O’Connell clan has gathering in Cahersiveen

June 1991

OVER 100 members of the O’Connell clan converged on Cahersiveenat the weekend to attend the first gathering of the O’Connell clan.

Clan members travelled from all over Ireland and the _UiJted States to attend the inaugural gathering. And it was only fitting that they should pick the home of the Liberator, Daniel O’Connell for their first meeting,

Chief organiser of the i weekend, Matt O’Connell said: “This is the home of the O’Connell clan and their roots in Kerry can be traced back to 1,000 AD.

Matt, who is based in Galway started tracing his family roots in the Genealogy Centre in Dublin in 1990.

“While I was doing research, Chief of the O’Connor clan Ropry O’Connor — who is a native of Kriocknagoshel — recommended that I come to Cahersiveen he said.

Matt O’Connor in conjunction with Cahersiveen man Michael O’Connell organised a meeting and a committee was formed to spearhead a recruiting campaign and plan the gathering.

“We sent out 2,000 forms to O’Connell families all over the world lforming them about the organisation and asking them to fill in their family tree. So Far we have received 1,000 in return,” he said.

While the O’Connell clan will not become involved directly in tracing family roots, this service will be provided by the Heritage Centre which is due to open shortly in Cahersiveen.

Clan members were treated to a tour of Daniel O’Connell’s birthplace, Carhen, Ballycarbery Castle and Derrynane House and Professor Maurice O’Connell, a direct descendent of Daniel O’Connell’s gave a lecture on the Liberator’s life and politics.

The clan finished off their weekend with a Mass and a tour of Derrynane House on Sunday.

Matt O’Connell said: “The church was absolutely packed, I hope we can increase the numbers in the next year to have a good representation at the Gathering of all Irish clans to be held in Tara in 1992”.