December 2011
An Annual Recollection From The Association of Retired Insurance Staff celebrating 30 years of Aris 1981 - 2011
Visit our website: www.ariscork.ie - Email: [email protected]
• Chairman’s Report & Diary 2010-2011
• Reeling in the Years
• 30 Years A Growing • Somers Payne • Aris 30th Birthday
• 30th Anniversary Golf Classic
ARIS Chairmen
1982
1983
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
1997 1998
1999 2000
2001 2002 2003
2004
2005/6
2007/8
‘09/10/11
JB Maher Noel Gavin Noel Gavin Liam Stack Tom Lapthorne Tom Lapthorne Jack Power Garret Tobin Gertie Gavin
Joe Matthews Denis O’Donoghue
Maurice Casey
Donie Cremin Jack Power Jim O’Keeffe Ray Fitzgerald JB Forde Kieran Canniffe Declan Canton Brendan Lyons Jim Heappey Aidan Duggan Declan O’Connor
Michael Kavanagh Tom Lynch Maurice Griffin Absent
Irish Life
Royal
Royal
Irish Life
Royal Liver
Royal Liver
Scottish Provident
Irish Life
Sun Alliance
Irish Life
Irish Life
Royal Liver
Scottish Provident
Irish Life
Commercial Ins. Bkrs
Norwich Union
Eagle Star Life
Eagle Star
Phoenix & Cusack Ins.
General Accident
Royal
Royal
Allianz
City Life
Zurich
Sean Murphy
Sadly Sean passed away in May
this year. He started in the London
and Lancashire Insurance, which
later became part of The Royal
Insurance. We remember Sean
this Christmas and we remember
his wife Tess and family.
Gertie Crowley (Canton)
We remember Gertie who attended
many Aris meetings as a guest with
Declan, at this time we remember
Gertie and her family.
Suaimhneas Siorai Doibh
Notice Board
But not forgotten
AGM January 5TH, 11.00am, Douglas GC
ARIS Email and Website: Members can now email and access ARIS as follows:
Website: www.ariscork.ie
-
email: [email protected]
Membership: Retired and semi-retired insurance personnel, just telephone Ray Fitzgerald
(087) 974 3107 or any committee member, or call to Douglas Golf Club on the first Thursday of the
month. All very welcome.
Archives: Please give any old photos, documents, reports, newspaper cuttings etc to any committee
member for digital recording. All will be returned in time. Thanks!
ARIS Times: ARIS Times is a record of work, activity, interaction of people in the insurance business
in Cork over the years. We ask that all members put stories of work, yarns, incidents, activities etc
down on paper, no matter how trivial, and hand them to any committee member. We’ll do the rest. It
may even appear in ARIS Times some year!
Feedback: To provide service to members, please give any committee member your comments on
talks, outings, our magazine and we will endeavour to oblige.
ARIS Communication: This year we hope that members with email get email notices in addition to
the hard copy. Accordingly we will need your email addresses please.
Chairman’s Report 2011
Aris Times arrival signals years end, and another successful year for our members and hopefully
an enjoyable one.
Years end and Christmas time, is a time to remember, and we remember Sean Murphy who passed
away in May, and at this time we remember his wife Tess and his family. Also we remember Gertie
Crowley (Canton), Declan’s sister, who passed away in May, and we remember her family.
This year we celebrate Aris’ 30th birthday 1981 - 2011 and a fitting tribute to Aris, and thereby to
its members were the 125th Anniversary Awards, to three members, your editor and chair, Moi, and
Declan Canton, but particularly to our Hon. Sec/Treas., Ray Fitzgerald, without whom and his absolute
dedication over the years there would be no Aris. On behalf of all members our congratulations to
Ray and his dedicated back up, Muriel, thanks a million.
Aris goes from strength to strength, with the Insurance Institute of Ireland proposing to roll out
a National Association, Naris, based on our model. The Institute both locally and nationally are
great supporters of Aris, the former with an annual subvention and the latter with practical help in
registering the website and email, which are being used more and more as time goes by.
It is a privilege to be able to serve Aris members as Chair, but particularly this year the 30th
Anniversary. 2011, is my last year as Chair, at the agm, I will be passing on the baton, but I will be
continuing my role as editor, and a new role in transferring all our paper information, membership
lists and accounts on to our new laptop, and hopefully easy to pass on to successors. So a final word
of thanks and appreciation to all our sponsors who provide the funds to keep the show on the road,
year in year out, but in particular to rsa who kindly sponsored the golf classic. Thanks a million to
all our wonderful speakers who give of their time, and to all within Aris who give of their time Michael
Lawlor and Declan Canton and particularly Kieran Caniffe and committee for organising the golf,
my predecessor Tom Lynch, Michael Twomey, Noel Dillon, Michael Kavanagh and Jim Fitzgibbon.
Thanks to all who contribute to Aris Times but in particular to Aidan Duggan and his back up, Peg,
for wonderful poetry contributions over many years.
A special thank you to you the members for your wonderful support during my term as chair, I hope
that I have given the service you deserve.
The talks and outings are merely a conduit to Aris’ main mission contact on a regular basis
for old colleagues on the mall, so as Chair, Slán agus Beannachtai Oraibh Go Leir, Arrividerci!!
Seasons greetings, good health, happiness and fulfilment in 2012.
Go mbeirimid beo ar an tam seo aris.
