2. John O'Donnell R.I.P.

John Patrick O’Donnell was born in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick in 1920. He was a brilliant student in the Department of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering in University College Dublin from 1939 to 1943, graduating top of his class with first class honours. He worked in the ESB and the Sugar Company for a few years before coming back in 1949 to UCD as a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering. He was appointed in 1957 as the first Professor of Chemical Engineering in UCD - the first in all Ireland in fact - a post from which he retired in 1988. Over the years between, he was prominent in all aspects of life in the College.

The growth of Chemical Engineering at UCD was related to the development of the chemical industry in Ireland. Graduates from his department played a major part in this crucial new industrial sector. He was appointed by the Government as Chairman of Nitrigin Eireann Teo., and had other board level appointments in the Irish process industry.. He was the founding Chairman of the Irish branch of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and served on the Council of the parent body. He was Chairman of Cumann na n-Innealtoiri which later amalgamated with the Institution of Engineers of Ireland, and he was a prominent Council member of the I.E.I. for many years.

Professor John O'Donnell 3 August 1920 - 15 February 2004

He was also an active contributor to public sector policy formation. He was a long-term member of the board of the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards and of the first council of the National Council for Educational Awards. Among his most significant contributions were his membership of the Steering Committee which charted the first beginnings of the Regional Technical College sector in 1966-67 and his role on a number of occasions as advisor to the Minister for Education on science and technology matters in dealing with the O.E.C.D.. He also played a key role in the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology in Amman, Jordan.

He travelled extensively in the course of his work. On one such trip to Singapore in 1981, he and his wife Ronnie took some extra time to visit China, and became fascinated with the country. They joined the ICCS shortly after their return. John became a Committee member in 1987. He became Programme Officer in 1988, Vice-President in 1991, and was President from1994 to 1997. As can be imagined, with his wealth of experience and contacts, he was an outstanding President, and the Society flourished.

Thanks to him, when the Chester Beatty Library was no longer able to accommodate us, we were able to transfer our meetings to the Institute of Engineers premises in Clyde Road; a very happy venue for us for seven years. In 1996, he, with Ronnie, led a six-person ICCS delegation on a visit to China as guests of Youxie (The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries).

He was a totally unassuming man, and many members who knew him only through the Society may be surprised to read of all the achievements listed above: but what everyone was aware of, and remembers with great affection, was his exceptional personality: calm, kind, helpful - the embodiment of gentle courtesy.

His sudden death on 15th February was a great loss to the Society. Our deepest sympathy goes to Ronnie and the members of his family.

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3. Chinese Export Fans from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin

Readers interested in antiques, particularly Chinese ones, may have met Neville Irons who had a treasure house of a shop on the top floor of the Powerscourt Town House. Mr. Irons died suddenly in 2000, having earlier bequeathed his collections of fans and textiles to a museum with the proviso that they be accepted in their entirety and not dispersed. Clare and Cliodna Devitt, textile conservator, saw the collection and were amazed by the extent of it: there were 370 textiles, including robes and hangings, and 170 fans, some Japanese but mostly Chinese. All had been meticulously catalogued and photograph­ed by Mr. Irons. The Chester Beatty was delighted to accept the bequest and Dr. Pollard will mount a small exhibition of some of the fans as soon as possible. One fan, (1840), decorated with kingfisher feathers, has already been on display as part of last month's exhibition, 'Blue', held in the library. With this introduction, Dr.Pollard told us about fans, using Irons' own illustrations. Fans have been a part of many cultures, for ceremonial purposes and as a cooling device. At first fans were of silk or paper, on frames. The folding fan, more convenient and practical, was developed by the Japanese on studying the bat's wing! Paint­ed on silk or paper, they were highly prized as gifts. By the 16th C, Portuguese traders came to China by sea, with the British soon after, to buy silks, porcelain and fans. European fashion heightened the demand for fans, exquisitely painted with sticks of lacquer, tortoise shell, mother-of-pearl and ivory brisé (pierced).

There were feather fans of ivory sticks tipped with marabou. Delicate painting suited the rococo fashions of northern Europe, while more flamboyant designs were ordered for the Iberian peninsula. The boxes in which the fans were to be kept were also exquisitely made. In the 19th C., souvenir fans painted with Chinese port scenes were popular with tourists. Fan makers tried to stifle imports from China and produced 'oriental' fans in Europe. Gradually Japanism took over from Chinoiserie and marked the end of the old China fan trade. Society members want to thank Dr. Pollard for sharing her knowledge with us and extending our aesthetic enjoyment of these beautiful things, now a part of the great collections at the Chester Beatty Library.

4. Yu Ming is Ainm Dom

5. Views of China over 25 years

An "iron horse" - rugged and, with its belt drive, very versatile. This totally "no frills" machine is becoming rarer.

A street stall in Kunming

Down the Li river from Guilin

6. My Favourite Poems

The roaring Yangtze flows ever eastward, Its waves scouring away all heroes. Success or failure, right or wrong- They do not seem to matter so much Once your back is turned. But the green mountains will be there still, And how many sunsets will carry the glorious afterglow?	White-haired fishermen work the shoals; They’ve seen so much of the spring breeze and autumn moon. A jug of cheap wine to drink to our happy meeting: So many momentous events, past and present, Are bandied about with laughter!

7. Irish - Chinese Cultural Exchanges

Donal Lunny, Mary Black, Cara Dillon, Róisín Elsafty,Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill

8. Chinese Proverbs -1

9. Chinese Proverbs - 2

10. Language School

11. Information for Members by Email

12. Subscriptions