Weekend Genealogy Courses held at An Daonchartlann – Archive & Research Centre at the Carlisle Pier, Dún Laoghaire Harbour, in conjunction with Ancestor Network Limited.

‘Genealogy Roadshow’ at Carton House, Co. Kildare, on Sunday 16 January 2011. The Genealogical Society of Ireland, Guild of One-Name Studies (UK), and the Irish-Jewish Genealogical Society had stands at the event. The event was recorded for television by RTÉ.

The Society launched an appeal for academic books to replace those destroyed in Sarajevo, Bosnia, when the National & University Library went up in flames following shelling by the Serbian and Bosnian Serb forces. The campaign Books 4 Vijecnica was established by Jasmin Z. Hasic, then a student at the University of Sarajevo, now Dr. Hasic, Professor of International Relations and Executive Director of Humanity in Action BiH.

Following the General Election held in February 2011, the Society, once again, highlighted the need for legislative amendments to the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997. In the March 2011 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette, the Society outlined its campaign to date.

The campaign for Sarajevo received the support of Ireland’s premier academic publisher, Four Courts Press, in March 2011. The editorial in the March 2011 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette focuses on the Sarajevo Library.

The Society welcomed the appointment of Jimmy Deenihan, TD, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs. In the editorial in the April 2011 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette, it outlined Minister Deenihan’s cooperation with the Society over the Genealogy & Heraldry Bill, 2006.

The Society published ‘Genealogia Polska: Polish Genealogy’ by Bartosz Kozlowski, MGSI, in the April 2011 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. This marked the first time an article was published in Polish by an Irish genealogical organisation, aimed at the growing Polish community in Ireland and emphasizing the Society’s commitment to promoting genealogy at home and overseas.

The Society, as a Nominating Body for Seanad Éireann, nominated Cllr. Victor Boyhan to contest the Seanad General Election on the Cultural & Educational Panel. Cllr. Boyhan received 55,000 senatorial votes and was eliminated on the 7th count.

The Society highlighted the UK monarch’s Co. Kildare roots ahead of the state visit by Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland in May 2011 – see Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette for May 2011.

1926 Census Campaign – the Society strongly attacked the suggestion that the 1926 Census should be released with information on all persons born more than 100 years ago as utterly pointless, given that the 1911 Census has been available since 1961 without redaction. The Society proposed digitizing and releasing the census to coincide with the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in 2016 (see Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette of July 2011). The Society’s Statistics (Heritage Amendment) Bill, 2010, was restored to the Order Paper of Seanad Éireann by Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú as the Statistics (Heritage Amendment) Bill, 2011. This Bill sought to remove the 1926 Census from the 100-year rule by creating a special heritage status for the first census taken after independence.

On Tuesday 10 May 2011, Dr. Gianpiero Cavalleri of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) delivered a lecture to the Society on ‘Tracing Ancestry through DNA’. This lecture inspired the establishment of the ‘Irish DNA Atlas’ as a collaboration between the Society and the RCSI. A working group of Dr. Cavalleri, Séamus O’Reilly, and Michael Merrigan developed a proposal, and the project was announced in July 2011. It was officially launched at the ‘Back to Our Past’ event in the RDS, Dublin, in October 2011, by President Rory J. Stanley, FGSI, and Dr. Cavalleri. The first issue of ‘Irish DNA Atlas – Project Newsletter’ was published, with all copies eagerly taken by attendees.

Death of a co-founder, Jean Reddin, BA, FGSI, of Rochestown Park, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Jean Reddin (née Taaffe) passed away peacefully on 15 June 2011. Beloved wife of Billy Reddin and loving mother of Barbara, Audrey, Jane, Brian, and Mark. Her removal was on Saturday 18 June 2011 to Our Lady of Victories Church, Sallynoggin-Glenageary, for Mass, followed by burial at Deansgrange Cemetery. Jean was the Society’s first Hon. Treasurer and an accomplished genealogist.

During Heritage Week in August 2011, the Society’s Archive & Research Centre, An Daonchartlann, was open all week and extremely busy. The Society’s stand at Dublin City Library & Archive on ‘Culture Night’ the following month was equally busy.

The question of whether genealogy is a “product or resource” was the subject of the editorial in the September 2011 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. This question remains unresolved and has divided public policy makers.

The issue of a ‘National Genealogy Centre’ was explored in the editorial in the December 2011 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

A report on the progress of the newly established ‘Irish DNA Atlas’ project, an academic and scientific collaborative research project between the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Society, was published in the January 2012 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

The Society’s twenty years of publishing genealogy was marked by the February 2012 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette, featuring a translation of a work originally published in Cymraeg (Welsh). ‘Wrth Angor yn Nulyn’ (‘At Anchorage in Dublin’) explored the Welsh chapel on Talbot Street, Dublin. The Society appeared on Radio Wales in an interview at the National Maritime Museum of Ireland in Dún Laoghaire, with the official launch of ‘At Anchorage in Dublin’ on St. David’s Day, 1 March 2012.

The Society’s ongoing campaign to have the 1926 Census digitised and released involved parliamentary questions to the Minister. Promising replies from Minister Deenihan were published in the March 2012 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

In April 2012, the Society ventured northward twice: first to Belfast, arranged by Vice-President James Davidson, FGSI, with Séamus Moriarty, FGSI, and Eddie Gahan, FGSI, visiting Stormont and city sights as a familiarisation trip; second, hosting a stand at the Newry City Library Family History Fair.

The Society linked its 1926 Census campaign to the government’s ‘Decade of Centenaries’ events. Though it secured a commitment in the ‘Programme for Government’ to explore releasing the 1926 Census, private investment was considered post-economic crash due to limited government funds.

New ‘Weekend Genealogy Courses’ were held at An Daonchartlann – Archive & Research Centre, Carlisle Pier, Dún Laoghaire, from April, in conjunction with Ancestor Network Limited. These courses recommenced in September 2012.

The Society warned about the Privacy Bill, 2006, published in July 2006 by then-Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, TD. It lapsed in 2007, was restored post-2007 General Election, and reappeared as the Privacy Bill, 2012. The Society highlighted inconsistencies with its twin, the Defamation Act, 2009, and successfully advocated against its progression. See Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette of May 2012.

After six years at Weir’s of Dún Laoghaire, the Society’s Monthly Morning Open Meeting moved to the Royal Marine Hotel, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, on 23 May 2012.

‘Philanthropy and our Archival Heritage’ was the editorial in the May 2012 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

‘Europe’s Shame 20 Years On’ was the editorial in the June 2012 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette, recalling the destruction of the National & University Library in Sarajevo, Bosnia, in August 1992.

The Society’s proposal for an international festival of flags and emblems (Bratacha 2013) was accepted by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council as the county’s flagship event for ‘The Gathering Ireland, 2013’. Partnering with the National Maritime Museum, the event was set for Europe Day, 9 May 2013.

‘Genealogy & the ‘New Irish’ was the editorial in the October 2012 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

Minister Jimmy Deenihan, TD, donated a copy of the ‘Atlas of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1852’ to An Daonchartlann. He also launched a genealogy website hosted by the National Archives of Ireland, offering access to the 1901 and 1911 census returns, Tithe Applotment Books (1823-1837), and Soldiers’ Wills (1914-1917).

The proposed merger of the National Archives of Ireland and the National Manuscripts Commission into the National Library of Ireland was abandoned. But was it ‘A Pyrrhic Victory?’ asks the editorial in the November 2011 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

The Society called for a ‘National Policy on Genealogy’ in the editorial in the December 2012 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

The Society called for a meaningful dialogue on the future of Irish genealogy in the editorial published in the January 2014 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. The Gazette also reported that the Society’s written submission to the Oireachtas Joint Committee was “widely read, welcomed, and praised.”

Good news from the General Register Office (GRO): Kieran Feely, Director General, advised the Oireachtas Joint Committee on 28 January 2014 that electronic images of Births, Marriages, and Deaths from 1845 had been transferred for uploading to https://www.irishgenealogy.ie, set to launch within months. In contrast, Pádraig Dalton, Director General of the Central Statistics Office, resisted reducing the 100-year rule for the 1926 Census. See the editorial in the February 2014 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

Caitlín Ní Chonghaile, MGSI, gave an extended interview in Irish (An Ghaeilge) on the Society’s activities on Raidió na Gaeltachta’s ‘Cruinneog’ on Saturday 11 January 2014.

The Weekend Genealogy Courses recommenced on Saturday 18 January 2014.