Maurice Griffin
Chairman 2011
Aris 2011
30th Anniversary Year Diary
December 9th
Christmas Lunch - Douglas Golf Club
This year again we had a well attended lunch,
and we were honoured by the presence of
distinguished guests, Finbarr Moloney, Cork
Institute President, and Denis Kelleher, Ins.
Inst. Ireland President, and Sharon Kelleher,
Marketing, Ins. Inst. Ireland. Both Presidents
spoke, and Denis officially launched the Aris
website and the email service. In future these
will be of great benefit to members. Michael
Twomey did a nostalgic look at Christmas after
the meal.
January 6th Agm - Douglas Golf Club
February 3rd
Three Centuries History of the Cork
Opera House and Theatre Royal Cork
Speaker: Dr. Alicia St. Ledger
Manners, Bensons Shakespeare Co., but on
the 12th December 1955 it too was destroyed
by fire, rebuilt, and in recent times refurbished to
ensure Corkonians enjoy theatre into the future.
Once again our thanks to Dr. St. Ledger.
March 3rd The Mall - Its Characters, Its Yarns, Its Times
Speaker: Gerry Dinan Gerry started in the Shield, with among others
Sam O’Carroll, and Arthur Finbarr O’Leary
(Archie). The manager was J.P. McCarthy,
known as, J.P. Part of Gerrys duties were to
spend a half day each week on J.P.’s, Carrigeen
moss exporting business, run in parallel with
insurance. Dan Duggan, had the job of getting
the participants of mini conferences, cakes from
the Willow Pattern, a coffee shop, over Maynes
Chemist in Pembroke Street.
Staff were actively encouraged to canvass in the
evening times and J.P. allowed staff to take his
blue Ford V8, Reg No. ZB 5964 on the canvass
missions. Gerry, Sam and Archie were willing
participants and on one mission damaged the
door handle of the car in Glanmire, from where
they went to Mallow and Kanturk and eventually
ended up at the nurses dance in Millstreet.
Alicia St. Ledger with former “Royal” Underwriters
Earliest references refer to a theatre in Dingle
Street, off Kyle Street, but the building of the
Theatre Royal in 1736 at the junction of Oliver
Plunkett St., and Princes Street, began the era
of Theatre in Cork, with a wide range of plays,
operas, comedies, musical events, staged. This
venue was replaced by a new larger theatre in
1760, the site being the current GPO, destroyed
by fire in 1840, rebuilt 1853, and in 1875 moved
to Emmet Place. It was a converted theatre,
and opened for opera in 1877, The Opera
House. Generations of Corkonians filled the
venue to enjoy their preferred performances
which included Cork Operatic Society, Moody
L to R: Meave Treacy, Mrs. Billy O’Neill, Mrs. Don Trotter
Back to Cork in the early hours of the morning to
Archies house to find a hammer to fix the door
handle, in Bontys field, Glasheen, at 3.00am.
S.V. Kirkpatrick, was appointed Gen. Manager,
an advocate of new technology, S.V., purchased
a new dictation machine which could play
back via a loudspeaker. Deciding to test the
technology during an overtime shift, Gerry,
Mick Sullivan (Sullivan and White), and Sam,
encouraged Mick to perform “Some Enchanted
Evening” in his best Clongowes Wood accent,
to discover he had recorded over JP’s dictation.
The lads facing possible dismissal, were saved
by that enlightened dictum, learned in Institute
exam texts “Novus Actus Intervieniens”.
A storm blew the roof from the Shield, including
the ceiling of JP’s. office and destroyed the new
technology.
An Ex British army man, Nicholas was appointed
porter, whose duties were to fire the boiler in
the morning, and mind JP’s, flock of sheep on
the lee road in the afternoons. He was known
as the “Good Shepherd”, he found the job very
stressful, and joined the “Third Order” of St.
Francis, to meditate and relieve the stress, only
to have the latter increased when his new cap
was hobbled during weekly meditation. Gerry’s
talk is the subject of research for a future article
but the editor appeals to all members to put their
experiences on paper, we owe it to pass on the
social personal history of the Mall. Our Buiochas
Mór to Gerry.
April 7th
Musical Morning - From Italy to the World
Presenter: Ted Murphy
Ted traced the influences of Italian music on
world music over the centuries, and first up was
Nessun Dorma by Puccini, by the three tenors
Pavarotti, Domingo, Carreras from the night of
the opening of Italia 90. Then Ted showed the
influences of sacred music Kyrie no harmony, no
instruments, to Mozarts Kyrie with full orchestra
and harmony.
Then to Baroque, Domenico Zipoli, a Jesuit
composed adagio for cello, oboe, strings and
organ, emigrated to Argentina, and spread
Italian music throughout the Americas, and of
course Vivaldi Four Seasons entered the top 10
music charts in Europe and America.
L to R: Michael Twomey, Sean Murphy RIP,
Maurice Griffin, Ted Murphy, Brendan Boylan
Opera means “work” in Italian and the
compositions were indeed large works.
Monteverdi composed the first opera, and
because Italy then was ruled by France, Rossini
composed “Hymne d’Italie et de la France” for
the coronation of Charles ii, in Paris. Gaetano
Donizetti, brother of the more famous Donezetti,
went to the Sultans Court in Istanbul as “music
director” and became known as Guiseppe
Pasha, and spread Italian music throughout
the empire, which included a large swathe of
Islam. Verdi was inspirational and continues to
influence music today.
