'Irish Abroad ' theme to St Patrick's Day stamps
An Post today issued five stamps on the subject of 'The Irish Abroad', highlighting the shared experiences of Irish people leaving Ireland for economic, cultural and humanitarian reasons.
Designed by Irish company, ZeroG, three ‘N’ stamps for national postage and two ‘W’ stamps for worldwide postage explore the complex story of Irish emigration over the past two centuries. They will add a very special dimension to cards, letters and parcels being posted to family and friends all over the world to mark St. Patrick’s Day 2020.
The new stamps are available in main post offices, at the GPO, Dublin and online at anpost.com/shop. Three of the stamps feature common themes of emigration: A photo of people gathering in ‘The Galtymore Dancehall’ in Cricklewood, London showing the importance of Irish Centres and Irish hubs to the emigrant community; an image of suitcases at Dublin Airport (1969) capturing the common experience of people leaving Ireland; a detail from the painting ‘Emigrants letter and envelope, 1988’ by Geraldine O’Reilly representing communication with home and the importance of staying in touch.
Two other ‘N’ stamps feature a gallery of Irish people who have made an impact on the world from the 1800s right up to the present, each of whom has emigrated and made a contribution in their own sphere of excellence: Dame Kathleen Lonsdale (scientist), Richard Harris (actor) and Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore (musician) , and Edna O’Brien (author), Fr Michael J Kelly (priest/aid worker) and Mary Elmes (humanitarian) featuring on another stamp.
Minister of State for the Diaspora, Ciarán Cannon said: “I am delighted to see the launch of this set of stamps which commemorate the Irish emigration experience, and honour the contributions of the global Irish diaspora.
Emigration has played a central role in Irish life for centuries, and there is scarcely a family on the island that has not been touched by it in some form. It is appropriate that this collection pays tribute both to the painful aspects of emigration – the separation, and the challenges of staying connected across great distances - but also to the many success stories of the Irish who settled in their new societies and thrived there.
As these stamps travel the world, they will tell the story of the extraordinary resilience of the global Irish who overcame great challenges and flourished in the new homes they made overseas.”
The Subjects
Mary Elmes – Born in Cork in 1908. A graduate of the London School of Economics who travelled to war torn Europe, working as a humanitarian with the Quakers. Mary is known for her leadership in saving children in danger during both the Spanish Civil War and World War II. Imprisoned by the Gestapo during WW2, Mary Elmes was later awarded ‘Righteous Among Nations’ by Yad Vashem.
Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore – Born in 1829, raised in Galway. Served as a stretcher bearer and musician in the American Civil War and became bandleader, composer and showman who played to millions across America during a forty-year career in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Fr Michael Kelly - born in County Offaly in 1929, Father Michael Kelly is an advocate and activist for HIV/Aids prevention and human rights in Sub Saharan Africa and worldwide. He is a citizen of Zambia, living and working as an educator there for over 50 years. In 2012 he received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award (PDSA) from the President.
Richard Harris – born in Limerick in 1930. Studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and made his stage debut in 1956. His acting career spans four decades and he received the 1990 Evening Standard Theatre Award for playing Pirandello's Henry IV.
Dame Kathleen Lonsdale – Born in County Kildare in 1903. One of the first two women to be admitted as fellows to the Royal Society and became a Dame of the British Empire. In her scientific career Kathleen Lonsdale developed several X-ray techniques for the study of crystal structure and the first female Professor of Chemistry and Crystallography at University of London.
Edna O’Brien – born in County Clare in 1930. Living in London, she published her first book, The Country Girls, in 1960. The novel was the first part of a trilogy of novels. The story is often credited with breaking silence on sexual matters and social issues during a repressive period in Ireland, following WWII. EdnaO’Brien received the Irish PEN Award in 2001 and the 2011 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award. In 2015, she was bestowed Saoi by the Aosdána.