The Society received a stone copy of the memorial plaque for the 1913 Lockout, to be erected in Dún Laoghaire. John Comiskey, MGSI, researched the family history of labour activist James Byrne, who died from injuries sustained in prison.

On 6 February 2014, the Society’s General Secretary, Michael Merrigan, announced his candidacy for the May 2014 Local Elections. In March, multilingual posters in Polish and Filipino – a first in Ireland – appeared in Dún Laoghaire. Elected on Friday 23 May 2014 as an Independent for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council using Single Transferable Vote, Cllr. Merrigan donated his election materials to Dublin City Library and Archive and the National Library of Ireland.

‘Genetic Genealogy & Academic Historians’ was the editorial in the March 2014 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette, exploring tensions among historians and related professionals.

A new Cathaoirleach (Chairperson), John Hamrock, MBA, MGSI, born in Boston, USA, was elected at the Annual General Meeting on 11 March 2014. A director at Ancestor Network Limited, he succeeded Pádraic Ingoldsby, MGSI, who remained on the Board for philanthropy.

The government announced a competition for the National Diaspora Centre, with Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company’s plan for an Irish International Diaspora Centre at Carlisle Pier aligning with the Society’s vision for an Irish Institute of Genealogical & Heraldic Sciences.

Maura Flood, MGSI, Leas-Chathaoirleach and Director of Education Services, developed a genealogy education programme for schools, with Stan Zamyatin, MGSI, adding vexillological and heraldic elements, and Caitlín Ní Chonghaile, MGSI, ensuring delivery in Irish.

Bratacha 2014 – Festival of Flags and Emblems was held in Dún Laoghaire with the National Maritime Museum and local associations. Stan Zamyatin, MGSI, led a parade of flags on Saturday 10 May 2014, with an exhibition at the museum.

The Board endorsed the National Policy Statement on Ensuring Research Integrity in Ireland, launched at the Royal Irish Academy on 4 June 2014, under Res: 14/06/1094 on 5 June 2014.

Minister Jimmy Deenihan, TD, launched https://www.irishgenealogy.ie for Birth, Marriage, and Death records on 3 July 2014 at the Royal Irish Academy, with strong Society representation.

‘Data Protection and Genealogy’ was the editorial in the August 2014 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette, addressing Billy Hawkes’, Data Protection Commissioner, objections to data on living persons at www.irishgenealogy.ie, leading to its closure on 18 July 2014 for resolution.

Vexillology Ireland: Stan Zamyatin, MGSI, presented the ‘Mountains to the Sea Flag’ to Cllr. Marie Baker, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, flown weekends at County Hall until 2019.

An Daonchartlann – Archive & Research Centre at Carlisle Pier was busy during Heritage Week in August 2014.

Stan Zamyatin, MGSI, represented the Society at the II IHW Conference on Heraldry and Vexillology in Cieszyn, Poland, from 4-6 September 2014.

Eddie Gahan, FGSI, led the Outreach Programme to Lisburn and Belfast in September, and hosted the GSI Stand at ‘Back to Our Past’ at the RDS, Dublin, in October.

The Board adopted a Five-Year Development Plan (2015-2020) under Res: 14/11/1127 at its November 2014 meeting.

‘Our Non-Anglophone Diaspora’ was the editorial in the November 2014 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette, emphasizing connections with Spanish-speaking communities.

Stan Zamyatin, MGSI, attended a conference in Moscow on ‘The First World War and the Fate of the Russian Compatriots’, reported in the December 2014 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

Stuart Rosenblatt, PC, FGSI, became the Society’s fourth President, receiving his chain of office from Rory J. Stanley, FGSI, on 9 December 2014 at the Dún Laoghaire Further Education Institute.

The year opened, once again, with Eddie Gahan, FGSI, Director of the Outreach Programme, and his team hosting the GSI stands at the Holiday World Shows at the King’s Hall in Belfast and the RDS in Dublin in January 2015.

‘Accessing our Genealogical Heritage’ was the focus of the editorial in the January 2015 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. The piece reminded readers that this Society adopted the ‘Principle of Public Ownership & Right of Access’ back in 1997 and that considering recent events, it was more relevant than ever before.

The terms of reference for the Mother and Baby Homes Enquiry were published by Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly, TD, on 9 January 2015.

The editorial in the February 2015 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette considers the proposal for the ‘National Diaspora Centre’ in light of the recent announcement of the ceasing of the ferry services between Dún Laoghaire and Holyhead/Caergybi in North Wales after 181 years. However, on 17 February 2015, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr. Paschal Donohoe, TD, announced that he had advised the government that he does not propose to proceed with the development of a National Diaspora Centre as a tourism project. On 5 March 2015, a report in ‘The Irish Times’ said that the former CEO of Coca Cola, Mr. Neville Isdell, plans to invest €12 million in his CHQ complex on the quays in Dublin to build ‘Epic Ireland’ an interactive, emigration-themed museum.

With funding from Science Foundation Ireland, Dr Gianpiero Cavalleri of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), recruited Edmund Gilbert as a PhD Candidate to work on the Irish DNA Atlas project. This project is an academic and scientific research collaboration between the Society and the RCSI. The project was established in 2011 by the Society and the RCSI.

Tom Conlon, MSc, MGSI, Director of Internet Services, was elected to serve on the Community Development, Culture & Positive Aging Strategic Policy Committee of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council until 2019. Tom’s election to this important local government committee builds on an impressive sixteen-year representation by the Society on the Strategic Policy Committees.

The Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 10 March 2015 endorsed a resolution of the Board of Directors to cap the membership of the Board at ten members including, Cathaoirleach, Leas-Chathaoirleach, Director of Finance and General Secretary and up to a further six directors who receive their portfolios from the Board.

New Cathaoirleach elected – Mr. Gerard Hayden, MGSI, was elected to succeed Mr. John Hamrock, MBA, MGSI, as Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of the Board of Directors of the Society at the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 10 March 2015.

On 2 April 2015, the Rapporteur of the Oireachtas Joint Committee, Catherine Murphy, TD, announced the publication of the report on ‘Maximising Our Cultural and Genealogical Heritage’ containing 37 recommendations. The editorial in the April 2015 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette is devoted to the launch of this important report.

The National Library of Ireland announced the launch date for the provision of almost 400,000 images of Catholic parish registers on microfilm held by the National Library. This enormously important resource will be available free online to the public from 8 July 2015. Editorial in the May 2015 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. The facility was officially launched at the National Library of Ireland by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, TD, on 8 July 2015, several members of the Society were in attendance.

The Society offered to fund a scholarship for a child to learn the Irish language through the new activity programme developed by Moontour.ie in Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

An update on the Operational Plan for the implementation of the Society’s Development Plan, 2015-2020, was produced by Tom Conlon, MBA, MGSI, and the challenges facing An Daonchartlann – Archives & Research Centre, were highlighted by Tony O’Hara, MGSI, Leas-Chathaoirleach & Director of Archival Services & Education. See the May 2015 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

The Society’s long-running campaign on the 1926 Census, once again, highlighted the government’s U-turn on a policy commitment in the ‘Programme for Government’ on the front page of the June 2015 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

The Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI) became the Accredited Genealogists Ireland (AGI) at a special meeting of APGI on 27 May 2015.

The Society arrange for a large group from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, to visit Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on 3 June 2015. The “Lord Mayor” of West Roxbury, Mr. Richie Gormley, and his group were officially welcomed by An Cathaoirleach of the Council, Cllr. Marie Baker, in the Council Chamber. Mr. Gormley presented an American Flag which had flown over the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, to the Council. Cllr. Baker hosted a reception for the visitors at the County Hall before the visitors were given a guided tour of the new DLR Lexicon in Moran Park, Dún Laoghaire. The visit was organised by the Society’s former Cathaoirleach, John Hamrock, MBA, MGSI, in conjunction with another former GSI Director, Caitlín Ní Chonghaile, MGSI, liaising with the General Secretary of the Society, Cllr. Michael Merrigan, MA, FGSI.

Heritage Week 2015 was as busy as usual with Eddie Gahan, MGSI, Director of the Outreach Programme, and his team working flat out at An Daonchartlann on the Carlisle Pier dealing with research queries from the public in August 2025. His team were also very busy on Culture Night at the DLR Lexicon in September 2015 and at the RDS in Dublin for ‘Back to Our Past’ in October 2015.

