O Mahony Society   

yDNA Project and Genetic Genealogy UpdateVirtual Meeting a Huge Success!

Taoiseach Finbar O Mahony wowed a crowd of more than thirty interested participants from around the world on Saturday, October 10, 2020, with visually instructive slides, informative text, and lively discussion that was both appealing and enlightening for those present.  What had been planned for forty-five to sixty minutes went to a full ninety, as one question seemed to lead to another. Another measure of success can be counted by the number of meeting participants who have now ordered their yDNA test kits or are going to increase the number of markers analyzed in their previous test.  

 

You can see and hear Finbar's presentation on the Genetic Genealogy tab, Project Update Presentations. 

 

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Mark your calendars now for the 
       66th Annual Gathering of                    The O Mahony Society           
               June 18-20, 2021                  
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The plans for our 2020 Gathering were so good that we are going to repeat them in 2021!

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Once again, the charming Coolcower House in Macroom, Co. Cork, will serve as the headquarters for the 2021 Gathering.  This 19th-Century built home, largely rebuilt after a 1920 fire, offers twelve (12) ensuite rooms, multiple setting areas, a cozy bar, meeting and banquet rooms, and a dining room.  Many updates have been completed, including a redesigned conservatory for indoor casual dining and expanded outdoor seating on the patio overlooking the River Lee.  The breakfasts at Coolcower House are outstanding, and an evening bar food menu was introduced a few years ago with great success. 

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IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU BOOK YOUR ROOM(S) EARLY:  www.coolcowerhouse.ie or email proprietress Bernie O Callahan directly at coolcowerhouse@gmail.com.  Remember that your reservation deposit will secure your accommodation and allow you to remain in the hub of Gathering activities!

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There are other accommodations available in the nearby town of Macroom.  The following links are provided to start your search but are by no means connected to or supported by The O Mahony Society: 

   

                                                                       http://www.macroom.ie/tourism/accommodation

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                                                                       http://www.discoverireland.ie/where-to-stay/

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Additionally, some may want to investigate Airbnb options, including The Earl's Bungalow, on the site of Castle Mahon/Castle Bernard in nearby Bandon, sleeping up to eight: 

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                                     www.airbnb.com/rooms/9337681source_impression_id=p3_1562203481_4NjOZ4ynD1ukESa%2B

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The charming Coolcower House and its view of the River Lee.       Macroom, Co. Cork. 

Macroom Castle, with its 12th Century origins, and a street scene of this Co. Cork market town.  Brian Boru fought in a nearby battle c. 987.  This town and its surrounding areas are full of points of history worth exploring!

Preliminary Schedule of Events

Please note that all events take place at our headquarters unless otherwise listed.  Kindly be advised that while we sincerely appreciate notice of your intent to join us in June, no advance registration for Society events is required.  When we gather,  one or more of the Council members will be available at our headquarters to accept your cash payment for events requiring a payment (dinners, etc.).  

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Friday, June 18, 2021:  

 

Six-ish pm: We will kick off the weekend's events with the O Mahony Society's long-established evening of informal socializing.                          This is a very casual evening, meeting new friends and Clanspeople, as well as greeting ones well known.  Typically                          starting in the six o'clock hour, this relaxing event lasts as long as we want!  Our hosts at Coolcower House are                                  serving bar food in the evening, so feel free to make your on-you-own food orders from the comfort of the cozy snug. 

 

Saturday, June 19, 2021:

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10 am:          Nora M. Hickey, Cartlannai , and Dr. Finbar O Mahony, Taoiseach and yDNA Project Administrator, will present                                   traditional and genetic genealogy workshops. Come spend approximately two hours to learn more about                                           conventional genealogy methods and resources as well as an update on the O Mahony y-DNA Project.

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Lunch on your own.

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2:00 pm:      Afternoon outing to a local site of interest, weather-dependent. 

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The Council will meet at 5 pm.

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7 pm:           Annual General Meeting 

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To follow:     Buffet supper.  Reliably generous , this buffet meal is a perfect way to end a day of O Mahony fellowship.

