Namesake's on the net

Personal life

Timothy "Auda" Smiddy was born in Kilbarry, Co. Cork in 1875 . He was educated at St. Finbar's College Cork, before attending University College Cork, graduating with a B.A. (1905) and an M.A. (1907). Later he attended universities in Paris, France and Cologne, Germany. At one point, he considered the priesthood. However in 1900, he married Lillian "Muddy" Beausagn, also from Cork. They had six children including five daughters Pearl (Binny), Muriel, Cecil, Ita and Ethna, and a son Sarsfield.

Role in Independence

A contemporary and friend of Michael Collins, the Irish revolutionary, Smiddy was appointed by Collins to be his Economic Adviser for the Treaty Negotiations following the War of Independence. This was at a time when Michael Collins was the Minister for Finance in the putative Republic.

Professor of Economics, UCC

Smiddy was first and foremost an academic and an economist. In the College at Cork in the newly constituted National University of Ireland, which replaced the Royal University of Ireland, Smiddy was holder of the Professorship of Economics. He served in this post from 1909 to 1924, one of only six to have held the post since the formation of the Department of Mental and Moral Science at the College in 1849. In 1952, he was awarded the Honorary Degree of DEconSc by University College, Cork.

Minister Plenipotentiary

Smiddy was initially appointed as the Irish Free State's Representative in Washington in 1922. Following representations by the Free State's government to London and Washington, and in particular to tackle the problem of anti-Treaty propaganda, this role was officially recognized in 1924. From then until 1929, Smiddy served as Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the United States of America for the Irish Free State.

This was, in effect, not only Ireland's first diplomatic relations with another country since independence, but also the first attempt by any British dominion or colony to appoint what would these days be regarded as an Ambassador to a third country.

Later life

Smiddy also served as High Commissioner to London (1929-30) and was a member of the Tariff Commission (1930-33). Thereafter, he served on various Boards, and was head of Combined Purchasing Section at the Department of Local Government and Public Health from 1933 to 1945. He was also Director of the Irish Central Bank.

Throughout the late 1930s and the 1940s, Smiddy advised the de Valera government on economic matters. In particular, he was instrumental in bringing about a universal child allowance. He died in 1962.

Professor of Economics and Commerce at University College Cork (UCC) (1903 - 1924). He acted as Economic Advisor to Plenipotentiaries during the Treaty negotiations from Oct. to Dec. 1921 (Dictionary of Irish History since 1880 by D. J. Hickey and J. E. Doherty). Became known as Ireland's First Ambassador/Overseas Minister for the Irish Free State (I.F.S.) to Washington (1924 - 1929). Then was High Commissioner for the Irish Free State (I.F.S.) to London (1929 - 1930). Was on the Tariff Committee (1930 - 1933) and then became chairman of the Commission on Agriculture (1939 - 1945). (New Century Encyclopedia of Names).

In 1924, Dublin became the first among the members of the Commonwealth to send an envoy, the UCC Professor of Economics, T.A. Smiddy, to Washington. In 1924 Timothy Smiddy was accredited as Ireland’s first Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the United States of America. The following volume covers the negotiations surrounding his accreditation and his subsequent role as Irish Minister to the United States.

Documents on Irish Foreign Policy Volume II, 1923 – 1926 (Dublin, 2000)
A project of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Irish Academy

(i) Pearl (?Binny) Anne Maria SMIDDY (1903 - 2004) approx married Disraeli (Dizzy) LEWIS

(iv) Muriel Miriam SMIDDY (born 1908-2008) approx married Gerald O'BRIEN

(v) Ita SMIDDY (born 1910-15/8/2002) married Dr. Harry O'FLANAGAN (b.1917; d. August 2000)

(vi) Ethna SMIDDY (1918 -2003) approx. married Daniel Joseph McSORLEY (1902-1985)

38 years after he left primary school aged 14 years of age, Patrick J Smiddy officially returned to formal education today (Friday 29 September 2000) at University College, Cork to receive one of two prestigious honorary masters degrees which were conferred at the university's final Autumn 2000 graduation ceremony.

