Just two weeks after the closing of the 2008 O’Dochartaigh Reunion, the Reunion Committee was already busy planning and organizing the events for the 2010 reunion.  The next reunion will be held 1 – 10 July 2010.  We are posting the complete descriptive list of events on the reunion website.  The website is www.odochartaighreunion.com

After over 20 years of devoted service to the O’Dochartaigh Reunion, Paddy Bogside Doherty and Rosaleen Doherty Hegarty ended their formal positions on the reunion committee.  Both Paddy and Rosaleen will continue to assist in special projects as their schedules allow.  James Doherty will continue in an advisory position on the committee.  Elections have been held and here are the 2010 committee positions.  Chairman - John V. Doherty “Saddler” of Culdonagh Manor, Malin.  The Immediate Past Chairman - James Doherty of Derry.  Secretary - Marie Doherty Wallace of Gleneely.  Eva Doherty Gremmert will remain as the Reunion Coordinator

The O’Dochartaigh Reunion Committee wants to take this opportunity to publically thank James Doherty, Paddy Doherty and Rosaleen Hegarty for their long years of service on the Reunion Committee.  They have labored since the inception of the organization to create memorable experiences for those who made the “long trip home”.  O’Dochartaighs the world over have benefited by their leadership and experience as we have attended each of the reunion events over the past 23 years.  We are grateful that James is willing to continue serving on the committee in an advisory role to our new chairman.   He has said that he will serve for as long as he is able.   We hope that will be a very long time.

Here is the list of scheduled events for the 2010 O’Dochartaigh Reunion to be held in Derry City, Northern Ireland and Inishowen, Co. Donegal, Ireland in 2010.

Thursday 1 July 

The Opening Night, Mayor’s Reception, the Guildhall in Derry City

The excellent caterer from 2008 will again prepare a feast of local favorites, sure to appeal to all.  We will have the meal first and an accomplished pianist will be playing during meal. After we dine, we’ll have a sing-a-long as the program with a few soloists thrown in.  The words of popular Irish songs will be in the reunion brochure so that the audience can participate.

Friday 2 July 

Irish Cultural classes to be held in the Tullyarvan Mill. 

We’ll enjoy several two hour classes about the Irish language, Playing the Tin Whistle, Basic Irish Genealogy, Basic Computerized Genealogy and possibly others will be held. 

Ceili at the Strand Hotel, Ballyliffin.  This is always one of the most popular events held during our reunions.  The Ceili band from Magheramore will play and announce the dances while local Ceili dancers assist everyone with the dances.

Saturday 3 July 

Walking tour of the Derry City Walls and the walking Bogside Murals tour and the Bogside Museum tour. 

Rain or shine, we’ll walk the historic stone walls of Derry.  This guided walking tour will inform and entertain as our guides tell the story of the city and its history.  Later, we’ll visit the famous Bogside Murals and the Bogside Museum that, together, bring to life the Troubles and the setting that led to the civil strife in Ireland.  These tours illuminate the story of Derry from the early 1600’s to the present.

Sunday 4 July

Sheepdog Trial in Inishowen.  See the dogs and their masters work the sheep in the traditional way.   The trials are a formal competition with specific tasks to be performed by dog and master.

Bus Tour to the Ulster American Folk Park’s 4^th of July celebration.  You can see the Folk Park’s website www.folkpark.com for further information on this outdoor museum.  We will have a lecture by a museum curator as well as access to the Centre for Migration Studies collection while we are there.  This very popular trip shows visitors an accurate view of life in Ireland and the US in the 18^th and 19^th century.

O’Dochartaigh Reunion BBQ – This informal dinner and gathering will take place at Culdonagh Manor, our chairman’s B&B.  We will have a wonderful opportunity to visit with one another, some of us sharing genealogy information and others just getting to know one another.

Monday 5 July

Historical & Genealogical Lectures – Inishowen Gateway.  Held during the daytime, this event was extraordinary at the 2008 reunion with renowned speakers from Derry, Dublin and the US.  Over 120 people attended the lectures in 2008 and we will have an equally informative and enlightening programme.

Medieval Craft Faire -  This walk-through Faire will feature artists and artisans as well as authors selling their wares.  We’ll all enjoy the opportunity to purchase quality local products as gifts and souvenirs before the Banquet.

Medieval Banquet and Entertainment.  This event has its roots in the first O’Dochartaigh reunion held in 1985.  In 2005 we decided that the Banquet should be a Fancy Dress, Costume Dinner.   For 2008 we again dressed up in costumes and added a new feature of having pottery goblets with the Clan Crest on the table for each attendee to take home as a souvenir.  We will have both of these features again in 2010 and because of some of the input from the post-reunion survey, we will change the entertainment.  We will entertain ourselves!  This is to announce the first and most auspicious O’Dochartaigh Clann Talent Show.  Please send an e-mail to Eva at egremmert@comcast.net if you want to be included in the Talent Show.  We would love to have both groups and individuals.  You can do a song or a recitation, or if you have another idea, run it by Eva.  If needed, we can try to coordinate musical instruments.  This was suggested by a few people, so join up.   It will be memorable.

