Ireland's Genealogical Gazette
February : Feabhra 2009, Volume 4, Issue 2
(incorporating "The Genie Gazette")
The Society is a Nominating Body for Seanad Éireann

Editor E-mail: GAZETTE@familyhistory.ie

Amalgamation of Institutions
Meaningful Public Consultation Required

On Wednesday January 28, 2009, Mr. Seán Sherlock, TD (Labour) asked the Minister his views on the requirements for storage space in respect of the National Archives and what progress there was on a new storage site. In a written reply, the Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism, Mr. Martin Cullen, TD, informed Deputy Sherlock that, "the question of storage space for the National Archives is being examined afresh in the context of the proposed amalgamation of the National Library, the National Archives and the Irish Manuscripts Commission, the expected relocation of the Land Commission staff and records from the National Archives building, and the availability of the necessary financial resources."
The amalgamation of these institutions was proposed as part of the government's budgetary cutbacks and savings. However, it is very unclear as to where or how significant savings can be achieved. Indeed, the Minister was challenged on this issue on November 19, 2008 by Deputy Olivia Mitchell (Fine Gael) and he said, "there may not be any savings. Even if there are not, the question is whether those cultural institutions are getting the most out of the money being invested in them. For example, the National Archives is a wonderful body and has an extraordinary treasure of history, but only 18,000 people a year visit it. Some of the national archives in other countries have hundreds of thousands of people visiting them. They run major public programmes in a variety of areas. I should like to see our National Archives institute being put in a position to do that."

During these exchanges in Dáil Éireann the Minister confirmed that a new site for the National Archives had been identified which "met with all the standards required." The Minister confirmed that legislation would be required for any amalgamation of the National Archives, National Library and the Irish Manuscripts Commission and that his officials were working on the new Bill. Whether it is the Minister's intention or not, there are several mixed messages being conveyed by the manner in which he is approaching this issue. By not identifying the areas in which significant savings can be achieved and how, other than reducing the numbers of board members, the Minister is presenting a far from convincing case for his proposed amalgamation of these institutions.
The failure to produce a coherent vision for the future of these institutions beyond the current recession is an alarmingly short-sighted approach to this important issue. The Minister could avail of the opportunity to proactively engage with all the stakeholders and the general public in a meaningful consultation process aimed at producing a comprehensive development plan for these institutions. This consultation should also involve the proposed legislation required for any amalgamation and particularly, the governance of the new institution.

The legislation must provide for a structure of governance which is open and transparent. It should include two Advisory Committees, one academic, elected by the universities and institutes of technology and one for the users of the institution to be elected by heritage organisations and professional bodies whose members frequently use the services of the current institutions. The Minister has an opportunity to bring all the various stakeholders with him on this proposed amalgamation, however, without a clearly stated vision for the future of these institutions, unfortunately confrontation seems more likely.

Fire at the College of Arms

On Thursday February 5th 2009, the BBC on-line news service reported that London Fire Brigade was tackling a fire at the College of Arms in Queen Victoria Street, London. According to the report, thirty-five people were evacuated from the building which houses the heraldic records and pedigrees of English, Welsh, Northern Irish and Commonwealth families.
It also houses copies of the files of Ulster King of Arms (1552-1943), the originals of which, are in the custody of the Chief Herald of Ireland in Dublin. Thankfully, there are no reports of any injuries and so far no historical documents have been reported lost or damaged in the fire which had broken out on the third and fourth floors. According to the BBC, the curator of the College of Arms was working ''closely with fire crews to preserve historical manuscripts held in the building".
The current building dates from the 1670s and has been the home of the College of Arms since then. The College of Arms is overseen by the Earl Marshal, a hereditary office which has been held by the Dukes of Norfolk. Once again, we get a shockingly stark reminder about the urgent need to digitise all historical documents and records.

up

The Vikings in Ireland
Settlement, trade and urbanization

The impact and history of Scandinavian or 'Viking' settlement in early medieval Ireland is very often misunderstood or indeed, trivialised for questionable heritage enterprises. Sometimes a 'Viking heritage' is claimed for places in Ireland where little or anything remains of a former 'Viking' presence save a few artefacts.
The Viking peoples that made Ireland their home have long been absorbed into the native population as they adopted the religion and later the language of Gaelic Ireland. Similar assimilation happened in western Scotland and the Isle of Man, whilst, migrations from the former created Galloway or 'Gall-Goídil' - the land of the 'foreign Gaels' or gaelicised Norse in south-western Scotland. Fully appreciating the significance of the 'Viking age' in Ireland presents difficulties for family and surname historians through the dearth of suitable records and the adoption by the Vikings of Gaelic names. Arguably the most important Viking contribution to Irish society was the introduction of urbanization to an otherwise pastoral society where the only permanent settlements of any significance were centred on the monastic establishments.

