Sash - Irish National Foresters, after 1877 Reg. No: SH 921346

where di they get the inf name from especially the foresters

I was a former High Chief Ranger.The correct term for P.C.R. is Past Chief Ranger.Our Branch name is "Con of the 100 Battles we have been in existance since 1899 and still going strong

my grandfather was a member, I have his sash
but no information of his involvement in the
foresters.

My Grandfather was also a Chief Ranger. His photo with all his committee now hangs in the Historical Society Hall for safe keeping. Nothing else is really known about them except they had a good football team up until 1964 when they merged with other teams to become what is now the Werribee FC. Recently, I was in the I.N.F Club in Belfast N.I. I had a very good chat with Mr. Sean Feeney - High Chief Ranger of all Ireland. He showed me some relics including a Celtic Cross hand carved by "...our boys in the Maze Prison..." together with their names. There is too much to tell here about our conversation. But he admitted also, that the I.N.F (like many clubs) is slowly declinning, and he too needs to find an Historical Society to keep all the I.N.F's things in. But the fellas in the Belfast Club were stunned when I told them about the I.N.F in Australia, they had no idea, and when I mentioned the I.N.F Football Club, they were taken aback completely and were very interested to know more. I told him I would keep in contact from now on. I think it may be something of a nice importance to keep this connection. Gerard O'Connor, are you also in Australia? And John Sinclair, you are very lucky to have your Grandads sash, are you also in Australia? I'd like to hear from you both. Thank You

I should clarify that I was quoting Mr Feeney in the comment above regarding the boys in the Maze. These were not my words. Thank You.

Hi Paul, I was elected High Chief Ranger of All Ireland at the Society's Annual Convention in Belfast last year. Whilst preparng for this years event which is due to take place in Killybegs Co Donegal at the beginning of August I stumbled across your comments. You cannot begin to imagine my surprise at learning that our Society had extended to Australia. From your comments I note that as a result of your meeting with Past High Chief Ranger Bro Sean Feeny (PHCR) you are aware that the organisation in Ireland has significantly declined over the past number of years. It is therfore very exciting to learn that that Society is active at the opposite side of the world. I would like to learn more about the INF in Australia, for example are there currently any actve Branches if so perhaps you could provide me with some details. I would also be keen to find our more about the memorabilia which is stored with the Historical Society. For your information I am also Chief Ranger of my local Branch - Branch John O'Neill which is located n Hilltown, Co Down. Thank you

I first heard of the INF when I found a Probate Package which included assets of: 20 pounds for "Funeral Allowance, The Irish National Foresters' Society".
I would be interested to know more about the Society in Victoria, and possibly why our ancestor (Great grandfather / or Great Uncle)would have joined the Society. Could this mean he was from Ireland??

my great grandfather francis mckinley was a CR in kilbirnie scotland in the late 19th and early 20th century I would love to know where I could find out more about their history

I have several members of my family that were active in the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters, and one in the Irish National Foresters. The MCOF has wonderful records of these family members, but I have not found any reference to the INF records that may exist. I am looking for any genealogy records that might exist on my ancestors prior to their arrival in America.

Do these records exist?
thank you

My late grandfather is also a member of the Irish National Foresters. His name is John Norton and he was a proud Irishman born and bred in Athlone, Co. Westmeath where he lived until he passed on at the age of 92. He lived through Easter 1916, and the 1922 Free State. He dreamed of seeing Ireland united. God bless you grandad.

We believe that my great grandfather, John J O'Donovan of Cobh (then known as Queenstown), County Cork was a member of the Irish National Foresters. He was a wealthy master boot maker and ships chandler in Cobh. He died in August 1922 in his 80's. Is there anywhere that I can go to find out when he joined and if he had a leadership role? Thanks.

My father James Crossey(RIP) was a member of the Canon McGeown Branch 1108 in Moy Co Tyrone.I well remember many of the All Ireland Conventions we as a family attended in the 60's & 70's in Tullamore Carlow Navan Killybegs.In Carlow I remember seeing for the first time the members dressed in the Foresters uniform. There were the Purcell's whose son used to lead the members in parade and he riding a white horse.These are wonderful memories of my father that I cherish. He was so proud to belong to the INF.