News

The International Napoleonic society Congress

2017 Trier, Germany.

The fifteenth international Napoleonic Society congress was held between the 10^th to the 14^th of July 2017 in Trier, Germany where Ireland had one representative, Cormac Finn O Brien. Cormac gave a presentation entitled Marengo and North Cork depicting the origins of where this famous horse reputedly came from and the market where he was bought.

Cormac talked about the folk tales associated with Napoleon’s famous mount. This paper was overlooked by Dr. David Fleming of UL before it was presented in Trier. This paper also looked over the claims held by the two arguing places in North Cork Buttevant (Cahirmee Horse Fair) and Bartlemy.  The annual Gala Dinner was held during the congress where Cormac was awarded the Fellowship of the International Napoleonic Society by J. David Markham. A good conference was had by all.

Mini Conference held in Castiglion Fiorentino

2018

This conference was held in Castillion Florentina in Italy. It was held in an old church building and attended by one Irish representative Cormac Finn O’Brien.  It was a discussion on a variety of topics. At the opening there was a showcase of the local reenactment group as the picture below depicts. This event was to open a museum in Castiglion Fiorentino, this  museum houses a collection of medallions of the Napoleonic Period.  During this Conference Cormac talked about Napoleonic propaganda during this period used by the British government about Ireland and also looked at the current propaganda. We must look and question ourselves whether or not the propaganda of History has stopped or has it still continued to this day.

Today is the 249th anniversary of the birth of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Napoleon Society of Ireland extends best wishes to all our friends in the International Napoleonic Society in particular President J. David Markham and his team.

I will be contacting all of the members of the Napoleon Society of Ireland very soon with details of a meeting to discuss the way forward for the organisation following our highly successful hosting of the International Napoleonic Congress in 2016.

Nominations for our bi-annual humanitarian award are invited from our members as are ideas about how we may continue to promote the cultural, political and humanitarian links between Napoleonic France and the Irish Republic.

Vivre L’ Emperor!

Derek Byrne CLJ, President, Napoleon Society of Ireland

Dear members and friends,

A meeting of the Napoleon Society of Ireland will take place on Saturday the 8th of April in the Cafe at Dublin Castle in Dublin 2 at 3pm.

After the success of the 2016 International Napoleonic Congress, it is important that we look to the future of the organisation and decide on a focus for the future.

It is also time to vote for a new President as I have now completed my three year term of office and feel it is time to hand over to someone who will take the Napoleon Society of Ireland into the future.

Our annual meetings are important for planning and building the society. Our charity event last year, The Empire Ball, raised 1,300 euro for the Jack and Jill Foundation which was a massive achievement for our first event.

Post International Congress, we have other opportunities ahead and I look forward to working with our team in the months and years ahead.

Regards,

Derek Byrne,

President,

NSI.

In July 2016 the Napoleon Society of Ireland hosted the 14th International Napoleonic Congress at the St. Stephen’s Green Club in Dublin.

Opening with an address from myself as President of the NSI and J. David Markham as President of the INS on Monday the 11th of July, the congress welcomed a host of delegates from all over the world and from organisations such as the Foundation Napoleon in Paris. We were also delighted to welcome Prince Nicholaus Blucher to the congress, descendant of Field Marshal Blucher of Waterloo fame.

The congress was officially launched by our Patron Senator David Norris and a week of highly polished and well researched presentations began.

Highlights of the week were presentations from our very own Dr. Sylvie Kleinman and Peter Molloy both of home were made Fellows of the International Napoleonic Society and presented with their gold eagle pins at a the President’s Dinner on the 13th of July.

The week of events drew to a close with the Empire Ball, a Napoleon Society of Ireland charity event held at the St. Stephen’s Green Club on Friday the 15th.

On Saturday delegates were treated to a trip to the Bonaparte-Wyse museum in Waterford before meeting for end of congress drinks back in Dublin at the Shelbourne Hotel.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the members of the NSI for their hard work and support in making the International Congress such a success. I would especially like to thank Anne and Adrian Farrelly for Their hard work and support, Cliona Buckley, Phil Caufield, Dr. James O’Higgins-Norman, Robert Lee-Mulcahy, Tom Mullins and the Management and Staff of the St. Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club.

We look forward to the 2017 congress in Germany, details of which will be posted very soon.

Regards,

Derek Byrne,

President,

NSI.

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!

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