Council Members

Steven ffeary-Smyrl has practiced as a specialist in legal and probate genealogical research for over twenty years. He became a member of APGI in 1991 and has served as a Council member since 1992; he is a founding member of CIGO, serving on its Council since 1992 and acting as chairman for 2000-2002 and again for 2009-2010; he has been a member of the Irish Genealogical Research Society since 1989, serving as an Ireland Branch committee member since 1995 and as the chairman for the years 2002-2005 and 2009-2012.

Steven is author of Irish Methodists - Where Do I Start? the first in the series ‘Exploring Irish Genealogy’, published by the Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations in 1999. Published in 2000, he is also co-author with fellow APGI member, Eileen Ó Dúill, of number two in the same series, Irish Civil Registration – Where Do I Start? He has published in various journals and is an occasional contributor to Irish newspaper media and radio. Currently he is involved in co-editing Dictionary of Irish Genealogy with Dr. Jim Ryan, and fellow APGI members, Paul Gorry and Eileen O’Byrne. On behalf of CIGO Steven was influential in obtaining significant amendments during the Bill stages of the Civil Registration Act 2004. In 2007 he was elected to the fellowship of the Irish Genealogical Research Society. In December 2009 his extensive research on the congregations and records Protestant dissenters in Dublin was published under the title Dictionary of Dublin Dissent - Dublin's Protestant Dissenting Meeting Houses 1660-1920.

Maureen is a founder member of Blessington Family History Society and has acted as its secretary for several years. In 1994 she was awarded a Diploma in Local History from NUI Maynooth. In 2000 Maureen made contact with Elizabeth Nunn in Brisbane Australia, a relative of the North Cork 19th century poet and translator, Edward Walsh. She also assisted Fr. John J. O’Riordain with the research and subsequent publication of the works of this poet, A Tragic Troubadour, which was launched in the National Library in November 2005. In 2004 Maureen was involved in the making of a television documentary on the search by an 88 year old Englishman for his mother’s birthplace in Limerick, called ‘When Evening Falls – The Search For Barbara O’Connell’, filmed by Blessington based West Wicklow Films. Maureen continues her work in family and local history. In late 2007 Maureen and her daughter Julie became proprietors and editors of Irish Roots magazine.

On CIGO Aiden represents Blessington Family History Society (BFHS), and is one of the society’s founding members. Over the years he has been much involved with BFHS’s fundraising activities and has been involved in editing its journal and other publications. He served as chairman of CIGO during the term 2004 to 2005.

Colm is a founder member of the Certificate Genealogist Alumni Group (CGAG) and is urrently its chairman. He was awarded the U.C.D. certificate in Genealogy in 1999. During his year of office as chairman of CIGO (2005-2006), Colm set as his goal the completing and launching of a new website for CIGO. This he acheived and was able to announce the website as having 'gone-live' at the 2006 AGM.

Since obtaining the U.C.D. certificate in Genealogy he has continued to pursue his interest in general and family history. His particular interest is in aspects of Co. Roscommon genealogy, especially anything relating to the Crofton estate, which is in the south of the county.

Linda has been practising as a professional genealogist for ten years, working mainly in the area of legal and probate research. She served on the committee of the 4th Irish Genealogical Congress which was held at Trinity College, Dublin in September 2001. Having attended classes in Irish genealogy at University College, Dublin, Linda was awarded the Certificate in Genealogy in 1999. She is a founding member of the Certificate Genealogists' Alumni Group (CGAG) and has represented this group on CIGO since 2001. Currently, Linda is serving as Honorary Secretary for CIGO and she is also completing her second term as Honorary Secretary of the Ireland Branch of the Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS). She was a elected as a member of Council of the IGRS in 2008.

Paddy has been an enthusiastic genealogist from an early age. While lecturing at Trinity College, he began to publish information on Irish genealogy on the College website in 1994. That evolved through a student group project and collaboration with John Grenham and The Irish Times into the Irish Ancestors website. Around the same time he encouraged his friend Fiona Fitzsimons, then a history postgraduate, to set up an online genealogical research business. That enterprise has since evolved into Eneclann, of which Paddy serves as a non-executive director. Paddy has lectured widely on his own genealogical research and on research methodology and has published his genealogical work (as Padraig Óg de Bhaldraithe) in journals ranging from the Old Limerick Journal to the Ballyguiltenane Rural Journal. He now lives on the Clare/Tipperary border and was a founding member of the Clare Roots Society in April 2006.

Mona's interest in Genealogy understandably started with her own name - Germaine - which is of Huguenot origin. She has also completed the Certificate in Genealogy course at University College Dublin, Maynooth. Since obtaining her Certificate in 1999 she has been a committee member of the IGRS (Ireland Branch) and the IFHS. Since the IFHS first joined CIGO she has been one of their two representatives serving on the Council. She has also served on sub-committees of the third and fourth Irish Genealogical Congresses held at Maynooth College and Trinity College, respectively. Prior to all this in 1986 Mona, with Vivien Costello and the late Norah Fahey, set up the Irish branch of the Huguenot Society of Great Britain & Ireland. Her work on the Dublin Huguenot congregation of which met at St. Peter's Street was published in 1999 as Church & Cemetery St Peters Street Dublin 1711-1879.

