A couple of weeks ago the RCSI Heritage Collections was paid a visit by one of the RCSI Accounts Department and he came bearing gifts! While clearing out an old storage room they came across College accounts in pristine condition and dating from 1915 to 1960.
The first account just happens to be from this week 100 years ago. Spooky! Accounts like these contain a wealth of information and not just about accounts but about social history. They can also let you see what services/items cost at the time and who was being paid, be they an individual or a company. Looking at the ones below you will see some familiar names associated with the College popping up
Professor (Alfred) Scott
Professor (George Jameson) Johnston
Sir C(harles) A. Cameron
One name that struck me was the Professor of Medical Jurisprudence, Hugh Alexander Auchinleck. Not only is the name a little unusual but Auchinleck was a major influence in the saving and promotion of hurling in Dublin in 1882. The following is an extract from a talk given by Dr. Paul Rouse on the history of hurling given as part of the 'Sport and the City' seminar held in Dublin City Library and Archive on 11th September 2010.
'The first meeting of the (Dublin Hurling) club too place in the Royal College of Surgeons on York Street on 30 December 1882 in the lecture room of Dr. Hugh Alexander Auchinleck. The meeting, it was recorded in the minutes, was for 'the purpose of taking steps to re-establish the national game of hurling'. A provisional committee of eight - including Auchinleck and, crucially, a certain Michael Cusack - was established to draw up the rules for the proposed club. At a meeting in Auchinleck's room, five days later on 4 January 1883, the Dublin Hurling Club was formally established and a set of rules adopted. Auchinleck was elected president, and Cusack was chosen as vice-president.'
- 'How Dublin Saved Hurling: the 1880s and the making of a modern game' www.dublinheritage.ie
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy
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| RCSI accounts dating from 1915 to 1960 |
Professor (Alfred) Scott
Professor (George Jameson) Johnston
Sir C(harles) A. Cameron
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| RCSI Accounts from 5th April 1915 |
'The first meeting of the (Dublin Hurling) club too place in the Royal College of Surgeons on York Street on 30 December 1882 in the lecture room of Dr. Hugh Alexander Auchinleck. The meeting, it was recorded in the minutes, was for 'the purpose of taking steps to re-establish the national game of hurling'. A provisional committee of eight - including Auchinleck and, crucially, a certain Michael Cusack - was established to draw up the rules for the proposed club. At a meeting in Auchinleck's room, five days later on 4 January 1883, the Dublin Hurling Club was formally established and a set of rules adopted. Auchinleck was elected president, and Cusack was chosen as vice-president.'
- 'How Dublin Saved Hurling: the 1880s and the making of a modern game' www.dublinheritage.ie
A commemorative poster of these rules was presented in January 2002 to the College by the then President, Professor George Parks, and President of the GAA Mr. Sean McCague and it hangs in the concourse today.
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| Dublin Hurling Club Rules 1883 |
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy