Tenth Annual O’Leary Clan Gathering.
If 2004 was one of our smaller Gatherings, this
year was amongst the largest.
We have some 350 loyal members, and of
course many of these live in
A small number of members who are better placed
come to the event virtually every year, and we
are delighted to keep welcoming them each time.
2005 was our tenth anniversary, and we had about
100 at our dinner, most of whom attended the
other functions as well.
This year we were delighted to see a
large American contingent, after a fall off
following the
Our theme this year was the DNA Project which
has reached an interesting point.
There is tremendous interest in this new
approach to genealogy.
Many of our members cannot take part
directly because of gender, and in other
instances members are closely related to one
member who represents the whole group.
But all without exception show a close
interest in progress and a determination to
press on with the study and to achieve results.
As usual we gathered at Creedon’s Hotel in
Inchigeelagh.
We were welcomed at our Reception on the
Friday evening
by Eugene O’Leary, our Chief Organiser,
by Joe Creedon, our hospitable host,
and by Michael Manning, Manager of the
This was followed by entertainment given by our
old friend, Tomás O Canáinn, Chief Bard of
On the Saturday morning we had our group
photograph taken, a copy of which adorns this
Journal.
As last year, the location was
Inchigeelagh Cross, and traffic was brought to a
standstill for several minutes.
Next was an introduction and survey of our first
ten years presented by Joe Creedon.
Then a general survey of progress on the DNA
Project.
This paper was written and prepared by
the leader of our DNA team, Bonnie Norma O’Leary
Harvey, from
Peter O’Leary followed this with “Where do we go
from here?” and elicited strong support for some
invaluable funding by members of the next phase
of our work.
We then had a rest from work with a coach trip
to
Saturday evening concluded with a splendid
dinner at Creedon’s Hotel, and musical
entertainment to follow it.
On Sunday morning we had two talks from very
experienced amateur genealogical researchers,
our two members Kathleen Flanagan, from New
Jersey, and Kate Corbett, from Sussex.
Both gave us the benefit of their many
years searching for their own family trees, and
helping many others to do likewise.
On Sunday afternoon as is now usual, we attended
Mass in the old churchyard in Inchigeelagh.
Fr.Martin O’Hare officiated, and Frs.
Barry O’Leary (
This concluded a very happy and interesting
weekend.
Roll on 2006.