The Society’s new Archive based at the restored 200 year old Martello Tower at Seapoint, Co. Dublin was officially opened on Wednesday September 15th 2004. Many members and friends of the Society from all over Ireland and overseas were in attendance on a bright and sunny afternoon to witness an event that is, without doubt, a significant milestone in the history and development of genealogy in Ireland.

Guests and visitors were invited to view the building including the main research area and the archival storage area on the ground floor before the ceremony. For many, this was their first time inside a Martello Tower and all were in great praise of the quality of workmanship and the overall beauty and functionality of design. Features such as the spiral staircase and workspaces were much admired as was the barrel-vault roof in glistening white. Guests had many questions for Society officials on the costs of the restoration and refurbishment of this historic building and all were astonished to hear that the whole project was completed within the budget allocated due to careful planning and the professional assistance received from members and friends.

The Cathaoirleach of the Society, Rory Stanley, FGSI and the Director of the Martello Tower Project, Liam Mac Alasdair, FGSI, each greeted our guests on arrival as other officers ensured that all our guests availed of light refreshments or wine before the proceedings began. Then the Cathaoirleach of the Society, speaking on the steps of the building, officially welcomed all in attendance and gave a brief history of the project. Rory then turned to the first citizen of the County of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, Cllr. Niamh Bhreathnach, and invited her to officially opening An Daonchartlann on behalf of the Society, its Members and the owners of this historic building, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

As the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr. Niamh Bhreathnach, proudly cut the ribbon on our new Archive and headquarters and then addressed the assembled members and guests. The Society’s own heraldic banner was ceremoniously raised over the Martello Tower as a piper from the Irish Prison Service Pipe Band played from the roof of the Tower. Cllr. Bhreathnach praised the Society for its determination in bringing this project to its completion despite many obstacles and financial constraints. She outlined the history of the Society over the past fourteen years from “humble kitchen to a Tower of strength” and from a local organisation to the forefront of heritage organisations in Ireland.

Each of those in attendance at the ceremony received a copy of the specially produced Commemorative Booklet edited by Margaret Conroy, MGSI. Following the official opening Cllr. Bhreathnach launched the Commemorative Booklet marking this very important occasion in the life of the Genealogical Society of Ireland.

After the ceremonies at the Martello Tower were complete, invited guests of the County Council adjourned to the magnificently appointed staff restaurant in the County Hall. With expansive views over Dublin Bay this setting could not have been more appropriate for the final two parts of the ceremonies marking the official opening of our new headquarters. Once again, GSI Cathaoirleach, Rory Stanley, FGSI, invited his host, Cllr. Niamh Bhreathnach to launch the Society’s new website and to present the Society Medal to its first ever recipients. Amongst, the guests at the reception were Randall Gill, President of the North of Ireland FHS; Des Clarke, Hon. Secretary of the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations and a large Welsh contingent from Holyhead and the Isle of Anglesey.

As part of the ceremonies organised to mark with the official opening of An Daonchartlann, the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr. Niamh Bhreathnach, presented the new GSI Medal to its first recipients. The medal features the Arms of the Society, including the motto “Cuimhnigí ar Ár Sinnsir” – “Remember Our Ancestors” and individually engraved with the recipient’s name. The first recipients of the Genealogical Society of Ireland Medal are as follows:- Tony Daly, FGSI, for services to genealogy and especially, for research into the Irish coastguards. Randall Gill, President of the North of Ireland Family History Society – for services to genealogy on the island of Ireland. Seán Kane, FGSI for services to the Society, including professional advice on the Martello Tower Project. Seán Gaynor, architect, for services to the Society, including professional advice on the Martello Tower Project. Liam Hayden, MGSI, for services to the Society, including professional advice on the Martello Tower Project. Christian Corlett, archaeologist, for services to the Society, including archaeological advice on the Martello Tower Project. Liam Mac Alasdair, FGSI, for services to genealogy and to the Society, including many many hours of work on the Martello Tower Project – planning and executing the Project to its successful finality. Barry O’Connor, FGSI, for services to genealogy and to the Society, including many hours of work on the Martello Tower Project. Joe FitzGerald, MGSI, for services to genealogy and to the Society, including many hours of work on the Martello Tower Project. James Davidson, FGSI, Vice-President of the Genealogical Society of Ireland, received the award for services to genealogy on the island of Ireland, especially representing the Society in Northern Ireland. Stuart Rosenblatt, MGSI, Vice-President of the Genealogical Society of Ireland for services to genealogy on the island of Ireland, especially, researching the Irish Jewish Heritage. Sr. Bernadette de Lourdes Wisely, MGSI, Vice-President of the Genealogical Society of Ireland – our most senior member and long time supporter of the activities of the Society at home and especially, in the United States of America. Frieda Carroll , FGSI, Archivist and co-founder of the Society - for services to genealogy and to the Society, including the custody of the Society’s Archive at her home until the opening of An Daonchartlann. Michael Merrigan, FGSI, Hon. Secretary and co-founder of the Society for services to genealogy and to the Society, including the fund raising for the Martello Tower Project. Rory Stanley, FGSI, Cathaoirleach of the Society, for services to genealogy and to the Society, including many hours of work at the Martello Tower Project. Following the presentation, the Cathaoirleach of the Society, Rory Stanley, FGSI, presented the GSI Medal to the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in recognition of the part played by the many council officials in the successful completion of the Martello Tower project.

