The McAuliffe Clan Reunite

From June 24th to the 26th, McAuliffes from all over the world and here at home congregated in their ancient territory of Clanawley to celebrate the Clan’s 8th Gathering since 1992.

This year the fully restored Old Protestant church, now known as Cultúrlann MacAmhlaoibh was open and the venue for all the weekend events apart from the cultural and history tour on the Saturday and Sunday, facilitated by Mossie Angland.

On the Friday night, members of the clan paraded through town behind the wonderful Newmarket Pipe Band to the Cultúrlann, their enthusiasm unimpeded by the heavy rain. At the Cultúrlann they gathered to greet old friends, meet new ones and enjoy the first concert of the Gathering with the Duhallow Choral Society.

Over the next two days there were fun Irish classes, a book launch by Philip Taylor on the McAuliffe clan, a fascinating video by Jack McAuliffe, a foot tapping concert on Saturday night featuring Sheila Fitzgerald and a lively selection of songs with an Irish theme.

The concert also featured musicians Raymond O Sullivan and Timmy Connors together with the next generation of musicians who showed that Irish music is alive and in rude good health. After the concert the audience enjoyed tea and sandwiches as they chatted and mingled and renewed old acquaintances. But there was a glaring absence. The one man who single-handedly made Cultúrlann MacAmhlaoibh possible through persistence, vision and generosity, Sydney based clan chieftain, John Paul McAuliffe was absent. John Paul passed away in Australia merely three weeks before the Gathering and sadly never got to see the marvellous venue he created. His name was on everyone’s lips for the entire weekend.

He was ably represented by his widow Barbara and his daughter Julie, the main organisers of the Gathering and who brought with them from Sydney the ashes of the man who made the Cultúrlann possible.

The Clan banquet on Sunday night brought the curtain down on a highly successful weekend. By Monday, the scattering of the McAuliffes had begun, returning to the four corners of the globe and the four corners of the country from whence they came. They carried with them memories of a wonderful three days to sustain them until they return to their ancestral land again for the 9th Gathering in 2026.

Julie McAuliffe, daughter of John Paul, giving a last look over arrangements for the Clan Banquet