A three day event in County Derry at the end of April is set to reunite O’Kane’s, Mullan’s, Keane’s and McCloskey’s from far and wide.
Organisers behind the O’Cathain festival have been planning the event since last June and are hoping it will attract hundreds of people who want to learn more about their heritage.
The last reunion for the clan, which was held in 1990, saw people come from as far away as America to celebrate the history of the clan – one of the biggest tribal lordships who ruled the area between the 12th and 17th century.
The Beech Hill Hotel in Derry will be the setting for the opening of the festival on Friday, April 30 with Geneologist Willie O’Kane from Swatragh giving an outline of the festival at 8pm.
This will be followed by a talk by Professor John McGurk on the O’Cathain clan and history and an opportunity to trace your roots in the clans with Marcus O’Murchu.
The evening will be rounded off with a harp recital and a talk on its music and traditions.
The festivities continue on Saturday, May 1 with a tour of the Roe Valley taking place from 11am to 1pm.
Guide and narrator Michael Conway will take interested parties around popular attractions in the borough including O’Cathain’s Castle, Phillips Bawn, O’Cathain’s Rock and Dog Leap. There will also be a display of weapons used in the 16th and 17th century and a re-enactment of their use by professional performers from the Faoil Lia re-enactment group.
From 2pm to 5pm, a coach tour of the O’Cathain country will take in scenic spots such as Drumceatt, Rough Fort, Sampson’s Tower, Enagh Lough and Magilligan before returning to Roe Valley Centre.
Later in the evening the festival will move to Dungiven where a display of portraits and selection of images for Domhnall Ballagh will be available to view in the Benedy Community Centre.
This will be followed by a fashion parade, which will include a display and talk about the type of clothes worn by the Irish in the late 16th and early 17th century.
Local artists will come together to bring the evening to a close with a variety of music and recitals.
On Sunday, May 2 a prayer service will be held in the Old Priory in Dungiven at 2pm for Domhnall Ballagh and the deceased in the Priory.
A number of talks will take place including the history of the Priory, discoveries in the graveyard and the history of Doddington’s Bawn followed by musical entertainment from the Armagh Rhymers and local artists.
The festival will come to a close on Sunday evening with an event in the Drummond Hotel in Ballykelly kicking off at 8pm.