‘Flagging Ireland - Irish Guide to Flag Design’ by Stan Zamyatin, MGSI, was published in August 2015 with the generous assistance of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. The publication date was chosen to coincide with the Society’s attendance at the 26th International Congress of Vexillology held in Sydney Australia. Stan Zamyatin presented copies of the publication to each of the delegates at this prestigious international event and made a pitch for holding the Congress in Ireland to coincide with the centenary of the renaming of the Local Authority and town from ‘Kingstown’ to ‘Dún Laoghaire’ in 1920/21. The Harbour wasn’t renamed until 1924, two years after independence in 1922. Attendance at the FIAV Congress in Sydney, Australia, was made possible only with the financial assistance received from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Fáilte Ireland. A review of ‘Flagging Ireland’ by James Scannell was published in the September 2015 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette

The potential use of the online images of the parish registers provided by the National Library of Ireland as an “interdisciplinary resource” was explored in the August 2015 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

On 25 August 2015, the President of the Society, Mr. Stuart Rosenblatt, PC, FGSI, formally presented specially bound volumes of his research of the archival history of the Irish-Jewish community to the Dublin City Library and Archive on Pearse Street, Dublin.

The Society participated fully with other heritage organisations in the planning of the events to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising. The Society was doing so, under the auspices of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council which had established a special committee of County Councillors to consider events. It was at one of these special committee meetings that Cllr. Merrigan, building on his earlier proposal to name the newly proposed walkway from Newtownsmith to the East Pier in honour of Roger Casement who was born in Sandycove and was executed by the British in 1916, proposed the commissioning of a commemorative piece of art or statue of the patriot as part the centenary events. Initially his suggestion of a statute was greeted with scepticism and dismissal by some of his councillor colleagues. Richard Shakespeare, Director of Services with the County Council (now Chief Executive of Dublin City Council) asked Cllr. Merrigan to send him details on the proposal, including details on the Oisín Kelly statue of Roger Casement now in Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry and its former association with Dún Laoghaire. Mr. Shakespeare and County Heritage Officer, Tim Carey, considered the information provided by Cllr. Merrigan and agreed to progress the commissioning of a statue of Roger Casement. The County’s programme of events was launched on 26 October 2015 at County Hall with the GSI Cathaoirleach, Gerry Hayden, MGSI, and Tom Conlon, MSc, MGSI, representing the Society at the event. The Society had earlier announced the details of its programme of events to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, including a concert featuring The Bonny Men. See the September 2015 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Society. The concert was supported financially by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

25th Anniversary of the foundation of the Society on 25 October 1990 was marked by a specially printed colour issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette in October 2015. The front page featured a photograph of the first President of the Society, Denis O Conor Don, FGSI, (1912-2000) and the co-founder and first archivist, Frieda Carroll, FGSI.

‘Promoting Genealogy Throughout Ireland’ was the editorial in the November 2015 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette featuring Billy Saunderson, MGSI, Director of Finance and his presentation to the Virginia Historical Society in Co. Cavan, on ‘Genealogy and Social History’.

The editorial in the January 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette explored the various “founding events” that will be commemorated by the State over the coming years.

The Outreach Programme, once again, has GSI stands at the Holiday World Shows in Belfast and Dublin in January 2016 and already has other events lined up at Sandyford, Dundrum, Cabinteely and the DLR Lexicon over the coming months.

The issue of the old Carnegie Library in Dún Laoghaire which has been vacant since 2014 was, once again, raided by Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette in January 2016. The Society had submitted a proposal to the County Council in November 2013, at its request, regarding the future use of this building.

The Society’s event, supported by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, was the hosting of a unique concert in The Pavilion, Dún Laoghaire, marking the centenary of the 1916 Rising featuring The Bonny Men. This concert was like a sequel to the one held in May 2013 for ‘Bratacha 2013’ and featuring the same band. The theme this time was ‘1616 to 1916 The Road to the Rising’ – a musical journey from the death of Hugh O’Neill in exile in Rome in 1616 to the Easter Rising of 1916. The Society’s Director of Internet Services, Tom Conlon, MBA, MGSI, took the lead in the organisation of this wonderful event, including the publicity for the event. It was a huge success with a packed house on 17 February 2016.

The passing of one of the Society’s longest serving officers, Liam Mac Alasdair, FGSI, on Wednesday 3 February 2016 came as a great shock to all Members of the Society. Liam founded the Society’s Journal in 1992, published the memorial inscriptions series and was the first to provide an online presence for the Society. An obituary was published in the February 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

An Daonchartlann and Tourism and an explanation of the ‘cabinet style’ governance of the Society are amongst the articles published in the April 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette which notes in its editorial that the 2016 census will be taken on the 100th anniversary of the reading of the 1916 Proclamation outside the General Post Office at the start of the Easter Rising in 1916.

The Society, as a Nominating Body for Seanad Éireann (Senate of Ireland), elected by ballot (Single Transferrable Vote form of Proportional Representation), Cllr. Fintan Warfield (Sinn Féin) of South Dublin County Council to be its nominee for candidature in the Seanad Election. Previously the Society nominated Michael Merrigan in 2007 and Cllr Victor Boyhan in 2011, both were unsuccessful in the subsequent elections. Cllr Victor Boyhan, MGSI, was already nominated to contest the election in 2016 and following the election, we have Senator Fintan Warfield and Senator Victor Boyhan, MGSI.

The May issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette features a review of a new book by Tom Conlon, MSc, MGSI, on the history of Dún Laoghaire – ‘Victorian Dún Laoghaire – A Divided Society’. Excellent work and the first to highlight the poverty of sections of the town omitted from other works on the history of Dún Laoghaire. It is also featured in the editorial in the June issue.

1926 Census Campaign. On 25 May 2016, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, TD, (Sinn Féin) used the Society’s draft of a bill as a template to produce the Statistics (1916 Rising Centenary) Bill, 2016, seeking to have the census released to commemorate the Easter Rising of 1916 during the nationwide ‘Decade of Centenaries’ programme.

The editorial in the July 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette deals with Brexit and the result of the UK referendum on EU Membership held on 23 June 2016.

Tom Conlon’s second book this year, ‘Twice Built – The Constriction of St. Patrick’s Church, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, 1861-66’ is reviewed in the June issue of the “Gazette”.

The 20th anniversary of the publication by this Society for An Foram Oidhreachta of ‘Towards a County Heritage Policy’ is recalled in the June 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. This publication was the first to propose the formulation of County Heritage Plans and the appointment of County Heritage Officers. Both proposals were adopted and implemented by government.

Seachtain na hOidhreachta (Heritage Week) was, once again, a very busy time for the Outreach Team. It is an important opportunity to engage with the public on heritage matters. See the August 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

The commissioning of the Casement statue is covered by a lengthy article in the August 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

The President of the Society, Stuart Rosenblatt, PC, FGSI, announced that he is relocating from Dublin to London, England. He will remain as President and will be a regular visitor to Ireland. See the August 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

Vexillology Ireland and Heraldry Ireland – Stan Zamyatin, MGSI, represented the Society at the 1st Georgian National Conference on Vexillology and Heraldry in Tbilisi from 29 September to 1 October 2016. The Society received a special invitation from Mr. Mamuka Gongadze, State Herald of the Republic of Georgia. Attendance at this important event was made possible by the generous financial support received from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Accessing our Genealogical Heritage was, once again, the focus of the editorial in the September 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette which also included information on the accessibility of the Electoral Registers held by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. Copy of a question put by Cllr. Merrigan and the reply.

‘Labour in Kingstown, 1890-1920’ by Charles Callan, MGSI, reviewed in the October 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

Family History Month and Eddie Gahan, MGSI, Director of the Outreach Programme, and his team were hard at work on the GSI stand at the ‘Back to the Past’ event at the RDS, Dublin, from 21 to 23 October 2016. Also, at this year’s event, Ed Gilbert of the RCSI presented a talk on the Irish DNA Atlas – a collaborative academic and scientific research project between the Society and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).

Co-founder of the Society honoured by Pope Francis – Joan Merrigan, FGSI, received the Benemerenti Medal at a special ceremony held in Our Lady of Victories Church, Sallynoggin/Glenageary on Sunday 9 October 2016. The chief celebrant was His Excellency Archbishop Charles Brown, the New York born Papal Nuncio to Ireland.

GSI Publications on Findmypast is the editorial in the November 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette – all digitised and a wonderful way to access this valuable genealogical resource.

