ISSN 1649 -7937 Cumann Geinealais na hÉireann

“Cuimhnigí ar Ár Sinnsir —Remember Our Ancestors” Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette (incorporating “The Genie Gazette”) Vol. 11 No. 5 www.familyhistory.ie Bealtaine : May 2016 GSI Member Elected to Seanad Éireann GENEALOGY

Seanad Éireann now consists of many Senators educational plans. I want to play my part in HERALDRY that have more than just a passing interest in achieving this key objective.” Quoting Edmund genealogy. Indeed, a Member of this Society Bourke, Senator Boyhan said “People will not VEXILLOLOGY has been elected to the Upper House. look forward to posterity, who never look back- ward to their ancestors.” - What a noble cause, SOCIAL HISTORY Senator was elected on the I wish the Society continued success with this Agricultural Panel and became the first Inde- mission.” pendent Senator to be elected to this Seanad. Heritage Matters As a County Councillor, Victor Boyhan had The nominee of Genealogical Society of Ireland, previously been the nominee for this Society in Cllr. , on the Cultural and Educa- Book Reviews 2011, however, this year he secured the nomi- tional Panel, became the first Senator to be elect- nation by parliamentarians. Commenting on ed to the 25th Seanad. On his election Senator Open Meetings the activities of the Society, Senator Boyhan Fintan Warfield said “having sought the nomi- said “I am committed to promoting the objec- nation of the Society to contest election to the News & Events tives Society; the nation’s ancestral heritage 25 th Seanad Éireann, it was with immense pride needs to be fully supported and resourced by to be deemed elected on the first count of the government.” cultural and educational panel.” - DIRECTORS CO OPTED He strongly believes that new opportunities are Senator Warfield said “I place enormous value In accordance with the decision of the within the grasp of the Irish genealogical com- on that nomination and I look forward to work- Annual General Meeting held on munity stressing that “a collaborative approach ing alongside the Society in building an aware- March 8th 2016, the Board of Direc- to documenting and showcasing the nation’s ness and appreciation of our genealogical and tors has co -opted two Members to the genealogy and Irish diaspora is long overdue, ancestral heritage both here at home and Board bringing the total number of the potential to reap many benefits nationally throughout the Irish diaspora across the globe.” Directors to the maximum of ten. and internationally awaits us.” Pointing to the Mrs. Anne Brophy, MGSI , was co - importance of genealogy, Senator Boyhan said “I have had the pleasure of performing our cul- opted at the April meeting and Mr. “genealogy helps substantiate historical accu- tural heritage of song and music throughout the Lua Ó Scolaí, MGSI, was co -opted racy; the Society through its own research, United States and I learned to place a great value at the May meeting. Both have been archives and publications has proven this to on the needs of our global family in researching duly registered with the Companies me time and time again.” their lineage. The phenomenal worldwide suc- Registration Office. The new Direc- cess and popularity of the 1901 and 1911 census tors received their portfolios at the Senator Boyhan has long supported the Socie- returns, which are freely available online, can be May meeting of the Board. An ty’s campaign for a new premises saying that matched many times over by the release of the Cathaiorleach, Mr. Gerry Hayden, “it is clearly evident that the Society needs a 1926 census, and I look forward to campaigning MGSI, on behalf of the Board, new and permanent home for its rich and di- to do just that alongside the Genealogical Socie- wished Anne and Lua every success verse archive and to further its research and ty of Ireland” - Senator Warfield said. in their new roles within the Society. OPEN MEETINGS In this issue……. • GSI Journal 2016 Dún Laoghaire Further Education • Three Castles of Dublin Institute • Seanad Éireann Cumberland Street, Dún Laoghaire • The Belfast Blitz • James Scannell Reports Tuesday 10 May —20.00hrs • Ireland’s Aviator Heroes

• Tuesday 14 June —20.00hrs Victorian Dún Laoghaire ______• Précis of April Lecture Royal Marine Hotel Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire

Wednesday 25 May —10.30hrs

Wednesday 22 June —10.30hrs

Contribution €3.00 p.p. @GenSocIreland ‘Flagging Ireland’ - On Sale €10.00 (including Tea/Coffee at the Morning Meeting) Monthly Newsletter of the Genealogical Society of Ireland 2

This year’s journal is dominated by family history and local and national history. There are no book reviews, no descriptions of Seanad Éireann recently launched databases, no new techniques or technologies, no lists, no directories. As befits a genealogical journal, there are The Society is a Nominating Body for people describing their quests for information about ancestors, and Seanad Éireann (Irish Senate) ena- the findings of those searches. The contributors in general have regular Irish names like Burke, Murray, Costello, but noticeably, bling the Board to nominate a person many of the ancestors described have Anglo -Irish, Scottish -Irish or to contest the Seanad Éireann Election foreign names like Longworth, Fortescue, Ivers, Swords, Teeling. this month for the Cultural & Educa- In his article appropriate to the 1916 centenary Aidan Feerick tional Panel. In March the Board describes the schooling of Padraic Pearse who achieved much dis- nominated Cllr. Fintan Warfield tinction while at Westland Row CBS. The gory details of DMP (pictured below) a former Mayor of casualties in the War of Independence are examined by James South Dublin County Council, to con- Scannell. The cover reproduces an early CDV (carte-de -visite) of The Coleen Bawn which dates from the 1860s or 1870s. This type test the Seanad Election. The Society of image was widely sold to the Irish diaspora on the East coast of warmly congratulates Senator Fintan the US to remind them of the homeland they had left. Other CDVs Warfield who became the first Sen- GSI Journal 2016 of Muckross Abbey and the river Dargle at Bray are also included. ator to be elected to the 25th Seanad. Three Castles of Dublin ‘The Three Castles of Dublin —An eclectic history of Dublin through the evolution of the city’s Coat of Arms’ (ISBN: 978 -1-907002 -26 -7 : 272pp : H/bk : Price €26.95) by Michael English is a wonderful new book on Irish heraldry, published by Four Courts Press, that was briefly flagged in last month’s issue of this newsletter. Although it may be of considerable interest to heraldry enthusi- asts in Ireland and around the world, this book is an exceptionally well researched history on a much overlooked aspect of the heritage and culture of our capital city. Symbols of the civic authority of Dublin are not only reserved for important municipal documents and buildings of high status, they appear on all sorts of buildings, structures, flags, cap -badges, vehi- cles, public utilities, stained glass windows and, of course, on water hydrant pavement covers and litter bins. Given the range of objects to which the city’s coat -of -arms has been attached and the purpose of stamping or displaying the civic authority on such, surprisingly Following on from the successful there is no uniformity to the designs. Some designs are very limited election of the Society’s nominee, Members were delighted with the in their ornamentation, possibly due to the medium, but others are wonderfully diverse, creative and, news that a Member of the Society, in some cases, displaying a whimsical freedom of expression. All are based on the essential elements Cllr. Victor Boyhan, was also elected of the “three castles” but thankfully artistic license has been employed down through the centuries. to Seanad Éireann. While this may not plea