2018 O’Dubhda Clan Gathering

I want to personally thank you for being a part of the 2018 O’Dubhda Clan Gathering.  This year was amazing in many ways.  We had a record number of ‘cousins’ attending!  Over 120 attended the Grand Banquet with over 140 participating in various events.  We hope you had a grand time and will return in three years – for the 2021 Gathering!  Save the date!

September 30 – October 3, 2021.

We moved into the 21st century by having Pre-registration via our clan website.  Please register as a clan member if you haven’t already.  Our website address is www.odobuhdaclan.com   Your membership helps us maintain our website and helps keep our clan solvent.

Our tours this past Gathering were well received.  Our Castle Tour is always grand — with site visits to all the O’Dubhda Castles (although in ruin – they were once our ‘home).  This year we were able to make a final stop to the new whiskey distillery in Ballina.  With a little luck we’ll have our own O’Dubhda Clan Irish Whiskey at our next Gathering!

Our tour to the Irish Famine Museum was also well received by the 18 participants.  If you’ve not been to Strokestown – I highly recommend it.  Perhaps on your next visit to the Emerald Isle you’ll take the time to visit this memorable location.

We wanted to make this Gathering all about the Clan – and in doing so we were very fortunate in ‘gathering’ O’Dowd’s and Dowd’s to be a big part of the entertainment and educational lecture events.  A big BIG THANK YOU to Pascal O’Dowd for Thursday evening’s entertainment.  He sure knows how to ROCK the Oceans Sands Pub. If you haven’t heard his original song about the O’Dubhda –  it’s a must!   Thank you Pascal.

Marion Dowd, our very own World Renowned Archaeologist was our guest lecturer on Friday evening. ANOTHER WOW!!!  She was amazing. Thank you Marion!  (And by the way — she was unaware of how much FUN our Clan is!  She joined our Clan as a member the following day – following all of us on our O’Dowd Proud Facebook Group as well.

Seamie O’Dowd — Thank you!  You and your trio took our clan to all new heights with you amazing traditional Irish music at our Grand Banquet.  I honestly doubt that we’ve had a better Grand Banquet and your music was AMAZING.

We are blessed to have such talent within our clan!

And our Grand Banquet — held at Belleek Castle — was the TALK of the Gathering!  Great food, lots and lots of wine and Guinness and such great fun and kinship. Truly a night that will not be forgotten.

If you attended the General Meeting on Saturday, you are aware that we are looking for volunteers to assist us with the following committees — Membership, Genealogy/DNA and Marketing.  If you are interested in helping — we greatly appreciate your assistance.  Please let me know by emailing me at  Kieranodubhda@gmail.com  or colum@odubhdaclan.com

We are already busy working on the next Gathering!  If you have suggestions, please let us know.  Our Gatherings are all about YOU!

Kieran O’Dowd, O’Dubhda Clan Taoiseach