A recent publication from Four Courts Press "The Viking in Ireland-Settlement, trade and urbanization' (ISBN 978-1-84682-093-9 224pp ills. h/bk Price: €45.00) by Mary A. Valente is a new study that balances archaeological and historical evidence, uses geographical and anthropological methods, and assesses primary written sources from the Irish, Scandinavians, Welsh, Anglo-Saxons (English) and the Anglo-Normans.
The latter were to hasten the demise of what remained of Viking Ireland with the capture of their settlements in the late twelfth century. But by that time these settlements, like Dublin, were almost completely assimilated into the native culture and politics, indeed, Ireland's last High King (Ard Rí) Ruaidhrí Ó Conchobair was crowned in Dublin rather than at the traditional site of Tara. Valente examines the enormous economic impact that the Scandinavian settlements had on Ireland. With the expansion of trade, both nationally and internationally, the estuarial settlements of the Vikings quickly grew from the small 'longphoirt' to sizeable towns and cities. Over eight chapters Valente methodically explores aspects of the Viking age - a the period roughly dating from the late seventh to late twelfth centuries.

Chapter 1 deals with the early Irish economies: manufacturing and trade in the seventh and eight centuries. The provision of a historiography in this chapter is very useful for the reader as it explains the contexts of the sources and the archaeological evidence. Quoting Max Weber's definition of a 'city' as 'a settlement whose inhabitants live primarily from commerce and the trades rather than agriculture' the position of Irish monastic settlements as 'urban' or not is discussed as are the various types of households.
Chapter 2 explores the archaeological evidence for the original or temporary Viking raiding encampments or 'longphort' (pl. longphoirt) from the Gaelic meaning 'ship-camp'. This was the era before permanent settlement and the development of 'gateway communities' around the coast like Dublin.
Chapter 3 develops the theme from the 'gateway communities' of the early settlers and the interaction between Viking Ireland and the wider Scandinavian sphere around the Irish Sea, Scotland and Scandinavia itself in the ninth century.
Chapter 4 examines the impact of Viking settlement in the ninth century when, quoting Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, the Vikings 'had lost most of their independent political power …. Becoming, in effect, just another factor in the tangled web of native Irish political alliances'
Chapter 5 explores the effect of this entanglement on the various Viking settlements in Ireland and the 'turf wars' between these settlements. The expansion of international trade in the tenth century is examined in
Chapter 6 where the Viking towns become trade centres for the entire island of Ireland. By this time, Valente uses the term 'Hiberno-Scandinavian' instead of 'Viking' for these settlements and in
Chapter 7, she explores the local economy in Ireland-the hinterland or 'crích gall' (territory of the foreigners) of these trading towns. An intriguing reference to the term 'Greek foreigners' referring to Scandinavians in a poem about a fair near Wexford emphasises the extent of the Viking trading world.
Chapter 8 deals with the eleventh and twelfth centuries and the demise of the Hiberno-Scandinavian world and its legacy, urbanisation and trade. MM

GSI Annual Journal

Articles are sought for the GSI Annual Journal. Subjects could include family histories, biographies, military or social histories, resource information, heraldry or vexillology etc. The publication of your own family history is the best way to ensure that future generations will have the benefit of your research. It also allows for the recording of family lore, special events and, where appropriate, family tragedies such a losses in war or natural disasters.
Biographies of family members who may have contributed to their community, country or field of endeavour, should be published in order to record their stories. Black and white photographs or drawings are also most welcome. Ideally articles for publication should be of between 1000 and 2500 words in length and must not have been published elsewhere and, of course, they must be original works by the author. Therefore, the Board reserves the right to seek assurances on the source, ownership and originality of any article submitted. If you would like to submit an article for publication, please do not hesitate to drop the
Editor, Margaret Conroy, an e-mail at Gazette@familyhistory.ie

