. So Tony McCamhy 13 Killed in Action in Galhpoli too will the proposed designation of cer- Bel!rrvc Publrcaroni. Bclgra\ c A\enue. tain records as of gencalogical impor- Cork, Ireland; phonc: ()21) ,1500067 tance, and the compilation of an inven- e-mail: [email protected] t4 Finding John Dargan tory of genealogical records, which Website: www.irishrootsmagazine.com would be put on-line. Printer 15 Sotheby's Irish Art Sale Innovations in the field of heraldry, which iorm a major parl ol tlre bill, aie Templc Printing. Arcadia Road. Athlone. Co. Westmeath. likeiy to arouse new interest in this t6 Hiberno-Mexican Links ancient alt. The proposal to appoint AcriNTs: licensed heraldic agents to assist people Australia who wish to obtain a personal coat of Library of Australian History, 18 Books Ireland arms would simplify and reduce the cost PO. Box 795. l7 Mitchell Street. of the current unnecessarily complicated Norlh Sydney, NSW 2059. and expensive process. 19 Database No. 44 One of the best proposals in the bill is New Zealand Beehive Books. Box 25 025, St Heliers, to use the granting of personal arms as Auckland 5. New Zealand. an honour* A per-on de*clvinS 20 By Air Land and Sea "y-tem. ,-ri prrblic re(ugnition uou d reccirt. a Advertising in lnst Rooh coat of arms with the nature of his Commercial advertising rates available on 21 Irish Brigade Descendant achievernent represented in heraldic request. Private small ads: €0.15 pe| word symbols nluch more appropriate than rt S'll pcrT $ord.'. All!,d\cni.ing lor i.sue giving academic- titles to people whose 3,2006 must reach Belgrave Publications 21 CIGO News achicrcmeni- har e nothing $haie\(.r to before the last day ol July 2006. do with scholatshrp. Cop)ripht O 200c, Belgr.rve Publicatior. Tony McCarthy 22 Detective Work IRISH ROOTS SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM 23 RIC Special Branch Files Sinply fill out the order lol.rn below (or a photocopy ol it) and send it together with the

24 Book Reviews appropriate remitt^ncc to Belgrave Publications. Belgrave Avenue. Cork, Ireland. Name 25 Most Common Sumames

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28 Census Indexes

Srgnatule------30 Letters Direct Credit to our bank AIB, St Patrick's Bridge Branch, Bridge Street, Cork: quote swlFT: AIBKIE2D IBAN code:IE93AIBK 9341 5126 3110 40 Prices: Onc years subscription (four issucs) including postage: Ireland € I 5.00; UK Stgf 11.50/€ 17.(X); US$2,1; Australia AXi36 (inc. GST); Canada CANli2S: Rcst of world: €20 (Air Mail). 58 Irish Roots 2006 Number 2 Genealogy & Heraldry Bill 2OOG

as a visual a six year by the Genealogical Society development oI heraldry ftollowing campaign expression of this hedtage in a manner fi of Ireland to provide a proper legislative framework for available to all in our community and I the delivery of genealogical and heraldic services by the thus removing, once and for all, the notion of the privileged exclusivity of State, a Bill has been initiated in Seanad Eireann by Senator heraldrw- Brendan Ryan. the dil through the licensing of heraldic agents will effectively repatriate The Genealogy & Heraldry Bill, 2006 the needs of the Ireland of the twenty- a lucrative aspect of the production and will reform the provision of heraldic ser- filst centurv. It removes from the Irish sale of Irish heritage products by creating vices by the State and it will make these context anf semblance of lhe traditional a facility by which individuals may setvices more accessible to the ordinary heraldic practices that were considered to obtain an authentic, certified and unique citizen of Ireland and the Irish Diaspora. be inconsistent with our constitutional coat of arms lor use bv themselves and It will create a new and less expensive position as a republic, and in doing so, their de..endants rarlier than purchaheraldic authority a voluntary non-governmental educa- Rising, the War of lndependence and the which has fr.mclioned in Dublin since tional and heritage organisalion with Civil War. Creating d special heritage cdt- 1552. The Bill will remove the absurdities charitable status promoting the study of egory for the census of 1926 will make it surrounding copyright to Arms in pre- genealogy, heraldry, vexillology and available to family historians twenty sent legislation. This Bill will make social history as open access education- years earlier than currently provided for Ireland one of the few democratic al leisure pursuits available to all in our The important contribution to the republics in the r.rorld with a..olid leg- community irrespective of creed, age, study of heraldry and genealogy in islative framework Ior heraldry. Another social or economic circumstances, edu- Ireland made by individuals and volun- democratic republic with specific legisla- cational qualification or ethnic back- taiy organisations is also recognised by tion is the Republic of South Africa. ground. the Bill through the establishment of The Bill will provide for the registra- The Society is incorporated in lreland, ddvisory committees to pro\ ide an on- tion and protection of the Arms of has received a grant of arms from the going consultaLive process in the devel- Ircland, the Presidential Standard, the Chief Herald of lreland and is registered opment of policy and the delivery of ser- flags and emblems of the Irish Defence as a Nominating Body tor Seanad Eire- vrces. Forces and An Garda Siochiina and other ann. The publication of this Bill offers all State agencies. Established in 1990. the Society is with a genuine interest in lri.h genealogy, A new feature introduced by the Bill lreland's premier publisher of genealogi- heraldry and vexillology an opportunity will enable the goremment to properly cal material. hosts two open meetings to re-eramine the issues which were recognise meitorious citizens and others per month and operates an Archive and raised during the debate on the 1997 Act. with a special grant of arms by hamess- Research Centre at the restored Martello Many of these issues remain unresolved ing an existing heraldic function of the Tower at Seapoint, County Dubljn. or were unsatislactorily or incompletely State to meet the needs of a confident, Membership is open to all with an inter- addressed during the debate or in the modern and open republic seeking to est in the subjects concerned and the subsequent legislation. Thi" is the time to provide due national recognition fol an Society has members in lreland and the resolve these issues through an open and lrish Diaspora. exceptional contribution to the develop- world over amongst the constructive debate on the Genealogy & Brendan has a ment of the community or voluntary sec- Senator Fyan been Heraldry Bill, 2006. tors or for humanitarian work overseas. member of Seanad Eireann since 1982 Lecturer Chemical The Bill provides foi' the open transpar- and is a in NOTE: FoR FULL TEXT oF THE BILL AND THE Engineering (ClT) by prolession. He was en+ functjoning of a modern heraldic EXPLANAIORY MEMORANDLM: elected to the Upper House in 2002 by office for Ireland as befits her status as a \,\NWV.OIREACHTAS.IE sovereign republic, It respects heraldic the National University of lreland and is a tradition and practice whilst applying Cork City based member of the such in a uniquely Idsh context meeting Padiamentary Labour Party. MrcHart Mnnnrclry FGSI