In his citation to the honorary graduates for their outstanding contributions to Irish society, UCC President Prof Gerard Wrixon said:

"UCC was pleased and privileged to award Patrick Smiddy, Cork-based conservation ranger and naturalist with an MSc Honoris Causa, an honorary Master of Science degree. We salute Patrick Smiddy's pioneering spirit, his valuable research work in the natural sciences and for making Natural History live on so effectively".

While working as a cabinet-maker until 1980 Patrick Smiddy was trained and awarded a permit to ring birds by the British Trust for Ornithology. Early interests in bird- ringing skills led him into identifying rare birds and documenting their occurrence. By 1982 Patrick Smiddy secured his first scientific publication which led to national recognition when he was appointed National Secretary of the Irish Rare Birds Panel.

His meticulous field skills and recording have not been exclusive to birds as he has published works on plants, whales, bats, bank voles and badgers. In total, his scientific publication portfolio currently runs to over 130 published articles, many of those undertaken with Zoology staff at the NUI, Galway, The Natural History Museum of Ireland and at UCC where he is an honorary member and valued researcher in the Faculty of Science.

Patrick Smiddy was honoured by the Royal Irish Academy when he was appointed to its Praeger Committee. He's a life member of the British Ornithologists Union and the British Trust for Ornithology.

"In the development and implementation of an effective conservation strategy in the late 20th and 21st centuries in Ireland, the role of amateur naturalists like Patrick Smiddy has been crucial, though often unrecognised", stated Prof Wrixon who added:

"While the names of Ussher, Warren, Barrington, Praeger and Hutchinson dominate in the documentation of the nation's natural history, none were professional, university-educated biologists. Continuing in this remarkable tradition of amateur naturalists contributing to our Natural Heritage is Patrick J Smiddy who has combined the role of the traditional natural historian with that of the modern quantitative ecologist".

He became a priest and was ordained in Paris in 1837. He ministered in Killeagh (1838), Glountane (1839), Youghal (1840), Charleville (1851), Mallow (1853), Aghada as Parish Priest (1857-1878).

From his ordination in 1838, until the time his Mother (Hanora) died in 1875, he kept a diary. The original is in the Diocesan Archives in Cobh but a transcript has been made.

Wrote 'An Essay on The Druids, The Ancient Churches, and the Round Towers of Ireland'. It was published in July 22nd 1871 by W.B. Kelly, 8 Grafton Street, Dublin and Simpkin, Marshall & Co., London.

An Irish national, Smiddy trained in Ireland and Switzerland, moving to the United States in 1996, working at several hotels in the Cape Cod area before returning to Ireland as food and beverage duty manager at the Imperial Hotel Cork.

In charge of food and beverage operations at the new 154-room Safir Deira hotel is Anthony J Smiddy, who moves to Dubai from the Swissotel, Boston where he was director of restaurants.

His colleague and executive chef, Jonathan Pratt is a fellow Irishman whose most recent posting was as senior sous chef on the Norwegian Sun cruise ship, based in the Caribbean.

On board, Pratt was in charge of speciality restaurants, including French, Italian, Japanese, sushi, tapas and healthy-eating outlets, and also performed weekly cooking demonstrations for passengers.

Trained in Dublin, he worked in a variety of restaurants in Ireland, moving to the Shelbourne Meridien in 1997 as sous chef and later to Le Meridien Penina, Portugal, mastering Portuguese as well as looking after the dietary requirements of visiting football teams in training.

Heading up the sales and marketing department at the Safir Deira is Wael El Behi, hailing from Tunisia and fluent in Arabic, English, French and Italian.

Four years with the Corinthia Hotels group in Tunisia, El Bedi was responsible as sales and marketing manager for the launch of three new resort hotels in Sousse, Hammamet and Gammarth.

Prior to this, he spent five years with the Abou Nawas group in that country, training in sales, food and beverage, finance, guest accounting and purchasing.

Harold F. Smiddy
General Electric Co.
17th President
1962
BS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Former senior surgeon Leeds General Infirmary, prolific author, and long time examiner for the court of examiners of the Royal College of Surgeons (England) (b Kendal 1922; q Leeds 1944; ChM, MD, FRCS), d Saturday 8 March 2003.

