12 Presidents of Ireland-----help

[gill]

On behalf of a friend, I am trying to find out about the above.
My friend came across a scarf of some sort amongst an ancestors belongings many years ago.
The scarf had each of the 12 Presidents of Ireland printed on it, and wondered whether it was symbolic of something.
The family were RC, but my friend wondered if it had some sort of Masonic meaning to it, as he cant find out anything about it.
Hope someone can help.
gill

[Christopher]

Hiya gill,

There's a slight problem ... Ireland has not had twelve Presidents.

Presidents
1938 - 1945 Douglas Hyde
1945 - 1959 Sean Thomas O'Kelly
1959 - 1973 Eámon de Valera
1973 - 1974 Erskin Childers
1974 - 1976 Cearbhall O'Dalaigh
1976 - 1990 Patrick Hillery
1990 - 1997 Mary Robinson
1997 - Mary McAleese

Source: Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia

Between 1922 and 1982 there were twelve Prime Ministers I wonder if the scarf might have been a souvenir produced about 1982 to celebrate Ireland's Diamond Anniversary of self government.

1922-32  William T. Cosgrave  Fine Gael 
1932-48  Eamon de Valera  Fianna Fáil 
1948-51  John A. Costello  Fine Gael 
1951-54  Eamon de Valera  Fianna Fáil 
1954-57  John A. Costello  Fine Gael 
1957-59  Eamon de Valera  Fianna Fáil 
1959-66  Sean Lemass  Fianna Fáil 
1966-73  Jack Lynch  Fianna Fáil 
1973-77  Liam Cosgrave  Fine Gael 
1977-79  Jack Lynch  Fianna Fáil 
1979-81  Charles Haughey  Fianna Fáil 
1981-82  Garret Fitzgerald.

Source: about: European History

Chris

[aghadowey]

Are there any names printed on the scarf that would help identify them?

[Christopher]

Are there any names printed on the scarf that would help identify them?

That's a good question aghadowey.

I wondered whether to ask that question but I decided not to ask that one as the header does say 12 Presidents of Ireland ... I thought of 12 Presidents of either the GAA or IRFU but then thought "No it can't be GAA or IRFU as the scarf would have included the initials of those organisations." The part of gill's question that made me think my answer could be wrong was the phrase "amongst an ancestors belongings many years ago." 1982 would hardly be many years ago.

gill, what do you mean by "a scarf of some sort?" What colour was the scarf? That might assist as well.

Chris

[aghadowey]

Wouldn't be 12 Presidents of the U.S. with Irish roots or something? Names would certainly help clear this one up.

[Christopher]

Wouldn't be 12 Presidents of the U.S. with Irish roots or something? Names would certainly help clear this one up.

That looked a good idea aghadowey but an article on the Post Gazette website on St Patrick's Day 2000 by Ann McFeatters mentions that ten U.S. presidents had Irish ancestors. We'll have to think again. There could be problems if there were pictures but no names on the scarf. I don't suppose gill and her friend mistook the Twelve Disciples for Irish Presidents.

[aghadowey]

More than 10...
George Washington
James Madison
Andrew Jackson
James Polk
James Buchanan
Andrew Johnson
Ulysses S. Grant
Chester Arthur
Grover Cleveland
Benjamin Harrison
William McKinley
Theodore Roosevelt
Woodrow Wilson
and more...

[Christopher]

There were several Presidents with Ulster Scots connections but surprisingly the first President with Irish American connections was John F. Kennedy (1961–63). He was also the first Roman Catholic President.

[aghadowey]

George Washington had roots in Co. Cork & Woodrow Wilson in Co. Tipperary.