San Remo, near Napoli, was the precursor of
Eurovision, Giniola Cinquetti, a 16 year old girl
in 1964 won Eurovision with “No Ho l’eta” (I have
not aged), it having previously won San Remo.
Dino Paul Crocetti (Dean Martin), did his bit
with “An Evening in Roma” and Morricone with
film music, and in 1995 La Vita E Bella (life is
good) Nicola Piovanni, and 1995 also launched
Andrea Bocelli, sang “Con Ti Partiro” (I will go
with you), which won at San Remo, and was the
biggest selling single in Europe that year.
It would be remis in the context of Italy not to
mention “O Sole Mio” by Giovanni Capurro,
1890, has spread far and wide, covered by
various artists and in various guises, but it was
at Italia 90 where it made its mark on the masses
by the 3 tenors.
Ted gave a wonderful talk as usual, and due to
demand we may repeat it, our thanks to Ted.
Don’t miss it next time round.
May 5th
First outside visit of 2011, to the Masonic Hall Tuckey St. Cork. Presented by Dr. David Butler.
Distressed members families, education of
orphans, and charity work are the important
segments of freemasonry. All members must
believe in a supreme being, a strict prerequisite
to joining. High moral standards and integrity
are required of members in their personal lives,
and discussions on politics, religion or business
is strictly forbidden at the lodge.
We offer our thanks to Dr. David Butler and Alan
Campbell, Aris member, who organised and
introduced Aris to the Masonic Hall.
Members gathered in the ground floor in the
museum room of the hall for a cup of tea. Dr.
David Butler explained the significance of all
the badges, medals, cups, memorabilia and
paintings, all of which play an important part in
Masonic tradition and ritual. A painting exists
of Elizabeth Aldworth, who in 1712, covertly
witnessed a Masonic ritual in Doneraile Court,
and as a consequence had to be inducted
into the freemasons, so the only ever female
member of the freemasons is a Cork woman,
dowtcha boy!!!
L to R: Noel Dillon, Michael Twomey, Dr. David Butler, Billy Sullivan, Jim Fitzgibbon and Alan Campbell
June 2nd - The Bosun Monkstown
Masonic Hall
The hall was built in 1770 as the new assembly
rooms, in the new development, Tuckey Street.
The upperfloors were rented to various societies
including the 1st lodge of the freemasons. In
1844 the freemasons bought the building, and
in 1925 when all Cork lodges joined up, a top
floor was added, now known as the Royal Arch
Chapter Room. The furnishings, stalls, panelling,
are taken from the old St. Finbarres Cathedral in
1866, and are 300 years old.
A masons meeting or group is known as the
lodge, and meetings are held in the hall.
We intended to have the usual boat trip to
Marlogue, East Ferry, but with a weeks notice
the boat owners cancelled, so we had to cancel
our trip and arranged a members lunch in the
Bosun, Monkstown. We had a wonderful lunch,
good company, and chat. Our thanks again
to Ray who at short notice had to telephone
everybody and re-organise, thanks Ray.
July 7th Visit to Skibbereen Heritage Centre and Lough Hyne.
a wonderful talk by Terry Garvey, ably assisted
by Aris famine expert, Pat Gunne.
Lovely lunch followed in West Cork Hotel, and
on by coach to Lough Hyne, but the weather
was wet and windy, and only a few hardy Aris
members braved the elements on the day.
August 24th - My Life as a Journalist
by Fergal Keane.
The great Irish Famine of the 1840s is now
recognised as the most appalling disaster of
19th century Europe. In 1841 the population
of Ireland was 8.5 million, but by 1850, at least
one million had died in terrible conditions, while
another million had emigrated as refugees from
the disaster. Skibbereen was one of the worst
affected areas in all of Ireland, it was reported
in the press at the time of how terrible the
situation had become. Between 8000 and 10000
unidentified souls rest in famine burial graves
across the river from the Skibbereen Heritage
Centre.
L to R: Tom Lynch, Fergal Keane, Michael Twomey, Dan Donovan
As part of our 30th Anniversary, Aris members
were invited to this prestigious talk by Probus
group and Jim Fitzgibbon. It was excellent and
our sincere thanks to Jim and his group, Probus.
August 26th - Golf Classic - Cork Golf
Club. Reported in the Golf Section.
September 1st - Cork Trams and the
Muskerry Line by Tim O’Brien.
Foreground: Declan & Teresa O’Connor
Centre: Aidan & Peg Duggan
Back: Rose & Padraig O’Luasa
The centre displays gives an insight to the
famine in Skibbereen, particularly the audio
visual actual events dramatised by actors, the
soup pots, the minimalist of ingredients, the
protest in town and the stealing of food. We had
Tim provided a wonderful audio visual on the
trams and horse drawn carts and cars in Cork
in the late 19th and early 20th century. 1872 to
1875 was the short era of the horse drawn tram,
electric trams were introduced in 1860, by one
George F. Train, and one of its purposes was
to link the main stations. A Bro. Burke in the
North Mon., was the main driver to install trams,
which criss/crossed the city from Blackpool
to Blackrock. There were also local train lines
Cork / Blackrock and Passage Railway, 50mins
journey then, Cork / Macroom Railway via
Ballyphehane and Ballincollig. In 1878 a serious
accident occurred at Curraheen, five people
were killed, the line closed in 1953.
