Meet Alan ‘Al’ Finegan, the author of The Forgotten Explorer, who will present a talk on the remarkable but often overlooked castaway and convict explorer John Finnegan. Al’s research re-examines the life and legacy of this early figure in the history of Moreton Bay and the discovery of the Brisbane River.
In his talk, organised by Queensland Irish Association in partnership with the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, Al will explore the extraordinary story of John Finnegan (1789–1853) — a survivor of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 who was transported to New South Wales for larceny and endured the hardships of convict life, shipwreck, betrayal and years living among Aboriginal people at Moreton Bay. Al’s research argues that Finnegan’s contribution to the exploration and early settlement of Brisbane has been vastly underestimated. He suggests that John Oxley took the credit for the discovery of the Brisbane River and the choice of the original settlement site, leaving Finnegan’s role largely forgotten for nearly two centuries. Al’s work seeks to restore recognition to one of the great but overlooked figures in the early history of Brisbane.
In researching his book, Al encountered the many variations in the spelling of John Finnegan’s name in colonial records. Like most Irish convicts of the time, John Finnegan was illiterate and would simply have spoken his name when asked, leaving clerks to record it as they heard it. Al notes that a similar situation occurred within his own family history. His great-great-grandfather, arrested in Monaghan, Ireland for sheep stealing and transported in 1848, was also illiterate. When asked his name he would have said “Finnegan,” but it was recorded as Finegan.
Al’s grandmother’s maiden name was Sands and she was a relative of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.
Al brings a varied and accomplished career to his historical work. After finishing Year 12 he joined the Army, serving for 30 years in both the Regular Army and the Army Reserve and retiring with the rank of Major. During this time he served in the Officer Cadet Training Unit, where he taught military history.
In 1968 Al graduated as an Air Traffic Controller and spent the next twelve years working in control towers in Brisbane, Townsville and New Guinea. In his spare time he was active as a SCUBA diving instructor and enjoyed the sport of spearfishing.
In 1987 Al graduated as a secondary school teacher in Mathematics and History. He then spent a year teaching in a Catholic Mission school deep in the Solomon Islands, followed by three years at the International Secondary School in Fiji. While in Fiji he coached a first-grade rugby side from the bottom of the ladder to the Fijian Grand Final.
Returning to Australia, Al spent the next 20 years working as a private computer project manager on major projects from the Northern Territory to New South Wales. His career culminated in his role as Program Manager for the Royal Australian Air Force’s $3 billion F/A-18 Hornet Upgrade, overseeing fifteen individual projects over a ten-year period.
Throughout his life Al has maintained a keen interest in history. He has published three books, including The Battle for Guadalcanal, which he wrote while in the Solomon Islands using historical documents discovered at the school where he was teaching. He has also written his father’s war story and a family history. It was his father’s fascination with the story of the castaway John Finnegan that inspired Al to research and publish The Forgotten Explorer.
Al is now retired lives on Bribie Island, a place with family connections where he spent much time as a youngster. He has been married to his wife Judith for more than 59 years and together they have four children, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
• Queensland Irish Association has teamed up with The Royal Historical Society of Queensland to present The Forgotten Irish Explorer at The Commissariat Store Museum, Brisbane, on 20 May at 12.30pm. Entry is free for QIA and RHSQ Members, $10 all others. Bookings at johnfinneganirishtalk.eventbrite.com.au
Anglo&Celtic 