Renowned professional genealogist, Eileen Ó Dúill, MA, CG, received the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) ‘Professional Achievement Award’. The Board of the Society congratulated Eileen in the November 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

The death of a co-founder of the Society, Mrs. Joan Lauri Merrigan, FGSI of Rochestown Park, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Joan Merrigan (née MacMahon) passed away peacefully on 22 December 2016 in the wonderful care of nurses and staff of St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, in her 84th year. The dearly beloved wife of the late Michael and loving mother of Michael, Joan, Angela, Francis, Dermot and Paul. Awarded the Benemerenti Medal from Pope Francis on 9 October 2016 in recognition of over sixty years of dedicated service to the Catholic Church and to her own parish of Sallynoggin/Glenageary. Reposed at Patrick O’Donovan and Son Funeral Home, Sallynoggin, on Christmas Day, St. Stephens’s Day and Tuesday 27 December 2016. The removal was held on the morning of Wednesday 28 December 2016 to Our Lady of Victories Church, Sallynoggin/Glenageary, with the funeral proceeding immediately after Requiem Mass to Shanganagh Cemetery, Shankill. The chief celebrant at the Requiem Mass was Dr Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin, who grew up on Rochestown Park, Dún Laoghaire, and he was accompanied by several priests from the local parish and the Archdiocese of Dublin.

Research Facility to Close? is the alarming heading of the editorial in the December 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. The Society received a ‘Notice to Quit’ from the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and vacant possession of the premises at the Carlisle Pier by 14 February 2017 was required.

On 5 December 2016 at the Dún Laoghaire Area Committee of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council, a Motion proposed by Cllr. Shane O’Brien (Sinn Féin) and seconded by Cllr. Patricia Stewart (Fine Gael) urged the Chief Executive of the Council to assist the Society to obtain a suitable premises in Dún Laoghaire for An Daonchartlann – Archive & Research Centre. The Motion was supported by all parties and independents and the Chief Executive was hugely supportive.

Tom Conlon, MSc, MGSI, outlined how the Society has served the community since its foundation in 1990 in an article published in the December 2016 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. Also featured in that issue was the 10th Anniversary of the first meeting of An Foram Oidhreachta; the Holyhead-Dún Laoghaire Link Association’s meeting in Holyhead and Stan Zamyatin, MGSI, representing the Society in Birmingham, UK, at the conference hosted by The Flag Institute.

GSI on YouTube – the Society began posting the videos of the lectures at the Monthly Evening Open Meetings in December 2016 with the first lecture by Stan Zamyatin, MGSI, on the ‘Evolution of the Irish Harp’ as a symbol for Ireland.

‘Public Concern Mounts over Closure’ was the headline of the editorial in the January 2017 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette as news of the ‘Notice to Quit’ delivered by the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company to the Society at An Daonchartlann, Carlisle Pier, Dún Laoghaire, became public. Politicians from all parties and none spoke against the move voting unanimously at the Council’s Area Committee, raising the issue on the floor of Seanad Éireann and with representations to the Minister.

Deansgrange and Shanganagh Cemeteries – At the meeting of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council held on 9 January 2017, Cllr. Denis O’Callaghan (Labour) raised the issue of the digitisation of the cemetery records and making them available online. Report in the January issues of the ‘Gazette’.

The Outreach Team under the Direction of Eddie Gahan, MGSI, was back in action with the GSI stands at the Holiday World Shows in Belfast and Dublin in January 2017.

‘All Packed Up & Nowhere to Go!’ was the depressingly ominous headline in the editorial in February 2017 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette with a photograph of piles of file boxes ready for removal from the premises at the Carlisle Pier. The final day of operation of this archives and research facility was Wednesday 9 February 2017. The entire contents of the premises were removed on Wednesday 1 March 2017 under the direction of Tom Conlon, MSc, MGSI. Thankfully, with the intervention of Richard Shakespeare of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, a temporary storage facility was found at Cabinteely House. Indeed, Mr. Shakespeare and the Chief Executive of the Council, Ms. Philomena Poole, explored the possibility of the Society locating its operations at the historic Cabinteely House (see March 2017 issue of the ‘Gazette’), however, we couldn’t resolve an industrial loading issue with the wooden floors in this beautiful building which was built in 1769.

‘An Daonchartlann Open Again!’ was the headline in the July 2017 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette as the Society moved to a new premises at the DLR Leisure Centre, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin. The premises had been secured in negotiations between the Society, represented by Tom Conlon, MSc, MGSI, and Richard Shakespeare of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

The Society’s commitment to its engagement with the diaspora was to the fore in the May 2017 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette with ‘Éireannaigh an Domhain : Global Irish’ as the headline in the editorial and another article on the ‘Global Irish Communications Handbook’.

‘Ethnicity and DNA’ was the headline in the June 2017 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette which also reported on a proposed Heraldry Ireland Project.

Brendan Hall, MGSI, passed away on 19 June 2017. He was a former member of the Board of Directors of the Society, former joint editor of the Annual Journal, author, and the compiler of the indexes of ‘Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette’ and the Annual Journal of the Genealogical Society of Ireland. The Board named the index to the ‘Gazette’ in his honour as “Hall’s Index” and will maintain it as a very valuable research resource.

The 27th International Congress of Vexillology was held in London, England, from 7 to 11 August 2017 with the Society, Vexillology Ireland and, of course, Ireland represented by Stan Zamyatin, MGSI. Once again, the Society was extremely grateful for the financial assistance provided by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to facilitate attendance at this important event.

The Inaugural Roger Casement Summer School was held in Dún Laoghaire from 24 to 26 August 2017. Such an event was proposed by in May 2015 when Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council was requested by Cllr. Merrigan to explore the possibility of hosting an annual ‘Casement Memorial International Summer School’. The objective of such event, according to the proposal, was “to specifically explore issues of identity, ethnicity, nationalism, racism, multiculturalism, public culture, gender and LGBT issues, minorities, marginalisation, social exclusion, diversity, language rights and other such related subjects”.

The first ‘Heritage Week’ at An Daonchartlann – Archive & Research Centre at the new location in Loughlinstown was a held between 19 and 20 August 2017 with Eddie Gahan, MGSI, and his team very busy again.

Former GSI Cathaoirleach and Board member, Pádraic Ingoldsby, MGSI, was appointed as ‘Ireland Representative’ of the UK based Guild of One-Name Studies.

‘Family History Month’ in October 2017 was a very busy time for Eddie Gahan, MGSI, and his Team with ‘Social Inclusion Week’ organised by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the ‘Back to the Past’ event at the RDS in Dublin.

The October 2017 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette carried news on the recently published ‘An Invitation to Innovate – Local Government & Philanthropy – Shaping a New Funding Model’ – a copy of which, was presented to Cllr. Merrigan for the Society by the Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Ms. Philomena Poole.

The editorial in the December 2017 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette reported on the recent publication of the first major paper from the ‘Irish DNA Atlas’ project – ‘Irish DNA Atlas: Revealing Fine-Scale Population Structure and History within Ireland’ by Ed Gilbert of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).

1926 Census Campaign – Senator Fintan Warfield published the Society’s Statistics (1926 Census Release) Bill, 2017, in Seanad Éireann.

2018 was designated by the Irish government as ‘Bliain na Gaeilge’ (Irish Language Year) commemorating and celebrating the foundation of the Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge) 125 years ago in 1893.

‘Could Ireland follow Canada?’ was the editorial in the January 2018 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette on the release of census returns.

Belfast – two events in the northern capital kept Eddie Gahan, MGSI, and his team extremely busy – the GSI stand at the ‘Belfast Telegraph Holiday World Show’ at the Titanic Centre from 19 to 21 January 2018 and at the ‘Back to Our Past’ event from 16 to 17 February 2018. The Society thanked the Director of Corporate Affairs at Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Ms. Mary Daly, for facilitating the Society’s attendance at these events through funding.

‘Ireland’s Virtual Record Treasury’ website launched on 8 February 2018.

The editorial in the April 2018 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette focused on ‘Outreach and Education’ and the Society’s commitment to both. The same issue reported on the decision at the April meeting of the Board of Directors to commemorate ‘Vótáil 100 agus Mná na hÉireann’ with a special concert in October 2018. Plans for this concert were not progressed after a Select Committee was established to examine its feasibility. (see June 2018 issue of the ‘Gazette’)

An Daonchartlann. In the first week in April 2018, following the completion of preparations at the new premises in Loughlinstown, Dún Laoghaire County Council transported the Society’s holdings from storage at Cabinteely House to Loughlinstown. The Society was very grateful to the management and staff of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. (see April 2018 issue of the ‘Gazette’)

1926 Census Raised in Seanad Éireann – the May 2018 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette reports on Senator Fintan Warfield (Sinn Féin) raising the issue of the early release of the census with the Minister for State, Joe McHugh, TD.