West Cork Railway 1842, went from Cork to
Bandon via Goggins Tunnell at Half Way and on
to Timoleague, Clonakilty, Bantry. The Muskerry
tram Cork terminus was at Lancaster Quay,
and actually ran on the Western Road itself, to
Blarney, Cloghroe, Peake, Dripsey, Coachford,
and it closed in 1934. Cork / Youghal closed but
partially re-opened in 2008 as far as Midleton.
To coinside with our 30th Anniversary 2nd
October 1981 Members and guests celebrated
with a buffet lunch after the talk with chat,
reminiscing over the years, and a joint cutting
of the birthday cake by Maurice and Ray, which
was shared by all.
October 6th 30th Anniversary Buffet and Talk
“Cork, 1st 20 years of 20th Century”
by Tim O’Brien.
L to R: Elsa Collins, Sister Ann Collins, Mary Riordan
Tim recalled the sinking of the two liners, The
Titanic, 1912, called to Cobh on the way to
America and the Lusitania 1915, sunk by
a German U Boat, and brought the US into
wwi. 1903 saw another Royal visit, Tim also
highlighted the conscription to the British Army,
the burning of Cork on 11th December 1920,
its implications, damage £4m, Lloyds £1m,
severe disruption to family and business life, and
602 claims!! The deaths of Tomas McCurtain,
and Terence McSwiney, and the poignant last
letters written. The people anxiously awaiting
and praying at the jail at the time of the hunger
strike, and praying outside the Foreign Office in
London for a successful outcome to the Treaty
negotiations going on inside.
Michael Collins trip to Cork, his meticulous note
to Cosgrove about his concerns on the Banks
and financial matters, echos of our current plight.
Both of Tims talks were pictorial and interactive our thanks to Tim.
L to R: Tom Lynch, Donal O’Reilly, Tim
O’Brien, Billy O’Neill, Mrs. Geary
Cups of Tea being enjoyed in the Masonic Hall
November 4th - Air Traffic
Control by Dan Callinan
Dan spent many years as an air traffic controller
at Cork Airport, and he emphasised that safety
is paramount at all times at air traffic control.
After World War 2, it was decided to regulate
civil aviation on a world basis and under the
auspices of the un, specifications, navigation
and radar, signals, and standard aviation
language - English - were
standardised and the controlling
body was the Civil Aviation
Organisation in each country.
Distance on the horizontal
between aircraft must be 5
miles, within this limit is a near miss, 2000 feet
on the verticle. Currently radar is the developed
system of navigation, and the use of computers
to route journeys, aircraft locations, is automatic
and extensive. Shannon Airport has an
extensive navigation system to cover the North
Atlantic prior to an aircraft coming onto American
radar. Dan alluded to some tragic air accidents
particularly the double jumbo accident on talkoff
in Tenerife. It was a wonderful and enlightening
talk our thanks to Dan.
L to R: Elsa Collins, Michael Geary, Ger Manning, Dan Calnan, Dan Donovan
Poet’s Corner 2011 by Aidan Duggan
The Pride of Ireland
I considered a few themes for this years
article before coming to the conclusion that
it had to be the great excitement and uplift
we all received during the month of May
on the state visits of Queen Elizabeth ii and
President Obama.
I think our country and our people did us
proud on the occasion and our vip visitors
responded accordingly and I know we all
hope that the visits will enhance our standing
in the uk and the usa, and indeed elsewhere
as well, and will result in a substantial increase
in tourism and economic development for our
hardpressed country.
So in honour of the visit I have decided that
this year I would feature an English Poem, an
American Poem, and to recognise the splendid role our Uachtarán played during the visit, an Irish
Poem as well.
And who could be more English than the poet William Wordsworth, one of England’s greatest
nature poets, who spent most of his life in the lake district of his native Cumberland. He had a great
appreciation of the beauty of nature in all its forms and he expressed this so well in these lines from
a poem which he wrote on returning home ( aptly named, Dove Cottage ) after an evening stroll
along the cliff tops.
By the Sea …… William Wordsworth 1770 --- 1850
Its a beauteous evening, calm and free
the holy time is quiet as a nun
breathless with adoration; the broad sun
is sinking down in its tranquility.
The greatness of heaven is on the sea
listen! The mighty being is awake
and doth with his eternal motion make
a sound like thunder everlastingly
For my American poem I tried to choose something which would reflect President Obama’s speech
which he made on College Green encouraging us to put our recent difficult times behind us and face
the future with confidence. I’m sure we all hope that his “Is feidir linn“ call, will not go unanswered!
The American poet Julia Ward Howe was a great social reformer and a strong advocate of negro
emancipation. One of her poems “Battle Hymn of the Republic” became a very popular song during
the Civil War and after the war, Americans on both sides of the divide made it their national battle
hymn.
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Julia Ward Howe, 1819 - 1910
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vitage where the grapes
Of wrath are stored
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his
Terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on……..
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall
Never call retreat
He is sifting out the hearts of men before his
judgement seat
Oh! Be swift, my soul to answer him!
be jubilant my feet!
our god is marching on………….
