John de Courcy Ireland

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John de Courcy Ireland
John de Courcy Ireland

John de Courcy Ireland (October 19, 19114 April 2006) was an Irish maritime historian and political activist.

Born in Lucknow, India where his father served in the British Army, he was educated at the Malborough College, Oxford University and Trinity College Dublin, where he was awarded a PhD in 1951. The title of his thesis was "The Influence of the Sea on Civilisation".

He was a committed socialist and was involved in many Irish left-wing parties, including the Northern Ireland Labour Party, the Irish Labour Party, the Communist Party of Ireland, the Democratic Socialist Party,Workers' Party, Democratic Left and latterly the Socialist Workers' Party. He was Big Jim Larkin's election agent.

He was also involved in the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement and was president of the Ireland-China Friendship Society. He was an election candidate on a number of occasions.

He was a founding member of the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

[edit] Awards

Dr. Ireland had been a Council member of the Maritime Institute of Ireland, who operate the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, for 55 years and was its Honorary Research Officer. He was awarded:

  • Portuguese Order of the Infante
  • Order of the Yugoslav Flag
  • Order of Spanish Naval Merit
  • Order des Palmes Acadamiques of France
  • Member of Marine Academies of France
  • Member of Marine Academies of Portugal
  • Caird Medal of the British National Martime Museum
  • Member of Instituto Browniano (Argentina)
  • Centenary Medal of Almirante Brown (Argentina)
  • Hon. Life Governor of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution

The Award he valued most was the plaque in the Peoples' Park, Dún Laoghaire, as it was the only award that coupled his name with that of his dearest friend, his wife, Betty.

The Maritime Institute of Ireland, postumately awarded him their gold medal. It was accepted by his daughter 18 November 2006.

[edit] Publications

[edit] External links

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