John de Courcy Ireland

John Evan de Courcy Ireland (19 October 1911 – 4 April 2006) 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".

de Courcy Ireland's pre-university education was largely unhappy. He attended various schools, including a Church of Ireland preparatory school in London, which he recalled as cruel, and Marlborough College, where he developed a strong dislike for the British establishment due to its class system. School holidays were spent with his grandmother in Ireland, who taught him the Irish language, and with his mother and stepfather in Rome. His stepfather, aiming to prepare him for a British civil service career, clashed with his mother and grandmother over John's education.

Fascinated by the sea from an early age, de Courcy Ireland left Marlborough College at 17 to work as a steward on a Dutch cargo ship bound for Buenos Aires. De Courcy Ireland continued to promote socialist politics, opposing the DSP's merger with Labour and later supported Democratic Left until its own merger with Labour in 1998. Thereafter de Courcy Ireland joined the Socialist Workers Party.

A passionate campaigner and speaker, Ireland was involved in numerous organisations focused on peace, social justice, and civil rights. He was a founding member of the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Their marriage, which produced three children, was described by John as "a time of constant joy and interest, and frequently of excitement and positive emotion". A plaque in his memory was erected in Dalkey. It reads: To the memory of Dr John DeCourcy Ireland 1911–2006 Maritime Historian, Radical Politician, Humanist, Teacher and Linguist. Founder Member of C.N.D. in Ireland. Honours received from Argentina, Britain, China, France, Portugal, Spain, Yugoslavia, R.N.L.I. A true friend of seafarers

Recognition John de Courcy 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 the following:

Portuguese Order of Prince Henry 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 Maritime 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 wife, Betty. The Maritime Institute of Ireland, posthumously awarded him its gold medal; it was accepted by his daughter on his behalf.

Publications History of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, John De Courcy Ireland – 2001, Lifeboats in Dublin Bay, a review of the service from 1803–1997, John De Courcy Ireland – 1997, The Sea and the Easter Rising. John De Courcy Ireland – 1996 (first version), / Ireland's maritime heritage, John De Courcy Ireland – 1992, Ireland and the Irish in Maritime History, John De Courcy Ireland – 1985, Wreck and Rescue on the East Coast of Ireland, John De Courcy Ireland – 1983, Ireland's Sea Fisheries: A History, John De Courcy Ireland – 1981,