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born
Across the sea
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you
and me
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make
Men free
While God is marching on………
As regards an Irish poem, my selection was very simple matter. One of the most significant events
in the Queen’s schedule was when she accompanied President Mc Aleese on a visit to the Garden
of Remembrance, a shrine to the memory of those who died in the pursuit of Irish freedom. No
doubt the Queen would have been made aware that the garden had been created in 1966 to honour
the 50th Anniversary of the 1916 rising and this would have added too the poignancy of the visit.
In recognition of the event I’ve included a poem by Patrick Pearse, an ardent nationalist who as we
know was Commandant General of the Irish forces during the rising. He was also a signatory to the
proclamation of independence for all which he was court-martialed and executed. His poetry shows
that as well as his intense national spirit, Pearse also had a very gentle and caring nature and I feel
the poem I have chosen reflects this. There is also a sadness in it ….. perhaps the reality of future
events casting shadows?
The Wayfarer - Patrick H Pearse, 1879 - 1916
The beauty of the world hath made me sad
this beauty that will pass
sometimes my heart hath shaken with great joy
to see a leaping squirrel in a tree
or a red ladybird upon a stalk
or little rabbits in a field at evening
lit by a slanting sun
Or some green hill where shadows drifted by
some quiet hill where mountainy man hath sown
and soon would reap; near to the gate of
heaven or children with bare feet upon the sands
of some ebbed sea, or playing on the street
of little towns of Connacht
And then my heart hath told me
these will pass
will pass and change, will die and be no more
things bright and green, things young and happy,
and I have gone upon my way
sorrowful!
Happy Christmas Aidan Duggan December 2011
Insurance Institute Notes, Cork
The Annual Dinner was hosted by President Finbarr Moloney, with guest speaker Fergus Finlay of
Barnardos, for whom iii did an Irish sponsored cycle last year. We had wonderful entertanment after
dinner.
At the Insurance Institute of Cork agm Rosaleen Mackeown, acii, bsc, was elected President for
session 2011 / 2012. On behalf of all Aris members we wish Rosaleen well in her Presidential duties.
Rosaleen is the 3rd Lady President of the Institute in Cork.
President: Rosaleen Mackeown
Deputy President: Susan Stanley
Aris Council Rep: Kieran Canniffe
Annual Dinner:
agm:
Friday, 20th January 2012
Tuesday, 13th March 2012
Insurance Institute Dinner 2011
L to R: Fergus Finlay, Barnardos (Guest Speaker), Colm Coffey (Marsh), Denis Kelleher (President Insurance Institute Ireland), Denis’ Wife, Imelda and Alan Lynch.
Irish Soprano’s Perform at Cork Dinner
Insurance Institute of Ireland
125th Anniversary Awards in Dublin - Aris Members
Front Row: Sec. Ray, Denis Kelleher, Chair. Maurice Griffin
3rd Row: Finbarr Moloney, Pres. Ins. Inst. Cork
2010 was the 125th Anniversary of the Institute in Ireland, and during the presidency of Corkman,
Denis Kelleher, many events were held to mark the occasion. Also the Institute at the 125th agm,
decided to use the occasion to acknowledge the work and service of many people to the Institute
over many years.
The Insurance Institute of Cork had four recipients immediate past President Finbarr Moloney, and
Aris founder Ray Fitzgerald. Totally unexpected were the other nominees your current Chair and Aris
Times editor, Maurice Griffin, and current golf sec. and former editor, Declan Canton. All graciously
accepted the awards on behalf of all Aris members, which acknowledges the esteem in which Aris
is held in Institute circles.
Phillip Smith, ceo, rsa was elected president of iii and Richard Enderson his deputy. Aris wishes
Phillip good luck for his term as president.
An Insurance Institute Council meeting was held in Cork on July 19th 2012 and Aris members were
invited to a pre council talk by David Kemp, ceo of Irish Institute Federation.
Charities Jazz Lunch, Friday 28th October
Rosaleen MacKeown presents a laptop to Chairman Maurice Griffin
As is usual great cross industry support and a large Aris group, attended the lunch, with our now
nearly resident jazz band who entertained the diners as they enjoyed a wonderful lunch. Afterwards
Adrienne O’Sullivan, Irish Charities Rep. spoke and outlined the current demands on the charities,
emphasising that confidentiallity in all cases is key. Great work is done by the local Institute, and,
quite rightly too, Adrienne singled out Aris member Kieran Canniffe for his work with the charities.
The President, Rosaleen spoke, and the Institute decided to present Aris with a 30th birthday gift,
a laptop!! Chairman, Maurice Griffin accepted and thanked the Institute for the wonderful present
and continuing the 30th celebrations Aris made a donation to the Charities. Spot prizes, chat and
old friends were the order of the day. As Chairman I took the opportunity to thank again the Institute
and the many sponsors present for their support over many years, and in particular rsa this year.
On Aris 30th birthday we toasted Ray and Muriel.
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30 Years A Growing
What did these members
get up to in Killarney???
30 Years A Growing
Reeling In The Years!!!
Institute Dinner 1975, at the Metropole Hotel L to R: Ned McSweeney Sun Alliance London, Jim Cassidy, Shield, President, Justin Keating, Minister for Agriculture, Pat Saxton, Sec. Gen. cii.
Great Gre 1979 Ladies Soccer Team, Champions who were unbeaten for many years.