Précis of the January Lecture & GSI Lecture Programme

On Tuesday January 13, 2009, the members heard details of Eneclann's plans for the coming year from Mr. Brian Donovan, Director and CEO of the company. Eneclann is a company based in Dublin which is to the forefront in the digitisation and publication of archival sources, rare books and manuscripts.
Founded in 1998 by Trinity College history graduate Brian O'Donovan and Fiona Fitzsimons, the company employs professional genealogists, historians, researchers and archivists in a range of activities including historical research, E-publishing and digitisation, and archive management. Besides already having an impressive catalogue of electronic publications, Eneclan, in conjunction with partners, Irish Origins and Archive CD Books Ireland, have ambitious plans to expand their services and publications. Brian Donovan outlined some of the areas currently being developed by his company. Greater accessibility to records and rare publications will be afforded to genealogists through a much expanded range of electronic publications. For further info see: www.eneclann.ie

The Society's lecture programme:

Tues. 10 Feb.-The Parker Families of north Munster and Kingstown. Paddy Waldron.
Tues. Mar. 10-The new Freeman and Trade Guilds Database. John Grenham
Tues. Apr. 14- The Irish Historic Towns Atlas as a support for the family history researcher. Jennifer Moore, Royal Irish Academy.
Tues. May 12-Church of Ireland records in the RCB library, Raymond Refausee, Librarian and Archivist, Representative Church Body Library (Church of Ireland).
Tues. June 9- The Student Records of Dublin University. Alumni Office, TCD.

Any comments on the lecture programme to: Séamus Moriarty at e-mail: Gazette@familyhistory.ie

All meetings are held at the Dún Laoghaire College for Further Education, Cumberland Street, Dún Laoghaire at 20.00hrs. Buses no. 7, 46A & 75 all stop near the college. DART, Salthill & Monkstown Station. Parking at the college may be difficult during the academic year due to evening classes, however, on street parking is also available.
Any suggestions or comments on this Lecture Programme please contact Séamus Moriarty by e-mail at Gazette@familyhistory.ie
Séamus Moriarty is always looking for new ideas and topics for the programme.

GSI-INFO-TEXT

Irish based Members wishing to avail of the Society's new GSI-INFO-TEXT service please send your Mobile Phone Number along with your name to the Hon. Secretary at GSI.Secretary@familyhistory.ie This new service provides information on the Open Meetings, special events and the Archive opening times. The Society does NOT supply phone numbers or addresses to any third party.

Membership of the Genealogical Society

Membership fee renewals fall due in January each year. The Board of the Society at its November 2008 meeting conducted the normal annual review of the Membership Fee structure and under Res: 08/11/632 the Board adopted the following equalised Membership Package for 2009:
Ireland & Overseas: Offering ordinary membership of the Society, Membership Card, voting rights, use of the Society's Archive, monthly newsletter by mail, Annual Journal by mail, and the right to purchase the Society's publications at Special Members' prices of up to 50% off selected publications.
This also includes an optional second Membership Card for a household member, including voting rights, for an all inclusive cost of just €40.00 per annum.
Therefore, despite tighter economic conditions, there was no increase in the Membership Fee this year. Unlike many other similar organisations faced with the problem of rising costs of printing and postage etc., the Board decided to keep publishing the Society's journal but as an annual publication only. The Membership Fee is now in line with similar organisations in Ireland.

Another new feature introduced was the offer of one year free membership to persons undertaking accredited genealogy courses on the condition that they supply a suitable article for the Society's journal. Also persons under twenty-five years can avail of 50% reduction on the membership fee.
Membership can be renewed on-line or, if you prefer, simply download the form and forward it with your remittance to the Society's Director of Finance, Mr. Denis Ryan, MGSI, 6, St. Thomas Mead, Mount Merrion, County Dublin, Ireland.

MEMBERS' LOG-IN ON SOCIETY WEBSITE

Members using the website are asked to log-on and include your Membership Card number in the message box. This will allow the Society's shopkeeper to configure your log-on profile to the Members' Mode for all future transactions on the website. The Society's website and web services are a work in progress and your suggestions are most welcome.
E-mail: GSI.Secretary@familyhistory.ie

To download current and previous copies of the Genealogical Gazette please click here

- the Gazette continued -