Data Protection – The Board of the Society adopted a resolution at its meeting on 3 May 2018 (Res: 18/05/1380) to prepare the Society for the coming into force of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on 28 May 2018. Notice on ‘Data Protection’ was published in each issue of the ‘Gazette’ since May 2018.

Genealogy and Tourism were the focus of the editorial in the June 2018 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette with a photograph of the new road signage erected to the Society’s premises in Loughlinstown by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

“People, Places and the Past” was the theme of the Society’s events for ‘Heritage Week’ organised by Eddie Gahan, MGSI, and his team in August 2018. An Daonchartlann was open from 10.00hrs to 17.00hrs on 18, 21, 22, and 25 August 2018.

Irish Grants of Arms – the lingering issue of the need to regularise the legislative status of grants of arms made by the Chief Herald of Ireland from 1943 to 2005 was mentioned in the September 2018 of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

‘Family History Month’ – the October 2018 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette focused on the DLR Festival of Inclusion and the ‘Back to Our Past’ event at the RDS.

Loughlinstown, Ballybrack & Shankill Men’s Shed presented an iPad to the Society. This very welcome gift was presented to Cllr. Shane O’Brien, MGSI, Director of Finance, on Thursday 4 October 2018 in recognition of the Society’s assistance with the recent ‘Loughlinstown 40th’.

‘Cuimhnigí – Remember’ was the heading in the November 2018 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette as it reported on the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Leinster on 10 October 1918 and the other commemorative events.

Photographs of the presentation by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) to Séamus O’Reilly, FGSI, for his outstanding and invaluable contribution to the success of the Irish DNA Atlas project were carried in the November 2018 issue of the ‘Gazette’.

“Voting to be Citizens, Not Subjects’ was the heading of the editorial in the December 2018 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette as it commemorated the 100th anniversary of the General Election of 1918.

75 years of Irish heraldry was celebrated by the National Library of Ireland in November 2018 with a display of examples of the grants made by the Chief Heralds of Ireland from 1943 to 2018.

The editorial in the January 2019 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette focused on the establishment of the first meeting of Dáil Éireann on 21 January 1919, the outbreak of the War of Independence and the “Spanish Flu” pandemic. The ‘Centenary of the War of Independence’ featured again in the editorial on the March 2019 issue of the ‘Gazette’.

‘Shannonbridge – A History of Raghra c.1600 to c.1900’ by Brendan Ryan and Laura Price was reviewed in the March 2019 issue of the ‘Gazette’. Laura Price, MGSI, was co-opted to the Board of Directors of the Society on 5 May 2022 (Res: 22/05/1664) and was allocated the portfolio of Director of Special Collections, Research, and Specialist Groups (Heraldry and Vexillology).

The Society received a grant from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for a complete revamp of its website. Tom Conlon, MSc, MGSI, and Tony O’Hara, MGSI, planned the redevelopment of the website. (see March 2019 issue of the ‘Gazette’) The Society engaged the services of Ms. Eileen O’Duffy, Digital Education, Media and Marketing Strategist and Consultant to build a new website for the Society. (see May 2019 issue of the ‘Gazette’)

Article published on the Society in the ‘Active Retirement Ireland Members Journal 2019’ with a circulation of 40,000. Arranged by Eddie Gahan, FGSI, Director of the Outreach Programme.

‘Institute Donates its Archive to the Society’ is the headline of the editorial in the April 2019 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. The Dún Laoghaire Christian Men’s Institute (formerly the Kingstown Christian Men’s Institute) was founded in the late Victorian era to cater for the local Protestant community. Tom Conlon, MGSI, arranged with the trustees for this wonderful donation to An Daonchartlann. A publication on the founder of the institute, William McComas, by Brian Smith was reviewed by Tom Conlon in the June 2019 issue of the ‘Gazette’.

‘Elections & Ephemera Collections’ was the headline in the editorial in the May 2019 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette urging candidates and political parties in the Local and European Elections on 24 May 2019 to send copies of their posters and leaflets to the National Library of Ireland for its ephemera collections. Two directors of the Society, Michael Merrigan, MA, MGSI, and Shane O’Brien, MGSI, contested the Local Elections in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on 24 May 2019, however, neither was successful in retaining their seats on the County Council in what became known as the “Green Wave” with big wins for the Green Party throughout the Dublin Regional Local Authorities.

The news that the Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) will recognise same-sex couples in its genealogy database – familysearch.org – was welcomed in the editorial in the June 2019 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

The position of the Irish Land Commission Records was the subject of the editorial in the July 2019 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette and mentions the Society’s written submission to the Oireachtas Committee in 2013.

News on ‘HemisFlag’ and the 28th International Congress of Vexillology to be held in conjunction with the 26th Congress of FIAV from 15 to 19 July 2019 in San Antonio, Texas, USA, was published in the July 2019 issue of the ‘Gazette’.

Genealogy Day – part of the ‘Summer of Heritage Programme’ organised by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council had very busy GSI stands at Cabinteely House on 28 July 2019 and at Marlay House on 17 August 2019. See the piece on the ‘Summer of Heritage’ programme by Tom Conlon, MGSI, in the July issue of the ‘Gazette’.

Seachtain na hOidhreachta 2019 (Heritage Week 2019) featured in the editorial in the August 2019 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette and in the same issue the busy schedule ahead for the Board is outlined. Also, the resignation of Shane O’Brien from the Board with effect from 22 July 2019 due to the pressure of work commitments was noted.

‘New DNA Research Published’ was the headline in the editorial in the September 2019 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. The first comprehensive genomic analysis of Scotland was published in the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. The study, ‘The Genetic Landscape of Scotland and the Isles’ and the lead author was Dr Edmund Gilbert of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, University of Bristol and the Genealogical Society of Ireland (Irish DNA Atlas).

Death of former Chief Herald of Ireland, Mr. Brendan O’Donoghue, MRIA, on Wednesday 4 September 2019. Chief Herald O’Donoghue granted arms to the Society in 2001.

Deferred Presidential Election – the Board agreed to defer the election of the president to succeed Mr. Stuart Rosenblatt, PC, FGSI, until November 2020 (Res: 19/09/1457). The President has consented to the extension of his period in office.

Family History Month – the Society had a stand at ‘Back to Our Past – the Genealogy and Family History Experience’ held at the RDS in Dublin on 18 and 19 October 2019. Eddie Gahan, MGSI and his team were extremely busy at the event.

‘Funding Heritage Services’ was the subject of the editorial in the November 2019 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette and looked at the services delivered by this Society at An Daonchartlann.

A ‘Code of Conduct’ for the Directors was adopted by the Board at its meeting on Thursday 7 November 2019 in Park House, Library Road, Dún Laoghaire, under Res: 19/11/1466, and it stipulated that signing the declaration required by the ‘Code of Conduct’ is a requirement of all members of the Board of Directors. This brought the Society into line with best practice in terms of corporate governance.

‘Soldier, Gaelic Chief & Vice-President’ was the headline in the December 2019 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette as it reported the passing of the highly respected Vice-President of the Genealogical Society of Ireland, Maj. Gen. David, The O’Morchoe, CB, CBE, FGSI, on 22 November 2022. A short biography of the interesting life of this Gaelic Chief was published. At the funeral service in Gorey, Co. Wexford, the Board of Directors was represented by the Cathaoirleach, Gerry Hayden, MGSI, and the Society’s President and College of Fellows were represented by Séamus Moriarty, FGSI.

‘Promises, Promises, Promises’ was the headline of the editorial in the January 2020 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette as it looked at all the attempts to have the legislation amended to allow for the release of the 1926 Census considering a possible General Election within months.

Eddie Gahan, MGSI, and his team were in Belfast for the Holiday World Show from 17 to 19 January and in the RDS, Dublin, from 24 to 26 January 2020. Both events were, once again, extremely busy.

Seanad Éireann (Senate of Ireland) – the Board of Directors held a Special Meeting on 20 February 2020 to elect a nominee to contest the Seanad Éireann General Election. The Board elected Cllr. Joe Conway from Waterford who will stand as an Independent in the election. The Board at its meeting on 5 March 2020 adopted a proposal to extend the voting for the Society’s nominee to contest the Seanad elections to all Members of the Society. (Res: 20/03/1603). This resolution was endorsed by the Members at the Annual General Meeting held on 10 March 2020. Cllr. Conway polled extremely well in a very tight race for the Senate, however, he wasn’t elected on this occasion.