During the past few months Iris O’Connor, MGSI was diligently planning and designing the new website for the Society, including the acquisition of digital photographs, articles and information to upload. The Society acquired and registered the above domain which surprisingly was still available at the Irish Domain Registry. Though, the Society has appeared on the web for a number of years now this facility was provided by www.dun-laoghaire.com as web pages devoted to the Society. This web service adequately provided access to the Society’s Monthly Newsletter and offered our publications for sale on a secure server. However, because the website could not be regularly maintained by the Society and that such an onerous task could not have been provided by the Webmaster, it was necessary to build our own dedicated website to meet the growing needs and expectations of our worldwide and Irish membership. The new website was launched on September 15th 2004 by the Cathaoirleach of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr. Niamh Bhreathnach, at the Civic Reception held in the County Hall, Dún Laoghaire, to mark the Official Opening of An Daonchartlann. Members and guests were invited to view the new website at computer terminals in the County Hall. Speaking just before the official launch of the website, Rory Stanley, FGSI, praised the quality of design and content of the website, pointing to many new features and congratulating Iris O’Connor, MGSI on a beautifully produced website. Rory also gratefully acknowledged Scéim Phobal LBJ Community Project which facilitated the development of the website.

Mr. Ciarán Cuffe, TD, (Green Party), raised the matter of the need to “regularise Irish heraldry” in a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for the Arts, Sport & Tourism on Wednesday 29th September 2004 and received a written reply stating that the Minister intends to implement the provisions of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997. This “holding reply” received by Deputy Cuffe did not prevent the state of Irish heraldry being raised again in Dáil Éireann on Wednesday 20th October 2004 by Mr. Simon Coveney, TD (Fine Gael) who asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to outline the unresolved problems related to official grants of arms in this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. This question was followed up by his Fine Gael colleague Ms Olwyn Enright, TD asked the Minister if he intends to fill the vacant position of Chief Herald of Ireland; his views on the fact that no grants of arms have issued since September 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism, Mr. John O’Donoghue, TD, took both questions together saying, my predecessor appointed Mr. Brendan O’Donoghue, the director of the National Library of Ireland, to act as Chief Herald and genealogical officer. The position of Chief Herald became vacant when Mr. O’Donoghue resigned last year, pending the appointment of a new director. Arrangements for filling the post are in train. Regarding the issue raised by the Deputy, I intend to grant autonomous status to the National Library of Ireland under the provisions of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997, with effect from 1 January 2005 if possible. I propose to activate section 13 of the 1997 Act, which specifies that the Genealogical Office will be confirmed as an integral part of the National Library of Ireland, at the same time. The board of the National Library of Ireland, to be established under the 1997 Act, will be required to designate a member of its staff to research, grant and confirm coats of arms. That member of staff will be known as the Chief Herald of Ireland. The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is in consultations with the acting director to explore options for resolving the current difficulties, pending the establishment of the new board. In reply to the Minister, another Fine Gael Deputy, Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, TD, asked the Minister explain the delay in appointing the new Chief Herald in the National Library of Ireland, given that the previous office holder retired in September 2003? I appreciate that the Minister has proposed new arrangements, but it seems to me that somebody could have been appointed in the interim. There are concerns that section 13 of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997, to which the Minister referred, provides an inadequate legal basis for the granting of arms by the Chief Herald. The Attorney General has expressed serious concern that the 1997 Act may not be used as to do so would cause chaos. I understand it was proposed to enact a genealogy and heraldry Bill to provide a sound legislative basis for services and facilities relating