                    20 Euro  per person includes the full buffet and tea or coffee.

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Sunday, June 20, 2021:  

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1:30 pm:      (Bring your own) Picnic at our Rally point,  Gougane Barra,   Ballingeary, west of Macroom,   Co. Cork. 

                     FOR THOSE WISHING TO CARPOOL, MEET AT COOLCOWER HOUSE NO LATER THAN 1 PM

 

                     Learn more about some of the history of this site, including the contribution of Fr. Denis O Mahony here:  

                    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gougane_Barra

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St. Finbar's Oratory, Gougane Barra

Reconstruction of a 5th C hut near the shore of Gougane Barra (L), and the gravesite of Fr. O Mahony in the nearby cemetery (R). 

We have invited the Kanturk Wild Boar Warriors to return to provide their informative and highly entertaining medieval life and battle reenactments. 

3 pm:                March of the Council and Rally speakers. 

                         The annual auction for an O Mahony Society crest rug will also be conducted. 

                             

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7:30 for 8 pm:  Annual Society Dinner

                           A served 3-course meal, this is a great highlight of the weekend.  30 Euro per person.                                                                          The annual raffle drawing occurs during this evening. Raffle tickets will be available throughout the weekend,                                  and are 1 Euro for one chance, or 5 Euro for six chances.   

                          We will be continuing the Party Piece tradition (see below), so start thinking about your piece now.  The bar was                                set high in 2019, with every single banquet attendee offering a unique and lively entertainment! 

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Continuing an Irish tradition:              Bring Your Party Piece!

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by Mary McConnell Haislip, Membership Coordinator

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This longstanding Irish tradition isn’t well known in many parts of the United States.  My mother, whose grandparents were from Ireland, used to tell of family parties and about everyone’s "Party Piece."  She remembered details about each one.

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So what is it?  Very simply, a way of sharing our talents and laughter with one another.  Everyone comes prepared with something to entertain:  a song, poem, dance, joke or impersonation, magic trick, musical instrument, etc. etc.  It’s part of the social fabric of family gatherings, so for this year’s Gathering bring your Party Piece, because we are going to be the entertainment! 

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We’ve done this in years past, and were accompanied by and entertained by the late Canice O Mahony’s mouth harp and his wife Eilish's spoons for several years.  I remember my first O Mahony gathering in 2001; my sisters and I weren’t prepared for a "Party Piece."  But we were given the mic anyway, and the only song we could remember all the lyrics to was America the Beautiful.  Boy, did we feel silly! 

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Making your own party by singing and laughing together is a marvelous, entertaining way to spend the evening.  You really get to know everyone better, and share a lot of fun.  So what will your Party Piece be for 2021?

65th Annual and first VIRTUAL                            

O Mahony Society Gathering a huge success! 

COVID-19 may have prevented our meeting in Ireland, but nothing could stop the O Mahonys from meeting virtually for our 65th Annual Gathering June 20, 2020!  Thanks to Zoom, more than thirty O Mahonys from around the world logged in and came together to meet, greet, share triumphs and a few trials, and support each other and the Society by sharing ideas and offering assistance with some functions. 

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Although our Taoiseach unexpectedly could not join us at the last minute, Tanaiste Jean McConnell Dinwiddie was a wonderful facilitator and the momentum never waned.  We had such a good time that the planned thirty-minute meeting extended to a full eighty.  Attendees unanimously agreed that the Society should conduct more virtual meetings on a regular basis.  

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To all who attended, including those who awakened early or stayed up late, thank you!  It was wonderful to see you all.  For those who may have had a scheduling conflict, we will see you next time!

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Other O Mahony News          

The O Mahony Society website a benefit to young researchers                

In April of 2020, an email was received from a librarian with the Salt Lake City Children's Network, detailing work that had been done by young genealogy researchers and the benefits derived from The O Mahony Society website.  Working remotely during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, these young learners appreciated the research links available.

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Most kindly, the librarian has returned the favor by adding a link we didn't have: 

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https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/a-guide-to-researching-the-history-of-a-house /

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This site may be useful to many when researching the history of a house and includes a great breakdown of the research process, census records, helpful search resources, former owner databases, etc.