O’byrne clan planning October reunion at Woodenbridge Hotel

AS PART of the forthcoming 2013 Gathering celebrations, the O'Byrne Clan has decided to have a Clan Rally/Gathering over the weekend of October 4 to October 5 at the Woodenbridge Hotel near Avoca.

It is planned that Byrnes and O'Byrnes from Wicklow and southeast Leinster, as well those returning from foreign fields, will gather at the Woodenbridge for the weekend to celebrate their heritage. Further, this event is open to all those with Byrnes in their family tree and those interested in the history of Wicklow.

An exciting programme of events is currently being planned – ranging from historical enactments, pageantry, tours and lectures on the history of the O'Byrnes. It is hoped there will be something for the very young to the more senior members of the Clan. The celebrations will culminate in a grand banquet of the clan on the night of Saturday October 5 under the stewardship of Val Byrne – Clan Chieftain.

This event will be the latest in a long history of O'Byrne Clan Gatherings – stretching as far back as 1935 when the battle of Glenmalure (25 August 1580) was reenacted. Other events have included rallies in 1948, 1953, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996 and 1998.

In order to get things up and running a Byrne get-together has been organised for January 29 in the Bridge Tavern, Wicklow town.

If you would like to meet other like-minded Byrnes, then come along to Wicklow town on January 29.

The committee of Clan O'Byrne is calling on interested Byrnes to become involved and volunteer to help in the planning and execution of the programme.

Those interested can contact the Clan Secretary Shelly Byrne Kavanagh at m.kavanagh.1@hotmail.com or (087) 2378389. Information on the Clan Rally 2013 can be found on the web site of Clan O'Byrne – www.clannobyrne.com. Also Clann O'Byrne can be followed on Facebook.