Back L to R: Mary Fitzgerald, Romilly Sims, Norma Foley, Ann Hutchinson, Enda Coughlan, Head Coach, Former FAI and uefa referee Billy O’Neill. Front L to R: Jean Hobbs, Deirdre Murphy,
Frank Herron manager Gre, Mairead Griffin
1973, Jubilee Quiz trophy being presented by President Ray Fitgerald to the winning team
Shield Insurance. L to R: Declan Canton,
Phillip Dwyer, Edmund Commane and Martin
Kavanagh, Quiz master. Ray also kindly
presented the trophy.
Ins. Inst Dinner Dance, 1960s at Glenbrook
L to R: Alan Normoyle, Ray Fitzgerald, Matt
Walsh, Gerry Dinan, Danny Duggan. At this
function Alan Normoyles belt broke, and binder
twine was secured to keep his trousers up!! The band Michael Burns Band Glenbrook. Question: Who are those foxtrotting in the
background? ... Answeres via email.
L to R: Shield Staff...1950’s....J.P. McCarthy, Vincent O’Connell, Bertie Britton, Mick Sullivan, Noreen Ownes, S.V. Kirk Patrick, Cecil Browniee
Commissions have just been increased!
A Happy Bunch of Brokers, at the cibi Dinner, circa 1989. L to R: Pat Twomey,
Billy Sullivan, Michael Twomey, Ray Fitzgerald, Mick Sullivan (RIP), Michael McCarthy, Jack O’Sullivan, Liam Dynan (RIP).
Aris Profile 2011
Life and Times of Esteemed Aris Member John Somers Payne
In October of 1956, far out in Dingle, Somers
Payne was a disappointed man, he read his
nomination for a place on the Irish Olympic
team had been rejected by 7 votes to 6. Later
that evening he read in the evening paper that a
mistake had been made, the vote should have
been 7 for and 6 against. “Its wonderful news,
after the disappointment that morning, I could
hardly believe it. To be quite honest I have not
got over it yet”, Somers said to the press.
On Monday November 12th 1956, Somers
joined the Irish team comprising Fred Tiedt,
Freddie Gilroy, John Caldwell, Maeve Kyle and
the others for the trip to Melbourne, Ronnie
Delaney would link up from America. On his
return from Melbourne, prior to Christmas 1956,
Somers was invited to address Cork Rotary on
his Olympic experience. Somers by now, was
well known, and what he said was reported by
the Cork Examiner as follows:
Somers 1944/5 London Irish Rifles
In November 1956, the Olympic Games
were held in Melbourne, Australia. Like all
Olympics, Melbourne was surrounded in
political controversy, in that the Swiss, above all
people decided to boycott, and then reversed
the decision, speculation mounted if Soviet
Champion, Nina Ponomareva, would attend,
having been convicted of shoplifting in London.
But the biggest and the most serious issue
was the attendance of the Hungarians. The
revolution against the Stalinist regime had
started on the streets of Budapest, the Olympic
team saying they would only compete for
the nation under the flag of free Hungary, i.e.
without the communist red star on the flag. The
team fled to Czeckoslovakia, where the Czeck
authorities indicated the Hungarian team would
be put in concentration camps unless the team
competed in the games. The Hungarian team
arrived in Melbourne.
“The parade of the worlds best runners and
the reception they got from a packed stadium
as they went to the start, the false start and
then the race, the first three laps Ronnie was
comfortable, but second last. The bell went for
the last lap, and as they went for the corner I
thought Ronnie could never get out as he was
so boxed up. But there was a quick side step,
which would have been a credit to any rugby
player, and he was through with Landy on his
heels. But it was clear Landy could not get to
the line, Landy saw this, and fell back again. But
Ronnie held to the outside and I saw the green
singlet flash to the front. Halfway up the straight
it was only a question for the others as to who
was going to receive the silver medal. Then
there was the glimpse of the terrific emotion it
is, to receive a gold medal, with the national flag
being hoisted and the national anthem being
played”.
Referring to the great display of the Irish boxers
Mr. Payne said that Fred Teidt showed what a
magnificent sportsman he was by the manner in
which he received the disputed decision in the
final.
In that address Somers Payne, without his
knowing it, and given his Anglo Irish Heritage
showed his pride in being Irish, his own
excellence as a competitor and representative
of the nation, gracious in defeat, integrity and
modesty in achievement, which he still retains.
Somers Payne was born in Glenbrook,
Monkstown in 1926 of proud Anglo Irish
Heritage. Brothers, John and Henry Shears, who
became revolutionaries and were hanged for
treason, in 1799, even though their philosophy
of the French Revolution, should have sat
easily with their Anglo Irish Heritage. The
Shears brothers had a sister, Jane, who was
Somers great great great grand mother, and
having married a Payne, adopted the surname
Shears - Payne, which was dropped by Somers
grandfather to the single name Payne. Somers
attended St. Columbas School in Dublin, where
he excelled at sports, playing rugby, cricket,
hockey and was schools sports captain. He also
attended Brightlands Prep. School in the Forrest
of Dean, when World War 2 broke out, and he
was sent home. After the war he joined the
British army for two years, serving in Italy and
Austria, and as a coast guard on Rimini beach.
During his sojourne a red flag was posted daily
to stop the swimming, but sailing was allowed!!
Prior to commencing his sailing career Somers
played rugby for Cork constitution at out half,
and won a Munster Junior Cup medal with the
club. But the lure of the sea was too great,
and a magnificent sailing career was about to
commence with his beloved boat “Melody”.