Covid-19 – ‘Lockdown’ – the Society’s Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 10 March 2020 was to be the last “in-person” Monthly Open Meeting held by the Society.

Anniversaries during the “Lockdown” and the new concept of #LockdownGenealogy were discussed in the April 2020 and May 2020 issues of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

With the election of the new government – a coalition between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Comhaontas Glas / Green Party, the May 2020 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette seeks action on the 1926 Census.

The Journal of the Genealogical Society of Ireland was published in its new electronic format (PDF) in May 2020.

Articles published in the ‘Annual Journal of the Genealogical Society of Ireland’ (2020)

• Thirtieth Anniversary & Covid by Michael Merrigan. • Tipperary Meets Lanarkshire in Australia: The Kith and Kin of Sir John Patrick Dwyer KCMG by Karen Mather. • The Palmer Family, Mayo and Kenure Park Dublin by Anthony O’Hara. • The Squires Family of Cashel and Dublin by John Goodwillie. • Offaly Children sent to the Dublin Foundling Hospital by Laura Price. • The Bourke family of Doonass, Co. Clare by Norm Darwin. • Michael Mangan’s Experience of World War I by Deirdre Carroll. • From the Archives of The Genealogical Society of Ireland 2004. • 'I am now in a perfect state of poverty' – One man's story from one letter, kept for 150 years by Samuel Suttle. • “175 Years of Caring” A Brief History of St. Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin 1841-2016 by James Scannell. • The O’Donnells of Tyrconnell - A Hidden Legacy by Francis M. O’Donnell. • A Stalag Caper by Charles Egan. • My Cousin was Lost in History and Lost in Action by Michael Nelson. • About the Society.

The Board of Directors held its first meeting since the Annual General Meeting in March on Thursday 16 July 2020 in Loughlinstown outside An Daonchartlann in the carpark observing the required social distance rules. Standing Orders were amended to facilitate the holding of incorporeal meetings via Zoom (Res: 20/07/1511).

‘Back to Our Past’ became a virtual conference due to Covid-19 and was held between 18 and 20 September 2020.

An Daonchartlann reopened to GSI Members with restrictions and with prior booking.

‘Tríocha Bliain ag Fás’ (Thirty Years a’ Growing) was the headline in the editorial in a special colour issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette in October 2020 to mark the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Society in 1990.

Archive Zoom Meetings commence with Gerard White, MGSI, in the chair for a weekly informal group discussion on genealogy and related subjects on Wednesdays at 11.00hrs. The first meeting was held on Wednesday 28 October 2020.

The first incorporeal meeting of the Board of Directors of the Society was held on Thursday 1 October 2020 via Zoom.

A new search facility for all the issues of ‘Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette’ back to 2006 was created by Shane Wilson, MGSI, Director of Internet Services, and was made publicly available on the Society’s website. The issues of the predecessor of the current newsletter, ‘The Genie Gazette’ are also available from 1997 to 2005, however, they are not indexed but have a subject listing for each.

‘Oak Tree Planted 20 Years Ago’ is the headline in the November 2020 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. It was planted on Killiney Hill on Wednesday 25 October 2000 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Society and to remember our late President, Denis O Conor Don, FGSI, who passed away in July 2000. The occasion was also marked by an inscription on a granite pillar at the entrance to Killiney Hill at the carpark.

Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland – on Wednesday afternoon 25 October 2000, the General Secretary was presented with a ‘Warrant’ signed by the Chief Herald of Ireland confirming that Arms are to be granted by Letters Patent to the Genealogical Society of Ireland.

An Daonchartlann was closed due to the Level 5 Restrictions imposed because of Covid-19 but reopened in late November 2020 when restrictions were at Level 3.

GSI Publications – a full listing of the items in stock was published in the November issue of the ‘Gazette’.

Death of Vice-President of the Genealogical Society of Ireland. Mr. James Davidson, FGSI, a resident of Northern Ireland and longtime Vice-President of the Society passed away on 29 December 2020. Obituary and photograph published in the January 2021 issue of ‘Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette’.

College of Fellows – Coláiste na gComhaltaí – the role and functions of the College of Fellows was outlined in the January 2021 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette and the editorial looked at “Lockdown Genealogy”.

The Monthly Open Meetings of the Society were held via Zoom since February 2021, and this allowed the participation of members and friends from around the world.

Two new Fellowships were awarded by the President of the Society, Stuart Rosenblatt, PC, FGSI, to mark his presidency in line with the convention that has been observed since 2005. The February 2021 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette provides brief biographies of the new Fellows, Ms. Fiona Fitzsimons, MA, FGSI and Eddie Gahan, FGSI.

The Thirtieth Annual General Meeting of the Society was held on Tuesday 9 March 2021 and it was the first incorporeal general meeting held by the Society. An overview of what the incorporeal AGM would be like was published in the February 2021 issue of the ‘Gazette’.

The proposal for Term Limits for certain office holders was explained in the February 2021 issue of the ‘Gazette’. The Annual General Meeting endorsed the Board’s resolution (Res: 21/02/1555) on term limits.

The Twentieth Anniversary of the Grant of Arms to the Society was the editorial in the March 2021 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette.

Cathaoirleach Nua: New Chairperson – the editorial of the April 2021 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette profiled our new Cathaoirleach, Mr. John Goggins, MGSI, from County Wexford. Mr. Goggins took over from the second longest serving Cathaoirligh, Gerry Hayden, MGSI, who retired from the Board after decades of service.

The Board unanimously agreed (Res: 21/03/1561) to apply for membership of INAR – the Irish Network Against Racism and the Society’s application to join was accepted.

Andrew Gerard Ball, MGSI, the longest serving Associate Member of the Society since 1990, passed away on 16 May 2021. Mr. Ball designed the ‘Mountains to the Sea Flag’ in 2013 and was a well-known Art and Street Photographer. Originally from Brisbane, Australia, he lived in Dún Laoghaire with his longtime partner, Michael Merrigan, MA, FGSI, since 1990.

Genealogy in “Zoomland” – Here to Stay? was the headline in the June 2021 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette looking at the impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on the “in person” meetings held by genealogical and local history societies everywhere.

Séamus Moriarty, FGSI, a former Cathaoirleach and a former Leas-Chathaoirleach and a longstanding member of the Board of Directors and previously on the Executive Committee since 1995, resigned from the Board citing difficulties in accessing incorporeal meetings. Séamus was determined to assist the Society in any way he can as a volunteer.

The work required for the reopening of An Daonchartlann on 28 July 2021 was outlined in the editorial in the July issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette with photographs of the screens constructed by Barry O’Connor, FGSI.

‘In the Footsteps of Irish Jewry 1700-2020’ was the headline in the August 2021 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette as the President of the Society, Stuart Rosenblatt, PC, FGSI, presented with two more enormous volumes of his research into the archival history of the Irish-Jewish community. An Daonchartlann is one of only a handful of repositories holding a complete set of these wonderfully bound research treasure troves.

Heritage Week 2021 was held via Zoom with research help sessions every lunch time during Heritage Week from 14 to 22 August 2021. Culture Night on 19 September 2021 was also held via Zoom with similar sessions.

The Society participated in a virtual conference via Zoom with the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, Canada, by providing an Irish genealogical session hosted by the Society under the direction of Paula Jones, MGSI, accompanied by Shane Wilson, MGSI and Lua Ó Scolaí, MGSI, between 19 to 26 September 2021.

The 30th Anniversary of the First AGM of the Society held on Tuesday 8 October 1991 in the Hotel Victor, Rochestown Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, was remembered in the editorial in the October 2021 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette. Photograph of the first President, Denis O Conor Don (1912-2000), and two of the four co-founders, Frieda Carroll and Michael Merrigan.

