Dear members & friends,
I am delighted to announce that the venue for the International Napoleonic Congress in Dublin from the 11th to the 15th of July 2016 will be the Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club.
Anyone willing to be involved in preparations for the congress should contact me by email at derek@clanbyrne.com
Many thanks,
Derek Byrne,
President,
Napoleon Society of Ireland.
On Monday the 21st of September at 7pm, the Emmet and Devlin Committee will host a lecture at St. Catherine’s Church on Thomas Street in Dublin 8.
The event will include a wreath laying by Philip Emmet followed by an illustrated lecture by Seamus Cullen entitled Rebel and Military Activity in Co. Kildare during Easter Week 1916.
The MC for the evening will be broadcaster Aidan O’Hara and the evening will end with refreshments in Arthur’s pub.
For details contact Frank Connelly on 087 243 8121.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Derek Byrne
On Thursday the 28th of May, President of the Napoleon Society of Ireland, Derek Byrne was presented to The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins as part of a delegation from Clans of Ireland who were invited to the Aras to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of Clans of Ireland.
President Higgins met with the delegation in his role as Patron of Clans of Ireland. Derek Byrne was invited in his role as Administrator of Clan Dixon and was accompanied by his cousin Michael Dixon, Chief of Clan Dixon of Meath , and his wife Marian Dixon.
Dear members and friends,
Today, we commemorate 200 years since the battle of Waterloo on the 18th of June 1815.
As I watch the ceremony at the battle field of Waterloo on television today I am reminded of the enormity of what was at stake in terms of the power structure of Europe at the time.
It is interesting to note the accounts of the commentators, many of whom remind us that Waterloo was a very close battle and could very easily have gone either way. Indeed, Napoleon had the battle won until the Prussian army turned up at the last moment.
As the commentators and historians ponder over the various “what ifs” of the time, I think it important that we remember all of those who lost their lives at Waterloo especially the thousands of Irish soldiers who fought with both the Allied and French forces.
We solute you all and remember you with pride.
Derek Byrne,
President,
Napoleon Society of Ireland.
A new three part series on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte starts this evening the 10th of June on BBC2 at 9.30.
The series is the beginning of a series of programmes to mark the 200th anniversary of the battle of Waterloo.
Enjoy!
On behalf of our Patron and Executive Committee, may I wish all our members and friends a very happy Saint Patrick’s Day.
This is a very exciting year for the Napoleon Society of Ireland and the International Napoleonic Society as we commemorate the battle of Waterloo in June.
In Ireland, there will be many events to mark the occasion and details will be posted in due course. But for now, the day belongs to Saint Patrick.
Beannactai le feile Padriag. May the luck of the Irish be always in your heart, may the road rise up to meet you and may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead!
With all good wishes.
Derek J. Byrne FINS,
Dear members and friends, the unveiling of a large battle of Waterloo diorama will be unveiled on Sunday the 12th of April in Cork at the Toy Soldier Factory.
For full details, go to www.toysoldierfactory.ie or phone 026 40342.
Information can also be found at http://www.princeaugust.ie/cork.visitor-centre-activites/waterloo.html
or https://www.facebook.com/toysoldierfactory.visitorcenter
Anyone interested in going to the launch should contact Derek Byrne by email at derek@clanbyrne.com
Many thanks
On behalf of all at the Napoleon Society of Ireland, I would like to wish all our members, friends and visitors a very happy and prosperous 2015.
This year, of course, marks 200 years since the battle of Waterloo and I hope to be able to take part in the bicentenary celebrations in June.
There will also be a conference in Kells to mark the Waterloo bicentenary and we look forward to playing a role in that event.
The International Napoleonic Congress takes place in Belgium in the week after the Waterloo commemorations and we will be particularly interested in this as the following year brings the congress to Dublin.
So, some exciting times ahead in 2015 and we hope to see many of you during the year at some point.
For now, all the very best.
Derek Byrne FINS,
President,
The Napoleon Society of Ireland.
Visitors to our website can now view photos of this year’s presentation of the 1803 Medal for humanitarianism to Senator David Norris at Outhouse in Dublin in November.
Simply look under “Napoleon and the Irish” on our home page for details.
The 2014 Robert Emmet memorial event will take place at 2pm on Saturday the 20th of September at St. Catherine’s Church on Thomas Street in Dublin 8.
There will be a lecture by Cllr. Mary Hanafin and all are welcome to this free event which also remembers those who fought alongside Robert Emmet in the 1803 Rebellion.
We look forward to seeing members of the Napoleon Society at this event.
Derek Byrne,
President,
Napoleon Society of Ireland.