Newsletter, Summer 2010, Number 48

Clan Gathering 2011

The next Kelly Clan Association Gathering is planned for 20th-22nd May 2011 at the Bellbridge House Hotel, Spanish Point, Milltown Malbay in County Clare. It’s time to plan to be there! Watch: www.kellycln.com The theme of next year’s Clan Gathering will hold appeal for all who are interested in their ancestry and appropriately follows on from our DNA Research theme with Raymond Kelly at the 2009 Gathering. We have invited an eminent professional genealogist, Helen Kelly to lecture us on Saturday morning on: “How to research your family tree, using census material and other sources.” We have asked her to deal with the fact that the 1901 and 1911 Irish Census are now on line and how this may assist people in their research.

Helen Kelly has been a Council Member of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland (APGI) since 1996 and is currently its Vice President. She has served as a consultant to the Genealogical Office in Dublin, the Irish National Library and the Irish National Archives. She has featured on newspaper, magazine, radio and television in Ireland, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and Australia. Throughout the weekend Mary Kelly will act as the Genealogical Co-ordinator for the Gathering. She will have access to the family tree of the West Clare Kellys. This exciting new feature of next year’s Gathering will give attendees the opportunity of matching their own research and hopefully establishing branch links.

We usually have a number of discoveries of branch links at the Gatherings, but this innovation, using a computer programme should hopefully culminate in more discoveries. It is very satisfying to witness the sense of emotion that is felt when relations, ancestral homes or even graves are discovered.

Our pre-dinner speaker on the Saturday night is a well known local historian, Sean Treacy. He has researched the Kelly’s of West Clare and he will delve into some of our history. Genealogy creates the skeleton of the family tree but the stories and history surrounding families give us the flesh, which is our insight into how people lived, loved and died.

We decided that we would take a more relaxed approach to the Gathering of 2011 than on previous years, in line with the prevailing attitude of the people of West Clare. Our bus tour next year will be more a sight-seeing tour than historically based. We intend to travel along the dramatic coast of Clare to the Loop Head lighthouse. This is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most spectacular coastlines, beginning up at Galway Bay and stretching down to the Mouth of the River Shannon, which at 212 miles is the longest river in the British Isles. This coast takes in the World renowned Mecca for tourists, the Cliffs of Moher, which stretch for 5 miles and rise to heights ranging from 394 feet (120 m) to 702 feet (214 m). The Cliffs of Moher site is currently on a shortlist for inclusion as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. However, we will take a route less travelled and hidden from the main tourist route, but yet an area of outstanding natural beauty. I am personally very much looking forward to showing all of my friends in the Clan this wild and romantic area that has been our home for ten generations.

The West Clare branch of the Kellys had two famous RC Priests in the 19th century, Rev. Timothy and Rev Patrick. Both built local churches and it is likely that you will hear about both of them from Seán Treacy. Our Uachtarán, Dom Celsus will say Mass in the smallest of these churches on Sunday May 22nd. This enchanting church at the village of Creegh is just a few miles from the Bellbridge House Hotel.

The last Gathering in West Clare was over -subscribed and I would recommend that you book well in advance. Please contact either Bernie

(Hon Sec), Mary or myself if you would like any further information or help. I look forward to renewing old friendships and establishing new ones.

Photo

This photo is of Pat-Mór Kelly whose great-grandson, Tim of Fortview, is networking with Kellys in County Clare in preparation for the Clan Gathering. If your ancesters are from County Clare, or you think they were, this Gathering will be worth your while attending. Gearoid Ó Ceallaigh

What some Kellys have been doing:

Drake Alumni Debut in Des Moines

Drake University alumnus Tom Geraty, director of Big Field Productions, led a collaborative team of Drake alumni and faculty to produce a feature film entitled “Ash,” which debuted in Des Moines on Thursday April 8. “Ash” is the story of Dan McBurney, an ex-cop, devoted husband and father of two young boys, who turns vigilante when he discovers that a recent child-abductor lives across the street from his storage facility.

The film is a product of efforts by Drake alumni and faculty members led by Geraty Class of ’84 who wrote, directed, produced and acted in the project. Fellow Drake alumni and faculty contributed to the project in the following roles:

John Burney, Drake Provost for Academic Affairs, plays AlPatrick Kelly, who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre in 1986, served as Director of PhotographyKevin R. Kelly, who graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, plays Donald SandemanStephanie Brown, former Drake student, plays Lori McBurney

Patrick and Kevin Kelly grew up in Sauganash, attending Queen of All Saints School and Loyola Academy. Patrick has been a resident of Los Angeles for many years while Kevin returned from LA and is now living in South Loop with his wife Cathy and their twin children. Their parents, Trudy and Michael still reside in the family home on Kolmar Ave. A former member of the executive committee of Friends of Drake Arts, Geraty has acted in numerous plays in Chicago and Des Moines and collaborated on three Drake productions.

(From a Chicago Neighbourhood Newspaper).

News Points

  • Michael and Clare Kelly, hosts at the previous Clare Gathering, attained their 55th Wedding Anniversary (Emerald) this July. Warmest congratulations to them both.
  • Annual Subscriptions of €25 or €30 are now due and a page on the updated website; www.kellycln.com is set up for joining, or renewing, subscriptions. For those without a computer, subscriptions, or *newsletter content, can be sent to the Clan Secretary: Bernadette Kelly, “Aisling,” Tyrone, Kilcolgan, County Galway, Ireland.

NEWSLETTER CONTENT:

Please e-mail to: jennyelk24@yahoo.co.nz *