The trueth is great and shall prevaill
GO MS 46: British Families Volume 3.
Join Katy Lumsden, NLI, for this talk on heraldic records as part of National Heritage Week!
One of the principal values of the herald of arms is their neutrality; however, through the heraldic records created in Ireland during the years leading up to, through and beyond the Commonwealth and Protectorate, we see that neutrality blended with an astonishing dose of pragmatism. The Office of Arms would remain open and functioning throughout. The cast-list recorded through the heraldry of the time ranges from royalty to key figures from amongst Cromwell’s officers to those simply caught up in the turmoil of these decades. These included the heralds! Through two important volumes of Cromwellian heraldry, we can gain insights into the everyday as well as the high-level political machinations – and see some incredible artwork, preserved amongst the holdings of the Genealogical Office Manuscripts Collection.
Katy Lumsden is Head of Human Resources at the National Library of Ireland. A graduate of the National College of Art and Design, in Visual Communications, Katy first worked with the NLI in 1996 as a freelance calligrapher and designer for the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland, and joined the NLI staff in 2001 as Herald Painter to the Office of the Chief Herald. She led a small hybrid, international team of artists from 1997 and developed major programming for the Office, including exhibitions and establishing the digitisation project for tens of thousands of heraldic items from the manuscript holdings of the office, spanning half a millennium.
Katy’s curiosity about, and experience in, people management led to a new role with the NLI’s Human Resources Unit from 2015. She was appointed Head of HR in early 2023. A postgraduate of UCC through the Irish Management Institute, Katy holds an MBS in Organisational Development, Organisational Behaviour and Leadership. She has a passion for learning and empowerment through self-awareness and takes a values-led approach to her work and practice. Katy has developed programmes for children and young people in leadership and followership, called Know No Bounds. She is a speaker and podcast guest and posts regularly on social media with a particular interest in leadership, followership, systems and culture.
GO MS 46: British Families Volume 3
If our team can be of any assistance, please contact us on learning@nli.ie.
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