Somers father Capt James Payne and his
mother Aileen were both sailing enthusiasts,
his mother even in her later years would be
regularly collecting on the streets of Cork for the
Lifeboats.
When Somers Payne began to sail dinghies
his father was part of Cork Harbour’s sailing
legends. Twice World Champion in International
12 foot dinghies, Capt. Jimmy Payne was
considered a wizard at small boat sailing to the
end of his days. Somers made his reputation
in a far more competitive world of sailing, and
having inherited his fathers skill at the helm at
finding favourable slants of winds and eddies,
and the ability to drive a boat come strong blow
or calm, he inherited too his father’s famous
dingy, Melody, doyen of the 18 foot class.
His father, Capt. James Payne was joined in the
stand at a Constitution match by Hamie Lowry,
manager of the Ocean Insurance in Cork, who
enquired as to what Somers was going to
do. Capt. Payne said he is going to Burma to
plant tea, but Hamie wanted him in the Ocean
on Monday, and so Somers Payne started his
insurance career in the Ocean Accident and
Guarantee corp. It was in the Ocean he met his
crewman, shooting partner, and lifelong friend
Ken Sweetnam.
Somers, to rear in hat, aboard “Melody”
Bought in the late 1930s for general use by
members of the Royal Munster Yacht Club, now
the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Melody was won
in a club raffle by Capt. Payne. Thus began an
association of the boat Melody and the Payne
family with few parallels, because she was
rarely beaten to the line with her first personal
owner at the helm. Flor O’Leary in his tribute to
Somers said, “I can recall vividly the first time I
was on an 18 foot, sailed by my brother Arch,
(Aris Member), when we took his scalp on an
ordinary Wednesday league race. Suffice to say
the celebrations went on into the early hours of
the morning”. But in Somers hands, Melody won
25 national championships often of International
flavour.
Somers, enjoying his sailing
No less than 13 times Somers won the Irish
Title for the 18s, which qualified him for the
Irish Helmsmens Championship. He took these
supreme titles in 1959 and 1960, the year
sadness struck when his wife, Gladys, aged 30,
died.
Because of the numerical strength and ability
of Cork Harbours Helmsmen in the 18 foot
class British Northern and Southern Divisional
Championships, Cock O the North and Medway
Bowl, are held in Cork harbour, and even when
they are held in British waters, between Cowes
and Northern Scotland, Cork Helmsmen still
win. Somers and Melody won the Cock trophy
in 1959, 1962, 1965, 1967, and 1969 and they
captured the bowl in 1962, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67
and 69, 1968 the skipper was participating in
training on dragons for 1968 0lympics, in which
Ireland subsequently did not participate.
Somers greatest accolades were to be chosen
to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games
on two occasions Melbourne 1956 and Rome
1960, the latter in the finn class with which he
was not as familiar as 18 foot Melody, but he
acquitted himself well, with difficult conditions
on the Bay of Naples where the yachting was
held. It is often forgotten, but in these years
Somers won Thames Challenge Cup, Sterling
Trophy, Whitford Cup, Cork Harbour Perpetual
Cup, on several occasions.
When Cork Examiner presented Munster
Sports Stars for 1969, the sailing award went to
Somers, and there were former colleagues also
honoured Pat Dineen Cricket, Standard Life,
and Denis Murphy, Hurling, Standard Life.
Dr. Alf Delaney, sailed for Ireland at the
1952 Olympics in Helsinki, said “his greatest
disappointment in his whole career was loosing
the 1959 Helmsmans Championship to his arch
rival Somers Payne”. Payne of all Irish yachtsman
is the sailor Alf most admired.
labrador retriever called Lance won the trials, it
was Somers dog!!
Somers Payne achievements are an incredible
list, and all are not mentioned, but his greatest
were the distinction and example shown in
representing Ireland at home and abroad, his
graciousness and modesty, both in winning and
defeat, and by extension his native Cork, the
Royal Cork Yacht Club, his employer Hibernian,
his former colleagues on the Mall, his heritage
and his family. In Somers case its true to say “Ni
beigh a leithead Aris ann”.
On our 30th Anniversary, Aris acknowledges
Somers wonderful achievements, and are proud
to have such a distinguished member in our
midst.
Saluti….Somers and Eithne Payne
Throughout his sailing career, Somers continued
to work in insurance, eschewing promotion,
to continue his real vocation on the “ocean”,
as opposed to being in the “ocean” insurance,
(pardon the pun) he also fell in love again, and
married Eithne, and those in the know, say
Eithne is the power behind the throne! Somers
and Eithne have two sons, Leslie and James,
and two daughters Jacqui and Jennifer.
As a young inspector, I often met Somers “On
the Road”, particularly in the snug of a staunch
political pub in Midleton, which was used by an
industrial branch agent as his office, usually on
Wednesday afternoons. If I arrived first I would
meet the agent in the snug, but as soon as Mr.
Payne from Hibernian arrived, I had to exit,
and wait until they finished. I always assumed
that this procedure was out of respect to the
Olympian and elder states man, but no, I only
learned recently, it was because Somers had
sailing on Wednesdays!!
Somers was an all rounder, often fishing the
Bandon river, before playing competitive golf
and winning. In the early 70s he built a fishing
lodge in Waterville, to fish salmon and trout on
Currane lake, and he was an excellent shot.