to such activities in the State. Are there any such proposals in the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism? Will the Minister consider the introduction of such legislation? The Minister, Mr. John O’Donoghue, TD, in reply said that the post of director of the National Library of Ireland became vacant in September 2003 following the retirement of Mr. Brendan O’Donoghue, who did a wonderful job. We then advertised the post through the Civil Service Commission. That was at the end of January this year, but the process did not result in an appointment. In that context, the salary for the post was not an issue. Several options are currently being explored with a view to filling the post in the context of the establishment of the National Library as a separate legal entity, as is proposed from 1 January 2005, should that prove possible. I am not aware of any difficulty with section 13. I have certainly not been given any legal advice to the effect that there is anything wrong with it. However, it may well be the case that Deputy Deenihan has separate information. I do not have such information. Mr. Deenihan, TD, seized the opportunity to challenge the Minister on the issue of Section 13 of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 and the Minister’s stated lack of awareness of any problem with this legislation. Deputy Deenihan said given that I read in the newspapers that there might be a legal challenge if this section were used, I suggest to the Minister that he take advice on it. Does he think it a good idea that the office of the Chief Herald should be combined with the office of Director of the National Library, or should they be separate functions? Regarding the legislation, might he consider introducing a genealogy and heraldry Bill to provide a sound legislative basis for the area? In reply, Mr. John O’Donoghue, TD said - interestingly, the proposal to establish a separate genealogical office, which I think is what Deputy Deenihan is getting at, was examined relatively recently by my predecessor who was not convinced that a separate office was necessary or desirable. The need for the genealogical office to have ready access to the library material held in the National Library and governed by its working practices and standards points strongly to the maintenance of the genealogical office as a branch of the National Library. The continuance of that link also permits the genealogical office to access the library’s administrative resources, obviating the need to provide additional staff and resources were the office to be established as a separate entity. I am not aware, the Minister continued, of any difficulties with section 13 of the legislation. Few provisions in our legislation or anywhere else in the world might not be the target of legal challenge. There are cynics who feel that, if one pays enough, one can get any legal opinion. Editor: The Minister and his predecessors have all been made acutely aware of the deficiencies in the present legislation governing the granting of Arms in Ireland. This Society and many individuals have raised this issue on numerous occasions with successive Ministers. Indeed, ignoring the legislative problems by just implementing Section 13 of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 as Minister O’Donoghue proposes, will irresponsibly compound a very unsatisfactory situation and leave Irish heraldry and especially, recipients of Grants of Arms, in limbo.

The Board of the Society has agreed at its October meeting to urgently and comprehensively review the membership fees and structures currently in force. Though, this issue is periodically raised by some Board members, the recent debate was sparked by a letter received from a Canadian based member. In this letter it is argued that the Society should consider the membership packages offered by some British and Canadian family history societies with the view to offering a more attractive package to our Overseas Members in particular. The Board has passed a resolution committing itself to undertake a comprehensive and in-depth review of the present structures and to consider all options, including those raised by the Canadian member. Indeed, the Board has also agreed that, in the event of the Board accepting a proposal to amend existing membership rules or to introduce a range of membership packages, a Special General Meeting will be held to seek the endorsement of the members on any changes to the existing membership rules, fees or packages. The Cathaoirleach, Rory Stanley, FGSI, expressed the Board’s appreciation for this important and timely letter from one of our Canadian members. Details on any proposed new membership packages will be published as they become available in advance of any Special General Meeting.

