Sir, I was heartened by the not inconsiderable volume of correspondence in The Irish Times expressing concern about the future of the Genealogical Office. As O'Neill of Clanaboy, I am particularly saddened to learn that the Genealogical Office, which has long validated and confirmed the genealogy and Arms of the dispossessed Irish, will not have its independent status recognised.
It is clear from the views expressed in your pages that the activities of this office concerns a great number of Irish people. Lest it be thought that it represents the interests of the dispossessed Gaelic aristocracy and their followers in Europe, forced to flee after the Battle of Kinsale and the Treaty of Limerick, let it not be forgotten that, in these times of proliferating unscrupulous genealogical tradesmen, it is the pillar of seriousness allowing all these immortally dubbed by Flann O'Brien "cois muintir na hEireann" (the plain people of Ireland) to find the roots linking the Irish of Ireland with the Irish of the rest of the world. These range from American Presidents to all persons of Irish descent.
By keeping the genealogical records of the great chiefly families, the Office is also the source that may enable the decoding of Irish history. In fact, unlike what happened elsewhere in Europe, there is no uniform history of Ireland but rather several histories of Irish kings. More often than not, each relevant historical event has several contradicting accounts and the key to reach a more uniform view lies in the compared investigation of genealogies and life records kept at the Office.
Let us hope that the Genealogical Office joins forces with other relevant institutions representing the interests of Gaelic Ireland to make the history of Ireland more accessible and better known to the growing number of interested people in Ireland and abroad. The National Cultural Institutions Bill appears to affirm the recognition of the position of the Chief Herald. Let us hope that it also affirms the independence of a suitable successor of the calibre of Edward MacLysaght, Gerald Slevin and Donal Begley who did honour and brought skills to the Office. Yours, etc.,
Mac Ui Neill Bhuidhe,
O'Neill of Clanaboy,
Quinta das Machadas,
Setubal, Portugal.