Tuesday 6 July

West Donegal Bus Tour – Our comfortable bus tour to Doon Rock allows us to see the Mass Rock, the holy well and Cahir Rua’s placque that we placed in 2008 and then on to Glenveagh Park –  there will be a meal at Glenveagh Park.  You can search on Glenveagh’s website www.glenveaghnationalpark.ie to learn the history and see what is featured at the park.

Wednesday 7 July

Doagh Island Famine Village – This local attraction gives the definitive history of the Famine and its aftermath.  See their website to learn more about them. www.doaghfaminevillage.com

3^rd Clann Genealogy Forum at the Ballyliffin Hotel, Ballyliffin.  This event originally was Kathi Gannon’s idea and was very popular in 2005 and 2008.  We had local genealogy experts and some professionals come and share information and ideas with one another to help with the roadblocks and stuck places of Irish genealogy.

Thursday 8 July

Inishowen 100 Bus Tour -  This bus tour will travel around the scenic Inishowen Peninsula.  Experienced guides will instruct and entertain the attendees.  Lunch will be included.

Friday 9 July

Guided Walk – Local noted historical guide Desi McCallion will lead this daytime walk.  The exact walk is yet to be determined as the County council and local guides are organizing three different walks.

“Houlee in the Kitchen” – A local variety and talent show in Carndonagh.  This evening event by Margaret O’Kane, a local director, was delightful and really enjoyed by all those who went to this event in 2008.

Saturday 10 July

Closing Banquet and Dance.  We will have our closing banquet at the well known Malin Hotel, Malin town.  We have already booked the band Zig-Zag, the same men that were the entertainment in 2008.  After the dinner and few SHORT speeches, we will give out some reunion attendee prizes before we kick up our heels and dance the night away.

Other items of interest

Website : Michael Noone will post the schedule to the website and Eva will the announcement to the reunion e-mail list that we have.  Everyone is asked to try and think of ways to publicize the events to get more participation both locally as well as helping more visitors learn of our reunion so that they might come.

Fundraising: Mary Doherty Saddler will assume responsibility for fund raising. We will send in grant requests to government bodies.  For fundraising, it was decided to have a night at the races to be held in February, date to be determined, at either the DelaCroix or Da Vinci’s in Derry City.  The reunion committee agreed to work on the event, both to sell “horses” to business and to get a crowd to go there.

Other reunion funding sources: 

There is a local Irish group in Derry that may again give the Reunion Committee a grant of 500 Sterling.  It was agreed that we need to raise 3000 – 4000 Euros to balance the budget for 2010 if we are keeping the prices for events similar.  For 2008 we had 600 E from a donation, 400 E from Buncrana Town council and the Derry Society had 1400 Sterling as a reserve that was spent for the events.  There has been interest in the O’Dochartaigh song that Carita sung in 2005 as well as the song that Anna Connolly wrote and sang.   We hope to create a way for people to download a copy of the song for a small fee.  This will create another small source of income for the reunion.

If anyone has any other ideas either for publicizing the reunion or fundraising, please send them to Eva at egremmert@comcast.net and the committee will discuss the feasibility.

I have been a member of the reunion committee since 2001 and although we keep asking, the Donegal County Council will not allow us to hold an event up at the Grianan.  We had incorporated mini-buses going up to the monument during the last two reunions and they were not really fully utilized.  The feedback that we got from the post-reunion survey was that the lunch, entertainment and trip up to the Grianan was the least enjoyed event.  We discussed taking one of the bus tours up to the monument especially on the way to Glenveagh, but the bus companies will not take the big buses up there because of the narrow roads and tight turns up there.  We really did discuss the schedule at great length, but ultimately it was decided that people can drive themselves up to Grianan.  I always to when I travel to Inishowen.  It is a amazing place, almost mystical.  I am sorry that you are disappointed, but the reunion committee really is trying to do their best to create a diverse schedule that will be economical for visitors as well as interesting to all.

2010 O’Dochartaigh Reunion Schedule With Event Prices     

1 July through 10 July

Thursday 1 July 

7 pm to 10 pm, The Opening Night, Mayors Reception, the Guildhall in Derry City - € 40 each

We have arranged to have the same caterer.  We will have the meal first and pianist will be playing during meal. After the meal, we will have a sing-a-long as the program with a few soloist thrown in.  The words of popular Irish songs will be in the reunion brochure so that the audience can participate.

Friday 2 July 

10 am – 12 pm, and 1 pm – 3 pm, Irish Cultural classes to be held in the Tullarvan Mill. - € 10 each class

2 hour long classes of Irish language, Playing the Tin Whistle, Basic Irish Genealogy, Basic Computerized Genealogy, Beginning Aran knitting, Basic Celtic Art and possibly others will be held. 