- M.V.P. of N.A.I.A. championship game while playing football at the University of Findley

Specialty: Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration, Macular Diseases, Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery.

Position: President and Publisher, The Record Searchlight, Redding
Civic involvement: Redding Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the Year for 2001; board of directors and board of governors for United Way of Northern California (will be president in 2004); member of Redding East Rotary, Nor Cal Center on Deafness and on the Shasta Library Foundation Board

Coach Jim Smiddy stands alone as the winningest basketball coach at any level in the history of the sport. Going into the 1992-93 season Coach Smiddy had won an amazing 1,189 games and lost only 200. As head coach of the Bradley Central High School, Cleveland, TN, Bearettes, Smiddy won five state champion- ships (1962, 1970, 1973, 1975, and 1976) and two national titles in 1975 and 1976. He appeared in the state tournament twenty-one times.

James Smiddy, the nation’s winningest high school basketball coach with 1,216 victories in 44 years. July 19th 1995, Age 71. Heart attack.

Vermont Law School Professor Linda Smiddy Awarded Honorary University of Paris Degree
First Woman to Receive Prestigious Award from the University of Paris 13
South Royalton, VT (February 12, 2002) - Linda O. Smiddy, professor of law and director of international programs at Vermont Law School, is the first woman to receive a doctorat honoris causa (honorary doctorate) degree from the University of Paris 13.

Deputy Smiddy, a 1994 graduate of Bluffton College, began at the Defiance County Sheriff's Office in August of 1996 and continued until June of 2000 in the capacity as a road officer and member of the Dive Team. In June of 2000 Deputy Smiddy began to pursue a teaching career and in December of 2001 received his teaching certification in Integrated Social Studies (grades 7-12) from Bowling Green State University. Deputy Smiddy substitute taught in grades K-12 at eight schools in Defiance and Henry Counties from December 2001 until June 2002 at which time Deputy Smiddy then rejoined the Defiance County Sheriff's Office and is currently working in the capacity as a road officer.

Joe Smiddy, chancellor emeritus of University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA WISE).

"Joseph C. Smiddy MD...is a renaissance man and a mountain legend. As comfortable in the rotunda in Charlottesville as he is at the Carter Fold in Hiltons. "Papa Joe" is at once a scholar, educator, politician, orator, storyteller, and top-notch claw-hammer banjo picker."

of Sugar Creek, Missouri, U.S.A. were chosen as Sugar Creek's "Family of the Year" for 2002.

Sugar Creek's "Family of the Year" Cares for the Children of Many in the Community

Gary and Jean Smiddy are deeply involved in evangelism to the unreached people of Mombasa. The east African coast has many peoples of religions which have not heard or accepted that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. In the city of Mombasa alone, it is estimated that 70% are the unreached and followers of traditional tribal religions. Evangelists, pastors and staff share their faith in Jesus Christ in a loving and friendly way through the clinic, the churches, in the streets, and in homes.

April 27, 2002
Chicagoland Speedway Ceremonial Car Raffle
Congratulations to Terri Smiddy of Tinley Park, Illinois who drove away with her Grand Prize Thursday afternoon - The 2002 Chicagoland Speedway Ceremonial Car! Chicagoland Speedway and the Boys and Girls Club of Joliet, Illinois would like to thank all of you who participated in the raffle this year. Proceeds from the raffle have gone to support the Boys and Girls Club of Joliet, Illinois, the official charity of Chicagoland Speedway.

The first CD release by Detour is self-titled. They are a blues-influenced rock band that is an unexpected DETOUR from mainstream rock. The band was born in New York City after a tireless search for musicians that could create it's distinctive sound. Now they are finally able to express their music through their combined talents.

Steve Berman fills out the band in three ways. His fascination with the blues pushed him onto the stage. His prior musical experiences helped him to develop the angst-ridden sexuality that is so evident in his singing, while his blues background turned him into a rock-steady rhythm guitarist, a passionate harmonica player, and a soulful composer..

The lead guitarist, Mike Smiddy, has a playing style that is very much rooted in the blues. One reviewer from the Musician's Exchange described his solos as 'vibrant'. His talents don't end there, though; he is also the primary composer, as well as the producer of the album.