Articles published in the ‘Annual Journal of the Genealogical Society of Ireland’ (2021) which was released on 8 October 2021 were as follows:

• Re-Imagining the National Library by Dr Sandra Collins. • Family History & the Transatlantic Cable by John Goggins. • Certificate of Successful Vaccination by Charles Egan. • WW1, Ireland’s Coastal Battlefield & the Untimely Death of Able Seaman George Jones by Paula Jones. • 61,000 Women: Assisted Emigration from Irish Poor Law Unions to the North American Colonies in the mid-nineteenth century by Dr Linda Fitzgibbon. • The O’Donnell Clan Revival by Francis M. O’Donnell. • Genealogy in the Raw - 400 years of Mayo Family History by Charles Egan. • “Paradise Alley” - The fact and fiction in a Docklands school by Joe Mooney. • New Catholic Church Records for Rathangan, Co. Wexford 1807-1811 by Dr James Ryan. • The Cavanagh Family of Venado Tuerto & the Irish in Argentina by Cathal Cavanagh. • Auschwitz - The Silver Fox Stole - From the Recorded Memoirs of Theresa Gericke by Charles Egan. • Beyond 2022: the Creation of a Virtual Record Treasury by Aiden Feerick. • The Black & Tans in Mayo by Charles Egan. • The Evolution of Genetic Genealogy in Ireland by Gerard Corcoran. • The Irish DNA Atlas - The Latest Developments by Dr Edmund Gilbert. • St. Columbanus & the Genealogy of the Irish Saints by Enzo Farinella. • Irish Monastic Schools in Europe by Charles Egan. • Irish Heraldry’s Unfinished Business by Michael Merrigan. • Obituaries

‘More “Can-Kicking” on the 1926 Census?’ was the headline in the November 2021 issue of Ireland Genealogical Gazette as the Statistics (Decade of Centenaries) Bill, 2020, introduced by Aengus Ó Snodaigh, TD, (based on the draft by the Society) was technically shoved back for a year in a vote on 3 November 2021.

The Society, yet again, presented the text of the National Cultural Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to Senators for their consideration. The aim of the Bill was to regularise the legislative status of grants of arms made by successive Chief Heralds of Ireland between 1943 and 2005.

‘The Presidents’ Letters – An Unexpected History of Ireland’ by Flor McCarthy was launched at the DLR Lexicon in October 2021 with a letter from the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations (CIGO) to the President dated 13 January 1995 included on page 126 with a full image of the letter. The letter written by the then Cathaoirleach of CIGO, Michael Merrigan, mentions CIGO’s first legislative campaign was on the Heritage Council Bill, 1994 which became the Heritage Act, 1995.

Frustration at the length of time taken by officialdom to process issues was raised by the editorial in the December 2021 issue of Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette – “Sixweekism” in a Technological Age? recalled when the era that gave rise to such delays – an era of typing pools, carbon paper, office messengers and no computers.

Covid-19 – increased rates and new measures resulted in the closure of An Daonchartlann until further notice in December 2021.

Three important resolutions were adopted by the Members at the Annual General Meeting – (1) Calling on the Minister to bring forward legislation to amend the fundamentally flawed Section 13 of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 and to regularise the status of grants of arms made by Chief Heralds of Ireland from 1943 to 2005; (2) On Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan (International Women’s Day – 8 March) resolution on gender equality on the Board supporting Recommendation 22 of the ‘Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality’ published in June 2021; and (3) a resolution supporting our friends in the Ukrainian Heraldry Society, condemning the war and calling on Members and friends to give generously to the Red Cross Society or the Red Crescent Society.

Dr Edmund Gilbert of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) delivered a very interesting presentation to the AGM on the developments at the Irish DNA Atlas Project, including its use for the work on the genetic origins of Newfoundland and Labrador. He also outlined the work of Ashwini Shanmugam (RCSI) on the demographic history of Britain and Ireland.

At the Board Meeting in May 2022, the Society’s Development Plan, 2022-2027, was adopted (Res: 22/05/1669). The plan was largely formulated through the work of Paula Jones, MA, MGSI, the then Deputy General Secretary, who was highly commended for the plan.

September 2022 - new Vice-Presidents elected – Fiona Fitzsimons, MA, FGSI and Amb (ret) Francis M. O’Donnell, GCMM, GCEG, KC*SG, KM, KCHS, KCMCO, BA (Hons), MA. Positions assumed 25 October 2022.

The Board registered the Arms of the Presidents of the Genealogical Society with The Armorial Register – International Register of Armorial Bearings. (https://www.armorialregister.com)

November 2022 – the Board appointed Dr Antonio Salmerón Cabañas, SHA, FGSI, of Madrid, Spain, as Honorary Herald of the Genealogical Society of Ireland and a member of the College of Fellows. (https://www.blason.es)

December 2022 - New Fellows elected to the College of Fellows of the Genealogical Society of Ireland – James Scannell, FGSI, Fíona Tipple, MA, FGSI, Clare Tuohy, FGSI, Francis M. O’Donnell, FGSI, and Gerard Hayden, FGSI.

1926 Census of Ireland – Minister Catherine Martin, TD, announced that funds have been made available for the digitisation of the census for release to the public, free of charge, in 2026 by the National Archives of Ireland.

GSI President, Stuart Rosenblatt, PC, FGSI, presented a set of his twenty-two volume Archival Heritage of the Irish-Jewish Community to the National Library of Israel on 19 December 2022. The Irish ambassador to Israel, H.E. Mr Kyle O’Sullivan, was in attendance as the library’s ‘Rosenblatt Collection’ was officially unveiled.

Michael Merrigan, MA, FGSI, co-founder and General Secretary of the Society received a grant of arms from the Chief Herald of Ireland on 16 December 2022.

Articles published in the ‘Annual Journal of the Genealogical Society of Ireland’ (2022).

• Tim, Tom, Ted: Postcard from Australia by Mary Rose O’Shea. • Tuke’s Assisted Emigration: the socio-economic impact of emigration in the west of Ireland compared to Tuke’s emigrant experience in North America by Paula Jones. • Origin of the Macegan Family - addressed to B. Egan Esq., Ballina by Charles Egan. • Early Memories of Redwood School by Seamus J. King. • Limerick Navigation Return of Workmen at Cussane Lock, Co. Clare in 1805 by Laura Price. • Sourcing history for a book on a typical Irish parish during the Great War by Gerard O’Meara. • The Houstons of Monaghan by Matthew Bode. • The Disgrace of Selling of Butter in Ballycroy: 19th Century Ethnographic Studies and their value in Genealogical Research by Paula Jones. • Letter from America by Charles Egan. • Uncovering the Military Service Pensions Collection by Joe Mooney. • The urgent need to amend the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 by Noel Cox. • The Armorial Register by Martin Goldstraw. • Arms of the Presidents of the Genealogical Society of Ireland. • William Delany (1832-1895) of Durrow, Queen’s County by M. J. Delaney. • Election of Vice-Presidents. • Obituaries. • Connect with the Society. • About the Genealogical Society of Ireland.

The Society’s Outreach Programme was relaunched in January 2023 by Eddie Gahan, FGSI, Director of the Outreach Programme, with a stand at the Holiday World Shows held in Belfast and Dublin.

March 2023 – the Outreach Programme hosted a stand at the Active Retirement Ireland event held at the Clayton White’s Hotel in Wexford Town.

The Society marked the 80th anniversary of the transfer of the contents of the office of Ulster King of Arms in Dublin Castle to the Irish government on 1 April 1943. The Genealogical Office (Chief Herald of Ireland) commenced the delivery of Irish heraldic services from that date. Noting that a legislative basis for these services was established by the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, which was commenced in May 2005.

Newfoundland – Talamh an Éisc. Dr Edmund Gilbert of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI) delivered a presentation at the Annual General Meeting in March 2023 on the genetic history of Newfoundland, informed by the Irish DNA Atlas project, which was later published by Nature in its ‘Communications Biology’ (https://rdcu.be/daX8Q).

Europe Day – May 9th 2023 – the Inaugural Annual Heraldry Ireland Lecture was held with Mr. Martin Goldstraw of The Armorial Register as the inaugural guest speaker. Mr. Goldstraw’s topic was ‘Do It Yourself Heraldry – The Design, Assumption, and Registration of Armorial Bearings’.

The Society highlighted the need to review the State’s heritage legislation – National Archives Act, 1986, Heritage Act, 1995, and National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, in the editorial published in Vol. 18, No. 7 of ‘Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette’ (July 2023).

In August 2023, the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr. Denis O’Callaghan, visited An Daonchartlann – Archive & Research Centre, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin. A full report was published in the September 2023 issue of ‘Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette’ (Vol. 18 No. 9) including the Society’s longstanding proposal to establish an ‘Irish Institute of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences incorporating a Centre for Diasporan and Migration Studies’.

October 2023 in Dublin Castle – Dr Edmund Gilbert of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI) delivered a major presentation on the Irish DNA Atlas (an academic and scientific collaboration between the RCSI and the Genealogical Society of Ireland) to the National Monuments Service 6th Annual Archaeology Conference on Saturday 7 October 2023.

