Hear ye, hear ye, gather round for a feast of céad mile fáiltes this summer as towns and villages throughout Ireland welcome home Irish diaspora from around the world, starting with Pattern Day in St. Mullins parish and thirteen centuries of history in a week-long event in County Carlow from mid to late July.
Extending a warm welcome to the UK members of the County Carlow Association across London, Birmingham and Manchester, the Bagenalstown Returning Emigrants Dance mid July will see some hopping and trotting. Flat shoes a must
And if you’re one of the Ryan clan, trace you Carlow roots at the end of July in Borris for the Carlow/Kilkenny areas with celebrations continuing again during the first two weeks of August for long lost and yet to be discovered cousins, new and old.
Monday nights from the end of June to August sees nights of storytelling, singing and dancing in trad and contemporary styles in Carlow Town while Cavan town plays host to the Ag Seinm gathering concert of trad music and dance featuring artists from Ireland and the United States mid July.
And focusing on first as opposed to last names is the Welcoming Claire weekend of welcomes in Ennis, Co. Clare this June from 21st to the 23rd
A gathering of a different sort takes place over the last two weeks of July with a gathering of over 100 boats along Ireland’s east and south coast, all sailing together experiencing Ireland’s amazing coastline from Kinsale, Co. Cork
Saling Yacht off Ireland
Taking a naval (as opposed to navel) perspective are the celebrations on Spike Island at Cobh, County Cork with a Tracing Your Roots gathering of those with connections to Spike in early August
If you recorded your personal messages from the first minutes of 2013 which will be relayed into space on 31 December check out the exhibition of these at Cork City, Co. Cork throughout the year
Skibbereen Heritage Week Co. Cork, sees a week of genealogy related events, talks and more during the third week of August.
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Ahar – mateys, clip on your wooden leg, parrot and hook and join the Pirates & Slaves Gathering in Baltimore for all pirates (past and present) and descendants of the 108 slaves taken away by pirates in 1631, head to the Co. Cork town this June 21st to 23rd
Ginger and proud. For another type of gathering, of the flaming red headed variety, check out the Irish Redhead Convention in aid of the Irish Cancer Society from 23rd to 25th August 2013 at Crookhaven, Co. Cork. Bring sunglasses
The Cavanaghs of Carrowhugh re-union for extended family members from America, Britain, Ireland and Australia takes place this 2nd to 9th August at Greencastle, Co. Donegal. While there’ll be no shortage of O’Donnells for the clan Gathering at a five day event early August in Donegal Town. Spot the right Daniel
A maritime gathering of sorts sees The Gathering Cruise with over 100 yachts from around the world gathering together from Dublin to Kerry kicking off from mid July to August 1st from Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
The Fohenagh Emigrant Weekend takes place during August with parish tours, trad music, song, dance, storytelling, a gala night, memorabilia night, sports and lots more early August 2013 in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
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Certainly an original hallmark moment, in September 1841, almost 300,000 people signed the biggest Bon Voyage card in the world to say goodbye to the Chief Secretary of Ireland, Lord Morpeth. You can see the exhibition of this piece of Irish history from mid May to end June in Derrynane, Co. Kerry and the Morpeth Roll Exhibition tours Kilkenny in mid August
Take part in a full week of Irish history, culture and genealogy for all North Kerry friends this August in Listowel, Co. Kerry, while at the picturesque town of Kenmare, Co. Kerry there will be in a New York state of mind at the end of August as the town hosts its New York Gathering Festival. A 3 to 4 day event at the end of August, the festival is called The Kenmare Gangs of New York Gathering festival. Bagels n yellow cabs everywhere (well maybe)
Sticking with the Kingdom, the village of Sneem, being an ancient stronghold of the O’Sullivans, aims to be the centre point of The Gathering of the O’Sullivan Clan and a week of welcome hospitality, great food and general craic. Daily trips to the ancient seats of the O’Sullivans in Cappanacush, Derrynane House, Staigue Fort, The Skelligs, Ring of Kerry and Beara Pennisulas. Takes place mid July in and around Sneem, Co. Kerry
The Ballyheigue Gathering Festival invites members of the Ballyheigue diaspora back to the coastal Co. Kerry town for ten days of celebrations and events this July
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The first ever Stack Clan Gathering is to be a weekend of heritage, community, song and dance in Listowel and surrounding areas in County Kerry in late July.