Chris Lewis is the bassist, and occasionally does some lead singing for the band. His experiences, spanning many years and many musical styles, have given his playing and singing an arrogant assurance that asserts itself well onstage.

Neil Kirby, the drummer, is the most experienced of the four musicians. His enormous talent and jazz training puts an innovative spin on traditional rock and blues drumming patterns. He was fortunate enough to have backed up some notable musicians, including Meat Loaf and Jimmy Webb.

The three composers' writing styles are just as diverse as their playing techniques. Mike's style of writing is exemplified in 'Broken Box', a song that is engaging and forceful, but never typical. Chris' music, on the other hand, seems to vibrate from within. In his two songs, 'T-Square' and 'The Loner', he uses unusual melodies to put over his insightful lyrics. Steve writes about the wrecks and raptures of the heart. His song, 'Let It Ride', expresses the melancholy anger that everyone has felt at some time, though they may never admit it to themselves. Others of his songs, such as 'High Cost', explore the lust and fantasy that is found in love. These three writers' efforts, in combination, make the band's music unique because they make it possible to have a cohesive unit without anyone having to sacrifice his individuality.

Educated North Richmond Street Christian Brothers School after the family moved to Dublin. Worked in Kennedy’s bakery, Parnell Street. Soon became interested in the movement for independence, became an Irish-speaker, and joined Fianna Éireann on its formation by Markievicz in 1909. Later joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Irish Volunteers. In the 1916 Rising he commanded the garrison in Watkins’s brewery in Ardee Street, moving to Jameson’s distillery as the fighting increased. Court-martialled, sentenced to death, and shot in Kilmainham Jail 8 May 1916.

Source: A Dictionary of Irish Biography, Henry Boylan (ed.), Gill & Macmillan, Dublin, 1998

There were 16 executions as a result of the Easter Rising. They were mostly carried out under the orders of General Maxwell who had assumed his authority to do so under his own declaration of Martial Law. The executions were the main reason for the turn about in public opinion. Initially the majority of people felt that the Rebels had stabbed England in the back during her time of need but soon after the deaths of the 16, people changed their minds. The first 15 were shot but Roger Casement was not given a soldiers death and was in fact hung by the neck.

Claudette Colbert was born Lily Claudette Chauchoin in Paris, France on September 13, 1905. She came to America in 1911, dreaming of a career in fashion design, but was persuaded to go on stage in 1923, and soon became a reliable Broadway leading lady. She started out into the movies in 1927 (still the silent picture era), but it was not until the early 1930s that she was given the parts that made her one of the most popular actresses of her time. Her breakthrough year was 1934, when she played the title role in Cecil DeMille's Cleopatra, and won an unexpected Academy Award for her canny comic performance as a spoiled rich kid on the run in Frank Capra's It Happened One Night. In subsequent years, it was in comedies that Claudette found her most appreciative audiences: Bluebeard's Eighth Wife (1938), It's A Wonderful World (1939) and Midnight (1939) showed time and time again that she was one of the screen's leading light comediennes. But she took on a variety of parts in dramatic movies as well, such as Drums Along The Mohawk (1939), Arise, My Love (1940) and Since You Went Away (1944). Leaving the big screen with an appearance in Parrish (1961),

Claudette embarked on stage work right through the 1980s. In 1987, she appeared with Ann-Margaret in a two part CBS miniseries, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, dazzling viewers with her ageless appearance and panache. In 1989, she received the Kennedy Center Honors in recognition of her lifetime achievement. After nearly seventy years as a performer, she announced her formal retirement in 1992. On July 30, 1996, she died on Barbados, where she had resided during the last decades of her life.

			BRONZE AWARD, BEST BITTER CATEGORY, SIBA 2004.
			2ND IN CATEGORY, CAMRA SOUTH DEVON BEER FESTIVAL, 2002.
			WINNER OF BEST BEER, CAMRA WATFORD BEER FESTIVAL 2002.
			WINNER OF BEST BEER, CAMRA PAISLEY BEER FESTIVAL 2002.

Year	Horse	Owner
1984	Mr Smiddy	Wilson Logan