Sir, - In reply to Mr Christopher Moriarty's letter (April 30th) about the turnstone bird sculpture at 73, Lower Baggot Street. The Medico Social Research Board of Ireland began its work at 65, Merrion Square in October, 1968, with myself as director, Professor Paddy Lynch as chairman, and Mr Sean Trant as secretary. In 1970, we persuaded the Government than the newly founded Medico Social Research Board should take over the very attractive Georgian offices being vacated by the Economic and Social Research Institute at 73, Lower Baggot Street.
Sean Trant, who was from the west of Ireland and who ran the Sea Scouts in Dun Laoghaire, thought the turnstone bird would be a very suitable logo for the newly founded board. This bird frequents the coasts of Ireland, turning over stones to find what is underneath and symbolised the work of the newly founded board in looking at the major medicosocial problems of Ireland. The drawing was undertaken by Gerrit van Gelderen and the stone was carved by the Office of Public Works.
On my retirement as director in 1986, the Medico Social Research Board amalgamated with the Medical Research Council in 1987 to form the health Research Board (HRB). I was delighted that the turnstone bird has been retained as the logo of the HRB. - Yours, etc.,
Emeritus Director,
The Medico-Social Research
Board of Ireland,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.