Irish Genealogical Research Society

Irish Genealogical Research Society

Word of thanks given by IGRS Chairman, Steven Smyrl, at the reception marking the 80th Anniversary of the founding of the Society, held at The College of Arms, London, Friday, 23rd September 2016.

Since I was elected Chairman in 2010 I have had the privilege of working alongside a group of people so clearly committed to the promotion of this venerable Society…rightly referred to in 2011 by IGRS Fellow John Grenham as the “great granddaddy of all Irish Family History Societies”.

The past decade has been challenging for voluntary bodies such as the IGRS because the “genealogical environment” has changed almost beyond recognition. Whereas groups such as ours once held sway in genealogy, the advent of family history as a business has seen a serious decline in the “purpose” of family history societies. Of course, I am not knocking these changes, far from it, more highlighting the fact that its suddenness caught so many on the hop, so to speak…and not least the IGRS.

But what I can say about our organisation is that it has more than met the challenge. Without losing the longstanding purpose and direction of the IGRS, the Council and others have grasped the new technologies of the Internet era. Far from declining, we have actually thrived by listening to what today’s Irish genealogists and family historians seek from their onlineexperience. In 2012 we launched a new website, giving the Society an exciting and revitalised online presence. The following year it was awarded the FFHS’s Geoff Briggs Award for the Best Website, under the category of Best Website for a Medium Sized Society; in 2014 it was listed amongst the Top 100 genealogy websites worldwide by Genealogy in Time magazine.

But really, none of this is surprising given the calabre of those who volunteer their time and expertise…and that’s what I’m really alluding to here. It’s nice maybe occasionally to blow our own trumpet as a Society, but none of it would have been possible without all those who give their time and effort so willingly…

I’m speaking of people like Roz McCutcheon who is the driving force behind the three online databases: the Early Irish Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes, already referred to by Mary Casteleyn; Roz, who also edits the Society’s newsletter, is also one of the people who ensures the Society’s library is open each Saturday, which among others also includes our dedicated librarian, Lindsay Bellhouse and until quite recently, Jill Williams. Jill is a fount of knowledge on source material, particularly online, which she shares through being the administrator for the Society’s very popular Facebook page;

Then there is Clare Santry (a professional journalist) who, although now a former IGRS Council member, still gives lots of time to us; she produces the Monthly IGRS eBulletin and provides advice on media and publicity;

I cannot say enough about the generosity of Nick Reddan, who while being based in Australia, maintains the website and resolves all our IT problems in super quick time;

Terry Hatche (preceded by Christopher Richards) keeps all the figure work in order, which has become more difficult as the membership has grown (which is of course a terrific complaint to have!); He is assisted by a new Council member, Bernadette Cass;

Mark Goold, also assisted by Bernadette Cass, has the often thankless task of maintaining the ever growing membership database;

Ruth Mathewson and Jim Boulden joined Council just over a year ago. Both have vital skills which they have offered: Ruth is a professional genealogist with a background in marketing and Jim is a professional journalist (as seen on TV!!);

Academic, Dr David Butler, is the editor of the Society’s annual journal, The Irish Genealogist. The standard he has brought to the job is astounding.

Peter Manning is my predecessor as chairman; there isn’t enough time to thank Peter for all he has done - and still does - to make the Society the success that it is: indexing, emailing, administration, banking, letter writing, editing, reminding (!)…and so much more besides.

Others have brought their knowledge, enthusiasm, clear insight and grasp for detail: Linda Clayton, Edward Rowland, Máire Mac Conghail and Claire Bradleywho either are, or have been, officers of the Ireland Branch. They are joined too by Joanna Fennel, also a member of the Ireland Branch committee and a very knowledgeable professional genealogist now based in Dublin.

Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention Mary Casteleyn, one of our vice-presidents, and a person who, over several decades, has given much to the Society of her time and vast experience as a genealogist. Even though she couldn’t attend this evening, she still offered to write the speech that Roz delivered a few moments ago on her behalf.

And the result of all this dedication and commitment by all these people I have named has been that over the past half-decade we have more than doubled our membership.

So may I ask you to raise your glass to toast the IGRS and its Ruby Jubilee?

Steven C. Smyrl

23 September 2016