John de Courcy Ireland (October 19 1911–4 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.
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 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 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.
Publications
- History of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, John De Courcy Ireland - 2001, ISBN 978-0-946130-27-6
- Liffey in Dublin, John De Courcy Ireland - 1996, ISBN 978-0-7171-2423-7
- Ireland's maritime heritage, John De Courcy Ireland - 1992, ISBN 978-1-872228-09-9
- Anna Liffey: River of Dublin, John De Courcy Ireland et. al - 1988, ISBN 978-0-86278-169-9
- Ireland and the Irish in Maritime History, John De Courcy Ireland - 1985, ISBN 978-0-907606-28-4
- Wreck and Rescue on the East Coast of Ireland, John De Courcy Ireland - 1983, ISBN 978-0-907606-09-3
- Ireland's Sea Fisheries: A History, John De Courcy Ireland - 1981, ISBN 978-0-907606-01-7