A seven day tour of Ireland which trails the many heritage sites connected with the Fitzgerald Clan kicks off at the end of June in Kildare Town while the same town sees expert Genealogists will help you trace your roots at the Irish National Stud from mid June (your pedigree of sorts)
| Adare Manor | Dunraven Arms | The Savoy |
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Heritage Week takes place in Limerick from mid to end August and this year sees a Tracing Your Roots theme throughout Limerick city and county
A northern town with a Southern flavour is Dundalk, Co. Louth this July when the gathering sees the celebration of James Gallier who became ‘the father of architecture’ in New Orleans at his birthplace in Louth
And if you’re a bit more of a sporty spice, check out the Carlingford, Co. Louth gathering with a difference at the Gathering Adventure Splash Endurance series of 5 events to over 32 days which include swimming or kayaking; road or mountain biking, road and trail running in late July. Exhausting just listing them
If you think you might be a descendant of one of the Wild Geese, then the homecoming for you may be the Westport, Co. Mayo with invitation for the descendants of the ‘Wild Geese’ to return to Ireland this August already on the wing
‘Come home to the people you know’ is the tagline for the North Mayo series of events in the first week of August as part of the Gathering Celebration 2013 kicking off in Ballina, Co. Mayo, while the a re-enactment of the 1798 Rebellion in Mayo, including the French landing to take Killala culminating in the ‘Races of Castlebar’ takes place from August 15th to 19th. Feisty stuff
Listed as one of National Geographic’s top places in the world, take the opportunity to watch history being discovered before your very eyes at the Blackfriary Community Archaeology Project in Trim, County Meath on June 14th and at further Dig and Paddles events throughout July
Those with Royal county ancestry will be feted at a series of events in Trim, Co. Meath this June with lectures, visits, festival events and a special dinner for those with Meath roots
Encompassing the Strokestown Historical Society, Ag Show Society, Strokestown Park House and the Irish National Famine Museum among others join the people of Roscommon in their marking of the gathering this year on July 12th
The MacDermott Clan will gather at the end of July with the diaspora of Boyle, Co Roscommon for a series of celebratory events while over in Sligo, the Murphy Clan (and there are many) mark their roots with a festival of fun and frolics in Tubbercurry in mid June
The community of Emly, Co Tipp welcome home emigrants and the families of local people who emigrated over the generations from July 18th to 21st while the people of Clonmel do likewise this August with all sorts of weekend’s events planned.
Down in the Glen of Aherlow in Co Tipperary, the Gathering in the Glen combines family and school re-unions with exhibitions, trad sessions to beat the band and a wee bit of d’Irish thrown in during the last two weeks of July
Have you ever wanted to meet your great granny? Well if you have roots in Thurles, Co Tipperary, you can gather in the town and see what life was like a century ago for one day only on July 14th. Ah go on go on go on
Dungarvan will be over-run with McGraths during mid June when they manifest themselves in the form of music and talk, as well as dinner and golf in this pretty Waterford location
For those with more of an educational bent, there’s a special Edmund Rice Summer School this August in Waterford city
Sporting a , well, sporting image, Mullingar, Co Westmeath sees a celebration of many sporting activities this June from tots to toddlers, teetotallers and more
| Kellys Resort | Waterford Castle | Whites of Wexford |
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Re-enact early medieval life with the Vikings with the people of Ferrycarrig, Co Wexford who stage an Irish National Heritage Park event mid July. While fast forwarding five hundred years or more, the people of Enniscorthy, mark the 215th anniversary of the Battle of Vinegar Hill to remember those who died during the 1798 Rebellion this June
In the name of one of Wexford’s most famous sons, the town of New Ross celebrates the 50th anniversary of JFK with the lighting of The Gathering Torch from JFK Eternal Flame at Arlington Cemetery, USA Commencement to New Ross for the opening of New Ross Quayfront at the end of June.
Tea, did someone say tea? Not if you were at the Boston Tea Party which this 4th of July is re-enacted in New Ross, Wexford. Long day for Mrs Doyle
Last but not least is the Hints of History Festival at Blessington, Co Wicklow which intriguingly promises not just to have you visualizing the past, the chance to relive it this July
For special gathering deals, check out what’s on offer at some of our fabulous 5 star luxury hotels around Ireland.
