Fortunino Matania

Born in Naples, among his better-known works are illustrations of the sinking of the Titanic and of the Lusitania. Most famous of all was a wartime painting entitled ‘Goodbye, Old Man’, depicting a soldier bidding farewell to his dying horse. Matania produced the first picture of the opening of Tutankhamen’s tomb by Howard Carter in 1922. In … Read more

Ordnance Survey employment records

By Fiona Fitzsimons   Evidence in family history consists of any source—a document, photo or artefact—with a name (or names), date, place-name or story attached to it. Even the dullest administrative documents can be turned to a genealogical purpose if they contain this base evidence. In 1824 the Ordnance Survey (OS) opened for business in Ireland. … Read more

All the King’s Men

The late nineteenth-century Orange revival in King’s County (Offaly). By Quincey Dougan In what was named King’s County by Queen Mary during a phase of plantation in 1556, there were five Orange lodges operational in 1798, in the early years of the Orange Institution. While it is highly likely that there were still those within … Read more