Although he was born and raised in Dublin, John spent many of his working years in Scotland. It was after his return to Ireland that he eventually joined the Irish Family History Society (IFHS) having long had an interest in genealogy. Later, in 1994, he was awarded a Diploma in Local History by N.U.I., Maynooth in 1997. He became Chairman of the IFHS in 1998, a position he held for 5 years. He is currently IFHS Hon. Treasurer and served as Chairman of CIGO during the year 2006/2007. His main area of interest and research is Co. Sligo and he has published on aspects of the county. He may be contacted at heueston@iol.ie

Gay Conroy, a Classics graduate of Trinity College Dublin, has been focusing on her research interest in genealogy since 2004, following several years freelance editorial work with some of Ireland's best known writers. She has been an active member of the Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS) since 2004, and a member of the Irish Branch Committee since 2005. Her article on the ‘Pedigree and History of the Colclough Family of Staffordshire and Wexford' was published in the Journal of the Wexford Historial Society, in 2009 (No 22, 2009-10). She is currently engaged in two major editorial projects, the 500-page diary of a young Limerick woman written 1838-1840, and the electronic publication of the Colclough family history. Gay has been representing the IGRS on CIGO since 2007.

Rosaleen’s association with genealogy began in 1996 when she first started attending family history classes in her local library. Two years later she began studying for a Certificate in Genealogy at University College, Dublin, and followed this up with the Diploma in Genealogy course under the National University of Ireland. Having joined the Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS) in 1997, Rosaleen became a member of its Ireland Branch committee in 2000 and in 2006 she became its Hon. Secretary. From 2001 she has represented the IGRS on CIGO. She is also a member of the committee of the Certificate Genealogists' Alumni Group (CGAG). Rosaleen served on the sub-committee responsible for the Congress Exhibition at the 4th Irish Genealogical Congress, held at Trinity College, Dublin, in September 2001 and in 2005 she became a member of APGI.

Ken Ryan is currently the chairman of the Irish Huguenot Society.

Randal is a founder member of the North of Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS), which was formed in Bangor, Co. Down, in 1979 and has been to the fore in the society ever since as it has grown to establish branches right across the North of Ireland, from Ballymena to Mourne and from Omagh to Larne. He is currently serving as NIFHS's President. Randal visits the various Society branches throughout the year speaking on various subjects and encouraging membership. Emersed in history on a daily basis in his working life, Randal is a member of staff at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum at Cultra, in North Down. He served as chairman of CIGO in 1996/1997 and in 2007/2008.

Born and brought up in England, Robert Davison’s father was a native of Belfast. On retirement he moved to live on the Ards Peninsula from where he joined the North of Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS) in 1995. Currently, he is chairman of the NIFHS’s Bangor Branch. Recently he completed a seven year term as Secretary of the Clan Davidson Association. He became a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APGI) in 2003 and is currently APGI's Hon. Sec. In addition, he is NIFHS representative for the Federation of Family History Societies. He served as Chairman of CIGO for 2002-2003, and is currently CIGO’s Executive Liaison Officer for Northern Ireland. In this capacity he has been much involved over the years with CIGO’s various campaigns, compiling submission and reports or formulating policy and/or directing it.

John Dyer is a founder member of CIGO. On the Council he represents the Raheny Heritage Society, an organisation in which he is very active. Since 1998 he has served CIGO as its Hon. Treasurer. He succeeded Maeve Flannery of Wicklow Genealogical Society, who had been CIGO’s first treasurer. John is one of our most conscientious members and has rarely ever missed a meeting. He has also been a long-time member of both the IGRS (Ireland Branch) committee and of the IFHS committee. He served as chairman of CIGO for the year 1997/1998.

Des represents the Raheny Heritage Society on CIGO and is one of the founding members. With only a one-year break, while he served as CIGO’s chairman in 2003/2004, Des acted as the organisation’s Hon. Secretary from CIGO's establishment until 2009, when he became CIGO's Public Relations Officer. For the years 2005 to 2008 Des was Chairman of the Ireland Branch of the Irish Genealogical Research Society. Of all the members, Des is probably the most vocal exponent about the benefits that membership of CIGO can bring to organisations involved in Irish genealogy and their members.

Tom O'Keeffe

A founder member of Wicklow Genealogical Society (WGS), Tom succeeded Maeve Flannery as WGS’s representative on CIGO and has rarely missed a meeting since. His knowledge of computers and computer technology has been very much appreciated over the years, as has an uncanny knack of knowing just the right question to ask to bring about a result.