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It’s Sunday so we went to mass in Drimoleague (even us Protestants), where we were lucky enough to be invited to tea at Peg O’Donovan’s house. First we were served tea. Then we had an amazing three course lunch. They were all happy that I would be going to the Gaeltacht in a few days in order to learn Irish, but Father John (with full support from the rest of the group) expressed that it was a shame I was going to Donegal instead of Kerry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the time we had finished our meal it was time to head over to the ceremony at Castle Donovan. This was amazing, it was like a town fair! It is really moving to see hundreds of clansmen moving across ground that our ancestors walked before us.

The Castle Donovan School of Irish Dancers performed both step dancing and sets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was also plenty of music and singing:

 

The ceremony concluded with Síle de Valera, Minister for Arts, Heritage, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, dedicating a plaque recognizing the O’Donovan/Donovan Clan Gathering. It can be found at the junction closest to the castle.

Prior to dedicating the plaque, a handful of people gave short speeches. The most memorable of these was by John Emmett Donovan, whose daughter Regina Crixell (Houston, Texas) was instrumental in organizing the Gathering. John told us an amazing anecdote about his first visit to Castle Donovan. He had served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and on his way back to the States he had a layover in Ireland. He convinced one of his friends to take a few days and travel around Ireland while they had the opportunity. One of his goals was to find Castle Donovan, and after a while of searching they did. They ended up climbing the staircase (which is now in the process of collapsing, but still there) to the top and spending the night at the top of the castle. As he told the anecdote, it was hard to not get caught up in the romanticism of his tale and his wistful description of the stars above them that night. I’d love to get the opportunity to have him tell me the details again as I’ve forgotten many of them, but I’m sure much of the power in that story lay in the fact that I was sitting in the shadow of the castle with 1500 fellow O’Donovans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The castle is located near Drimoleague. It is signposted, but the people in the village are probably a better source of advice.

The glen that surrounds Castle Donovan (views to all directions):

When the ceremony was over everyone went to the Parkway Hotel in Dunmanway for a closing Banquet. Below are a few photos from that evening:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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