Amendments to the Constitution of Heraldry Ireland were agreed by the Board of Directors of the Society in November 2023 (Res: 23/11/1784) to incorporate the concept of ‘intangible cultural heritage’ and to facilitate the operation of the ‘National Heraldic Survey’.

December 2023, following the decision in October 2023 to nominate two candidates for the presidential election, the Board agreed to a suggestion by the candidates to share the eight-year term consecutively. This proposal was put to a ballot of the College of Fellows and it was agreed that Amb (ret) Francis M. O’Donnell, FGSI, will serve the first four years to be followed by Fiona Fitzsimons, MA, FGSI, for the following four years. The President assumed office at the AGM in March 2024.

Articles published in the ‘Annual Journal of the Genealogical Society of Ireland’ (2023)

• 12 Years of the Irish DNA Atlas – A Perspective by Dr Edmund Gilbert. • The Priest and the Miller: Turmoil in Killedan Parish in 1825 by Aidan Feerick. • The Story of the Thomas & Bridget Nolan-Fox Family in America as Told by Catherine Phelan (1965) and Gerard Corcoran (2023). • John Hubert Plunkett – a Great Australian by Jill McCann. • The Manor of Kilmainham by Fiona Fitzsimons. • The Flight of the Girls by Francis M. O’Donnell. • Two Indentures from the Laois Papers Collection by Laura Price. • Lists of Names from the Chief Secretary’s Office Registered Papers by Laura Price. • Petition from Cloghan, Co. Offaly in 1822. • List of the Irish Constabulary in the King’s County 1833. • Memorial of the Cotton Linen Silk Stuff and Mitten Weavers of the Town of Tullamore Kings County 1826. • Searching the Chief Secretary’s Office Registered Papers. • Presentation of the Rosenblatt Collection to the National Library of Israel by Stuart Rosenblatt, PC, FGSI. • Under-reporting of Births, Marriages, and Deaths in the Early Irish Civil Registration System by Dermot Balson and Dr. James G. Ryan. • Published Local History – a Much-Overlooked Resource for the Genealogist? by James Scannell. • ‘Personal or Public?’ Genealogy and Public History by David Ryan. • A Review Article: Place Naming, Identities and Geography by Gerry O’Reilly. • Grant of Arms. • Bratacha 2013 – Festival of Flags & Emblems by Michael Merrigan. • Heraldry Ireland : Araltas Éireann. • Examples of Assumed Arms. • From the Archive – Origins of my Family by Peter Manning, FIGRS. • Obituaries.

‘The Heraldry Gazette’ published by The Heraldry Society in the UK published an article on the grant of arms to Michael Merrigan, MA, FGSI.

Eddie Gahan, FGSI, Director of the Outreach Programme, hosted GSI Stands at the Holiday World Shows in Belfast and Dublin in January 2024 and, once again, the stands were extremely busy.

In February 2024, Davy Holden, a YouTuber from Co. Kilkenny who presents short videos on Irish history and is hugely popular on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, joined ‘Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette’ as a monthly columnist.

In March 2024, Amb (ret) Francis M. O’Donnell, FGSI, became the 5th President of the Genealogical Society of Ireland succeeding Mr. Stuart Rosenblatt, PC, FGSI, who served from 2014 to 2024. The three living former presidents were officially recognised as ‘Presidents Emeriti’ by the Board and endorsed by the Members at the Annual General Meeting.

In April 2024, the Society became the first genealogical or heraldic organisation to officially endorse and adopt the definition of ‘Matrimonial & Family Arms’ (Res: 24/04/1822) as formulated by Martin Goldstraw, JP, FRSA, Scot, of The Armorial Register; Dr Antonio Salmerón Cabañas, SHA, FGSI, Honorary Herald of the Genealogical Society of Ireland; and Michael Merrigan, MA, FGSI, General Secretary of the Society.

In May 2024, the Second Annual Heraldry Ireland Lecture was held with the Society’s new President as guest speaker on the topic ‘Heraldic Heritage: Heuristics or Hermeneutics’. (Heuristics: mental shortcuts for solving problems and to make judgements quickly and efficiently. Hermeneutics: methods or theories of interpretation.)

Irish Heraldic Services – A Timeline was published by ‘Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette’ in May 2024 setting out the evolution of Irish heraldic services from 1552 to the 20th anniversary of the commencement of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, in May 2025. The objective was to provide factual and verifiable information to counter some fanciful notions on the origins, status and authority of the State’s delivery of heraldic services since 1943.

In June 2024, once again, the Society presented draft legislation – National Cultural Institutions (Heraldic Services Amendment), Bill, 2024, to Senators for their consideration. The objective was to amend the fundamentally flawed Section 13 of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, and to provide for a modern heraldic authority as befits our Republic.

In July 2024, the editorial in ‘Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette’ highlighted the ‘Principle of Public Ownership & Right of Access’ to our heritage as adopted by our Members at the AGM held on 14 October 1997. The article followed an excellent OpEd by Fintan O’Toole in ‘The Irish Times’ on Tuesday 8 June 2024.

‘Genealogy Day’ – Saturday 20 July 2024 at Cabinteely House organised by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. The Society’s family history research information service provided by the Outreach Team under the direction of Eddie Gahan, FGSI, was hugely popular with visitors to the event.

In September 2024, the editorial in ‘Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette’ marked the 20th anniversary of the refurbishment of the Martello Tower at Seapoint, Co. Dublin, by the Society and its official opening on 15 September 2004 by the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Cllr. Niamh Bhreathnach.

The Cathaoirleach’s ‘Chain of Office’ was totally refurbished by Liam Shannon of Facet Jewellers, Dún Laoghaire. The original medallion was affixed to the back of the chain.

Paraheraldry – a definition proffered by the Society in the September 2024 issue of ‘Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette’. (Vol. 19 No. 9)

36th International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The Cathaoirleach of the Society, John Goggins, MGSI, officially represents the Society at this prestigious event held from 24 to 28 September 2024.

In November 2024, Vexillology Ireland, a Specialist Branch of the Genealogical Society of Ireland, was invited to speak (via Zoom) at the Winter Conference of The Flag Institute in the UK. The Society was delighted to have Mr. Michael P. O’Crowley from the Clans of Ireland as its nominated guest speaker. The topic chosen was ‘The Flags and Emblems of the Clans of Ireland’. The GSI President, Amb (ret) Francis M. O’Donnell, FGSI, introduced the guest speaker on behalf of Vexillology Ireland.

Gift to An Daonchartlann by Mr Eamonn de Búrca of ‘The Great Book of Irish Genealogies – Leabhar Ginealach’ by Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh, edited with translations by Dr Nollaig Ó Muraíle. (https://www.deburcararebooks.com)

Following the General Election in November 2024, the Society’s legislative objectives were published in the December 2024 issue of ‘Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette’.

Articles published in the Annual Journal of the Genealogical Society of Ireland (2024)

• Eviction in Kerry and Emigration to the US from 1862 Onwards by Sheila Canny. • Unfinished Memoir by Daniel Herlihy (Donal O’Herlihy), 1878-1952 edited by Fíona Tipple. • The Bounty Immigrants by Jill McCann. • Christopher Swords and The City of Antwerp by John Goggins. • Kieran Farrelly, Offaly’s Bog Entrepreneur by Marie Costello Monaghan. • Meredith Hanmer and St Michan’s by Cara Eiwanger. • Local Legends: The Lurgan Lady Who Lived Once but was Buried Twice by Julie Carvill. • The Tenters by Maria O’Reilly and Pádraig Turley. • Extract of a History and Gazetteer of Kilbarrack, commissioned by Dublin City Council 2023 by Fiona Fitzsimons. • Tenants of the Barton Estate, Fethard, Co. Tipperary 1775-1805 by Dr James G. Ryan. • Using the Historical Records of the Registry of Deeds in Family and Local History by Laura Price. • Titles of Nobility in the Republic of Ireland: A Constitutional Perspective by Noel Cox. • Tyrconnell’s Clans Revived by Amb. Francis O’Donnell. • High Resolution Paternal Genetic History of Ireland and its Implications for Demographic History by Tibor Féher. • Heraldry and Marriage Equality by Michael Merrigan. • Slabhraí Oifige – Chains of Office. • From the Archive: The Brown Family of Dundalk – Millers, Lawyers and Olympic Champions by Caroline McCall. • Obituaries. • Gift to An Daonchartlann. • Membership Package 2025.