Michael is a native of Kinlough, Co. Leitrim. While working in Limerick he earned his Private Pilots Licence. He has owned several 4-seater aircraft over the past 35 years. In those aircraft he has flown to most countries in Europe. These range from Lapland in the north, Greece in the east & south to Morocco. He has landed at over 50 European airports.

Michael's interest in aviation history commenced when he compiled the history of aviation in Limerick. He then self published a book about IONA – Ireland's first commercial airline. His latest publication took eight years to research and outlines the biographies & achievements of Ireland's early female aviators. This is his topic for discussion this evening.

The book contains the biographies of over a dozen Irishwomen who were at the cutting edge of the aeronautical revolution that swept these islands in the early twentieth century. Their stories are told against the backdrop of Irish economic, social and political life. Some enjoyed a lavish and aristocratic lifestyle, while others struggled to support themselves. They hailed from the four provinces of Ireland. Some of these women were contemporaries and acquaintances of other prominent aviatrices of the period, viz Amelia Earhart and Amy Johnson to name two.

The book contains a Foreword by President Michael D. Higgins.

In the words of President Higgins:

“This book, Petticoat Pilots, is a unique collector’s treasure-trove, not just for historians or scholars of Irish aviation, but for all those Irishwomen and Irishmen at home and around the world who wish to learn and celebrate the undeniable world-class, but too often unsung, achievements of the women whose stories are told within it.

The volume of research underpinning this book, conducted over a seven-year period, and the level of detail that has been provided, including some 773 beautifully reprinted historical images, is truly remarkable. I congratulate Michael Traynor for this tour de force. It is undoubtedly the ultimate reference source on the topic of women’s aviation history in Ireland, and will surely become internationally recognised as a foremost title on the subject.”

There are really no such people as the Irish! Disappointed? In fact we are all immigrants if you go back far enough, say 10.000 years. That's how we became to be known as Irish. The Irish people have continued to change over the millennia. Nonetheless we all have an interesting history. Just take a look at an old phone directory and note the vast array of surnames. John Brazil will give a wonderful overview of the various migrations into Ireland, using DNA analysis to help him along the way. Please prepare for this talk by doing your own research into your background, if you have not done so already. It will add value to John's talk. John may be doing some digging, so be prepared! (JF)

John Brazil has degrees from Trinity, UCD & Manchester universities, and has worked in biomedical science in Ireland since 1974. He has a longstanding interest in family history, genealogy and, more recently since 2014, in genetic genealogy. He is a volunteer project administrator with Family Tree DNA, investigating DNA and history around the Irish Sea, the Western Isles of Scotland, Orkney and Scandinavia. (Kilmac Hist. Soc.)

Alison Wellwood is going to give us a talk on exercises we can do to prevent falling. As the rate of osteoporosis increases with age, it is important to try and prevent accidents as much as possible, so such a talk would be very welcome to our group.

Alison is Falls Coordinator for Older Persons Services, HSE Dublin South and Wicklow. She is based in Bray and is a CORU Chartered Physiotherapist, who has first hand experience in managing falls risk factors and associated injuries from falls.

Kevin will speak to us about his grand aunt Margaret, a teacher, who lived out in the Seychelles and taught there in the late 1800s. In her letters she refers to the Prussian invasion of Paris and the effect on the local community. He will include the history of the Seychelles in his presentation. His talk will be based on extracts from his grand aunt's letters home. She died when she was only 35 years old.

After graduating inn Chemistry from UCD, Prof. Alan Keenan spent 5 years teaching in West Africa. On returning to Ireland, he taught Pharmacology in UCD from 1973-2008 and spent sabbatical periods in Jerusalem and Wurzburg.

He is married to Deirdre and has three adult children. He owns an apartment in Northern Croatia for 20 years and uses this as a base to travel widely. He visits Trieste often and has come to know its unique multicultural personality: this has changed from maritime hub of Austro-Hungary to a somewhat remote Italian port. Whether wrapping itself against the cold winter winds or lazing languidly in the heat of the summer, Trieste retains that singular attraction for the visitor.

The setting of the Battle of Agincourt was filmed in Ireland in Powerscourt Estate, giving it a realistic setting, in natural fields and forests and dialogue is delivered from the backs of restive charges. Olivier directed the film and one can learn all about the hazards of trying to make a film of such importance and magnitude as this. Apparently Winston Churchill instructed Olivier to fashion the film as morale-boosting propaganda for British troops fighting in WW11.