Rosemary Richey - Landed Society in Mid-Eighteenth Century Ireland

Sigerson family coat of arms: see Appendix 6

DEDICATION

To my wife,
Helen, and children,
Jacqueline, Siobhan, Fiona,
Declan and Ciaran.

POET, PATRIOT, SCIENTIST AND SCHOLAR

KEN McGILLOWAY

Ulster Historical Foundation is please to extend thanks to the following groups/organisations for the financial support they provided towards the publication of this book:

Ard Chomhairle CLG
Comhairle Uladh CLGComhairle Ardoideachais CLG
Coiste Tr Eoghain CLG
Cumann Mhic Sioghair CLG, Strabane
ONeills Sportswear
Strabane History Society

All contributions are gratefully acknowledged.

First Published 2011
by Stair Uladh
(an imprint of Ulster Historical Foundation)
Charity Ref. No. XN48460
E-mail:
Web: www.ancestryireland.com
www.booksireland.org.uk

Except as otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means with the prior permission in writing of the publisher or, in the case of reprographic reproduction, in accordance with the terms of a licence issued by The Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publisher.

Ken McGilloway
Epub ISBN: 978-1-908448-16-3
Mobi ISBN: 978-1-908448-15-6

Printed by MPG Biddles
Design by Cheah Design

There are many people I want to thank for the help and assistance I received in seeing this book reach completion. I earnestly hope that I have adequately acknowledged their generosity in sharing their time and knowledge with me.

My wife, Helen, provided the original inspiration for the book and has given constant support and encouragement over the years to help me complete the journey.

Eibhlin Humphreys gave me access to her grandfathers and her mothers unpublished manuscripts and other important related material, including photographs and letters; I made a promise to her that her grandfathers name would be properly remembered. Dermot Humphreys, her grandson, provided me with additional valuable family photographs and other important information.

From the moment I first shared the story of George Sigerson with him, my late brother Olly gave me his enthusiastic support and encouragement, set me the task of producing 20 pages of text every week and then spent long hours working on a word processor trying to arrange and make sense of my scribble. To him I am eternally grateful.

Joe Martin played a pivotal role in seeing the book reach publication. In 1990, on learning that I was doing research into the life of George Sigerson, he wrote to me, urging me to preserve the memory of this great man. When he eventually had the opportunity to see my work, his response was positive and encouraging, and for this and for the practical help and advice he has given me I offer my sincere thanks.

John Dooher has embraced this project and supported it with enthusiasm since we first met almost two years ago. His extensive knowledge of Irish history, an area in which my knowledge is sadly limited, has proved invaluable and has added much to this story. His role in editing the text has been particularly crucial in the last few months and he has also helped smooth my journey through the publishing process.

Without hesitation, Dnal McAnallen generously provided a very comprehensive and valuable chapter on the history of the Sigerson Cup and has been a tireless worker in promoting the memory of George Sigerson.

I wish to thank the following, who were of particular help in the publication process: Fintan Mullan of the Ulster Historical Foundation for the Foundations support in agreeing to publish the book; Alicia McAuley, who edited the manuscript with thoroughness and with much patience; Jill Morrison, Cheah Design, for her valued contribution on the design of the book; and John McCandless for his excellent work on the cover and photographs.

I am also indebted to the following people, some of whom, sadly, are no longer with us but who have contributed in no small way to the telling of this story: Eddie McIntyre, former county librarian, Lifford; Michael G. Kennedy of Strabane Historical Society; Jacqueline McIntyre of Belfast; Professor Robert Welch of the University of Ulster at Coleraine; Dr Billy Kelly of the University of Ulster at Magee College, Derry; Dr amonn Cardha of the University of Ulster at Magee College, Derry; Dr Norman Chestnutt of Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry; Tadhg MacConnell of Buncrana; Betty Caffrey of Dublin; Elizabeth Bell of Kent; Michael Harron of Strabane; Bernadette McGilloway of Derry; Charles McGarrigle of Kent; Fr John Walsh of Buncrana; Charles Gallagher of Derry; Nuala Cassidy of Derry; the staff of Derry Central Library, Belfast Central Library and Downpatrick Library; James Roche of University College, Dublin; and the librarian of the National Library of Ireland, Dublin.

If I have omitted anyone from these acknowledgements, it has been done unknowingly and I offer my sincere apologies.

It was in a second-hand bookshop in Dublin many years ago that I first encountered the name Sigerson. I overheard my wife, Helen, enquiring of the bookseller if he had any books by a Dr Sigerson. Curious, I asked her who he was. She informed me that he was a relative, the brother of her great-grandmother, Jane McGinnis. She said he was famous in his day but that was all she knew about him. My interest was immediately aroused. I wanted to find out who this man was. I did not know it at the time, but that simple question marked the beginning of a fascinating and compelling journey of discovery which would eventually result in this book.

Early on in my research, I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Eibhlin Humphreys, the daughter of Hester Sigerson Piatt and granddaughter of George Sigerson himself. At the age of three, Eibhlin and her brother, Donn, had moved in to live with their grandfather, after the sudden death of their father, also named Donn Piatt, who had been the American vice-consul in Ireland. I spent many enjoyable hours in her company listening to her memories of her mother and grandfather and of the comings and goings in Clare Street, where the Sigerson family lived from 1877 to 1925. Eibhlin gave me access to her mothers unpublished manuscripts,

The more I learned about Sigerson, the more intrigued I became. His influence was wide ranging, especially regarding the revival of Irish language and culture, medical research and political journalism. Yet many people had never heard of him. There is no doubt of his importance in Irish history contemporary sources prove this but researchers and writers have not yet attempted to document his life or his work. I was determined that the story of this exceptional mans life should be told.

This book has assumed many forms since my interest was first aroused in George Sigerson. It began as an attempt to describe in a straightforward way the more obvious facts about Sigersons life. It became clear at quite an early stage, however, that his story was much more complex that many of his attitudes, ambitions, achievements and activities had been greatly influenced by the events of the past and by concern for the future. Sigerson lived for 89 years. In that time he was active in helping to establish an independent university, teaching there, caring for the sick, translating Irish poems and songs into English verse, carrying out medical, scientific, political and social research, challenging the understanding of current affairs and helping to promote reform in a wide range of areas.