Somers was also chairman of the Southern
Sporting Association, a body promoting dogs
and hunting. The inaugural Irish retriever trials
in early 1970s were held in Ballygarvan, a black
Somers in sailing uniform hat, scarf, jacket, and shorts!! Somer’s Payne
Somers on left, being presented with Hon. Fellowship of Rotary.
Through The……Green……Golf 2011
To celebrate 30 years we decided to hold a Golf
Classic, at Cork Golf Club on the 26th August
2011 we also took the opportunity to invite retired
persons from other local Institutes to view our
organisation, and to give impetus to the formation
of Aris Groups throughout the country, under the
aegis of the Institute and a proposed National
Body, Naris. A scramble format was used, with
teams participating from Limerick, Galway,
Dublin, and Waterford.
On the day the Waterford team Charlie
Lapthorne, Mick Daly, and Pat Murray
were winners, (indeed Charlies Dad, Tom,
is a past chair of Aris), followed closely by
Insurance Institute Cork Golf Society, and Karl
Bornemanns team in third place.
At the dinner, Chairman, Maurice welcomed
guests and emphasised the mission of Aris.
Keeping in contact with former colleagues ….
and used the occasion to stimulate interest
in Naris. Aris Golf Captain, Michael Lawlor
presented the prizes, and thanked Peter White,
Capt. Cork golf club, for the wonderful condition
of the course, restaurant staff, and Matt Sands,
Secretary. Peter participated in the golf and
dinner and spoke kindly of Aris and his dad, also
Peter, and an Aris member.
Mcilduff, director, who offered and followed
through on the sponsorship. Ger Dowling
was most gracious when speaking on behalf
of sponsors rsa. Ted Dwyer, City Life, also
sponsored, and to both sponsors we are most
grateful, thank you!!
After dinner our own John O’Leary, entertained
us with stories of the Cork character, “Donie”, as
only John can.
But golf classics don’t just happen, we had a
great team led by Kieran Canniffe, Tom Lynch,
Michael Kavanagh, Noel Dillon, Pat Foley, Ray,
and Captain Michael Lawlor all did a great job
to make the day so enjoyable. Ray actually was
put in charge of getting the weather right, and
we played in brilliant sunshine all day!! Also
Declan Canton did a wonderful poem succinctly
epitomising the Aris concept and philosophy “Is
feidir linn” our thanks to Declan.
A special presentation was given to Ray and
Muriel to acknowledge his founding, stewardship,
and service to Aris for 30 years. Pat Foleys
contribution to golf as President of the gui and
European Golf Union, was acknowledged with
the presentation of a special putter, specially
forged to meet the R and A standards, and
guaranteed to hole pressure putts from 3 metres.
The putter was also engraved, just in case of
loss or theft.
Kieran Canniffe, Tom Lynch, Fergus Cadwell, Captain Michael
Also we received wonderful sponsorship from
rsa, and we thank them and in particular Jack
Declan Canton, The Captain,
Tony Brooks, Ray,
Michael Kavanagh.
L to R: Pat Foley - Cork, Noel Jackson - Limerick, Carl Graham (RSA Sponsors). Tom Lynch - Cork, Donal O’Reilly - Limerick, Donal Walsh - Dublin
Water Rock, Aris home course hosted two events, on the usual three man scramble basis on:
26th May Sponsors:
1st Prize
2nd Prize
3rd Prize
Owens Mccarthy
Michael Lawlor, Decaln Canton, Tony Brooks
Brendan Boylan Gerry Dinan, Paddy O’Rourke
Kieran Canniffe, Tom Lynch, Fergus Cadwell
29th September Sponsors:
1st Prize
2nd Prize
3rd Prize
4th Prize
O’Leary Insurances
Kate Lawlor Fenns Quay Restaurant, Shears St. (Nearest the Pin)
Ken Stanton, Bill McCarthy, John Packham
Ken Stanton, Fergus Cadwell, Kieran Canniffe
John Cronin, Dermot Barron, Michael Lawlor (Caption)
Nearest The Pin - Noel Barber, Tom Murray, Michael Hassett
Both outings were well attended and the scoring was excellent, as is expected from Aris members.
Michael Lawlor, Captain, welcomed everyone, presented the prizes, ably assisted by golf Sec.
Declan Canton. Uniquely Michael is in his second year as captain, and given we also had the
golf classic Michael has done a great job. Our thanks to Michael and Declan. Dermot Barron, Mr.
Consistency, is Captain for 2012, and we all wish him well during his year in office.
Tom Lynch, Dan Lynch, Michael (Capt), Noel Dillion
“Setting the Course on Fire” ... Paddy O’Rourke, Fergus Cadwell, Kieran Cannife & the Captain
L to R: Dermot Barron, John Cronin, Michael Lawlor
L to R: G. Dinan, Paddy O’Rourke,
Brendan Boylan
Ger Dowling, Declan Barron,
John O’ Riordan, The Captain
30 Years A Golfing
Question......Who are in the buggy?
buggy?
Answers......via email!
John Packham gets a lesson from Brendan O’Donoghue, on the “Modern Fundamentals of Golf”...slightly sitting position, straight left arm & back straight, head down, focused on the ball”. This is the standard for all Aris Golfers.
Thank You to our sponsors...
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