“ANNIE’S LETTER The Story of a Search” by Robert Burke (ISBN 0953997464) Price €16.00 Published by Flyleaf Press, Dublin. The title of the book tells all. Annie is the author’s paternal great grandmother who wrote a letter to her son in 1888 telling him about his father, Francis Collingwood Burke, his Grandfather James Dominick Burke and other members of the family. We are transported across Ireland, England, America, New Zealand in the search of the Burke Ancestors and we are introduced to admirals, farmers surgeons and priests; widows and émigrés. This letter provided all the facts and clues that would in the course of time lead to many startling discoveries described in the book Visits to many archives, libraries, graveyards and ancient sites are made and the delights of discovery and the pain of disappointment are all recorded. The reader is regaled with Family Names of Collingwood, Collis, Creagh, Mullay, Blake, Kirwan and Browne which, are all associated to the Burkes .A compact Family Lineage is printed for most of the families mentioned The book is set out in 24 chapters and headed very simply in most cases with one word. I enjoyed Chapter 4 – Headed “COUSINS“. In this chapter the author describes how he receives a phone call from a man in London who wished to know if he was Robert Burke. When he confirmed that he was the caller suggested that he sit down. The caller then asked if he was a descendent of James Dominick Burke – to which Robert confirmed that he was. The caller was Michael Burke who was a great-great grandson of Russell Burke, son of James Dominick Burke and brother of Francis , who was Robert’s great-grandfather. Michael had developed an interest in his family history and was carrying out his own research in England. He knew of James Dominick and in an effort to get information on the man, had written to the Royal College of Surgeons in London. They had replied and added that about twenty five years previously there had been a similar enquiry about the same James Dominick Burke. This is how Michael traced Robert and the descendents of James Dominick found each other after almost two centuries. This is just one incident that is revealed in the book and every chapter has its share of events and as one continues to read, the many pieces of information fall into place and a picture forms of a of a family with a long history and a wide and varied selection of individuals. The book is compiled with great care and the research is very thorough and very well presented. The author’s style of writing is clear and uncomplicated with a nice gentle humour. I enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it to all who are interested in family history. One of the outcomes of the Author’s years of research is a significant data base of 18,000 persons from all of the families mentioned in this book and many more besides. Readers can access a version of this family database on the Flyleaf Press website at www.flyleaf.ie/burkedatabase.htm Rory Stanley, FGSI

The lecture at the October Open Meeting held in the Dún Laoghaire Senior College was delivered by the well-known local historian and member of this Society, Liam Clare, MGSI. Liam spoke on the Putland family of Bray from 1650 to 1920. The Society’s lectures are arranged by Roisín Lafferty, MGSI, the Society’s Public Relations Officer. The lectures over the years at the Evening Open Meetings have been excellently researched and delivered to much acclaim. Subjects vary and the close linkage between social history and genealogy is always apparent providing much valuable information on a range of topics. Roisín always welcomes comments and suggestions on the Society lecture programme. Please forward such to Roisín via the Hon. Secretary.

This issue of this newsletter was published later than scheduled due to holidays. The Editor also apologies for the delay in despatching this issue which was primarily due to the pressures of work since returning from vacation. The Editor is grateful to James Scannell for submitting his interesting and varied reports on heritage matters in Ireland and welcomes such items from readers at home and overseas.

The Society welcomes new Members from Ireland and overseas -just log on to the Society’s Website or write to the Membership Officer, Mrs. Annette McDonnell, MGSI, 4, Kippure Ave., Green Park, Dublin 12, Ireland. You may also contact Annette by E-mail via the Hon. Secretary GenSocIreland@iol.ie Membership of the Society is open to all with an interest in genealogy or heraldry. A laminated Membership Card featuring the Society’s heraldic badge “the Mungovan Badge” will be forwarded to you by mail. Overseas Members and those Irish Members living outside Co. Dublin receive the monthly newsletter “The Genie Gazette” by mail each month. The Annual Membership Fee for Irish based Members living in either the Republic or Northern Ireland is just €20.00 and it falls due on January 1st each year. The Annual Membership Fee for Overseas Members is €25.00 and falls due on the anniversary date of joining. Membership renewals may be made via the Website by Credit Card (VISA or MasterCard) or by Cheque / Check.

The exchange rate for persons paying by check or cash in US dollars €1.00 = US$1.25 and similarly for those wish to pay in British pounds €1.00 = 0.70p. The Society will keep these exchange rates under constant review to ensure acceptance of payments in these currencies. These rates apply to all purchases and membership subscriptions transacted in the currencies concerned. Alternatively why not pay by Credit Card – MasterCard or VISA via the Website?