7 pm – 10 pm, Ceili at the Malin Hotel, Malin Town.  - € 10 each

This popular event will be organized the same as it was previously, except we moved to Malin Town, from Ballyliffin.  The Ceili band from Magheramore will play and announce the dances.  Local Ceili dancers will come to assist.

Saturday 3 July

12 pm – 5 pm, Walking tour of the Derry City Walls, the Bogside Murals tour & the Bogside Museum tour.  - € 9 each

Sunday 4 July

10 am – 12 pm, Sheepdog Trial in Inishowen.  – Entrance is FREE

See the dogs and their masters work the sheep in the traditional way.   The trials are a formal competition with specific tasks to be performed by dog and master.

11 am – 6 pm, Bus Tour to the Ulster American Folk Park’s 4^th of July celebration.  - € 25 each

This has been a popular event for the reunion.  You can see the Folk Parks website for further information of their out-door museum.  We will have a lecture by a museum curator as well as access to the Centre for Migration Studies collection while we are there.

7 pm – 11 pm, O’Dochartaigh Reunion BBQ – Culdonagh Manor, Drumaville, Malin - € 20 each

This informal dinner and gathering will take place at our chairman’s B&B.  We will have a wonderful opportunity to visit with one another, some of us sharing genealogy information and others just getting to know one another.

Monday 5 July

11 am – 5 pm, Historical & Genealogical Lectures – Inishowen Gateway, Buncrana - € 10 each

Held during the daytime, this event was very popular at the 2008 reunion with renowned speakers from Derry, Dublin and the US.  Over 120 attended the lectures and we promise to have an equally informative and enlightening programme.  One ticket admits you for any or all of the programme.

5 pm – 7 pm, Medieval Craft Faire – Inishowen Gateway, Buncrana -  Entrance is FREE

This walk through Faire will have artists and artisans as well as authors selling their wares.  Many people enjoyed the opportunity to purchase quality articles as gifts and souvenirs before the Banquet.

6:30 pm – 11 pm, Medieval Banquet and Entertainment.  - € 40 each

This event has its roots in the first O’Dochartaigh reunion held in 1985.  In 2005 we decided that the Banquet should be a Fancy Dress, a Costume Dinner.   For 2008 in addition to dressing up in costumes, we had pottery goblets with the Clan Crest on the table for each attendee.  We will have both of these features again in 2010. Because of  input from the post-reunion survey, we have changed the entertainment.  We will entertain ourselves.  We are announcing the first and most auspicious O’Dochartaigh Clann Talent Show.  Please send an e-mail to Eva at egremmert@comcast.net if you want to be included in the Talent Show.  We would love to have both groups and individuals participate, so you can do a song or a recitation, or if you have another idea, run it by Eva.  If needed, we can try and coordinate instruments.  This idea was suggested by a few people, so join up.   It will be memorable.

Tuesday 6 July

10 am – 5 pm, West Donegal Bus Tour – Bus tour to Doon Rock and Glenveagh Park.  - € 25 each

See the Mass Rock, the holy well and Cahir Rua’s placque that we placed in 2008 and then on to Glenveagh Park –  it will be possible to purchase a meal at Glenveagh Park.  They have two restaurants on site.  You can search on Glenveagh’s website to learn the history and see what is featured at the park.

Wednesday 7 July

10 am – 6 pm, Doagh Island Famine Village –  Isle of Doagh, Ballyliffin, - € 7 each

This local attraction gives the definitive history of the Famine and its aftermath.  Visit their website to learn more.

7 pm – 1- pm, 3^rd Clann Genealogy Forum at the Ballyliffin Hotel, Ballyliffin.  – Entrance is FREE

This event originally was Kathi Gannon’s idea in 2005 and was very popular since then.  In 2008, we had local genealogy experts and some professionals come and share information and ideas with one another to help with the roadblocks and stuck places of Irish genealogy.

Thursday 8 July

10 am – 5 pm, Inishowen 100 Bus Tour – Travel around the scenic Inishowen Peninsula.  - € 35 each

Experienced guides will instruct and entertain the attendees.  Lunch will be included.

Friday 9 July

11 am – 4 pm, Guided Walks – Local noted historical guide Desi McCallion will lead this daytime walk.  - € 10 each

The exact walk is yet to be determined as the County council and local guides are organizing three different walks.

8 pm – 10 pm, Houlee in the Kitchen – A local variety and talent show in Carndonagh.  - € 10 each

This evening event, directed by Margaret O’Kane, was delightful and really enjoyed by all those who attended in 2008.

Saturday 10 July

7 pm – 11 pm, Closing Banquet and Dance.  Malin Hotel, Malin Town, - € 40 each

We will have our closing banquet at the well known Malin Hotel.  We have booked the band Zig-Zag, the same men that were the fabulous entertainment in 2008.  After the dinner and few SHORT speeches, we will award some reunion attendee prizes before we kick up our heels and dance the night away.

If you have any questions, please send a message to odochartaighreunion@comcast.net