Kennedy clan together again

Kennedys from around the world will arrive in their ancestral homeland of North Tipperary this month for their ninth annual clan gathering.

All are welcome to join in this event, which will feature a series of tours exploring the fascinating Kennedy family lineage. These should prove great interest to anyone wanting to learn more about local history and familial connections to other parts of the country.

The weeklong gathering will also see the launch of two new books by Australian historian Brian Patrick Kennedy, who will be making his 30th visit to these parts for the now yearly get-together.

Commencing on Sunday, July 14th, the gathering will involve a visit a Brian Ború's Fort in Killaloe, original base and seat of King Kennedy of North Munster, where Brian Patrick Kennedy will deliver a brief history of Beal Borúmha and its environs.

That night the launch will take place of his new book at the Anglesey Lounge in Rearcoss. Titled 'The Irish Kennedys who moved Eastward – to baronies adjacent to Ormond', the book takes an in-depth look at Kennedy family movements after the Cromwellian dispossessions of 1656. It tells the story of the families who moved into the baronies adjacent to Ormond, many of whose descendants remain to this day.

The following Tuesday, a bus trip has been organised to the Dingle Peninsula, home to the second highest concentration of Kennedys anywhere in Ireland outside North Tipperary. Thursday will involve a visit to the Rock of Cashel - seat of power of the Kings of Munster - as well as an optional trip to Dunganstown, Co Wexford, ancestral home of President John F Kennedy.

Then on Saturday the gathering moves upland to Foilycleara before heading on to Pa Ryan's pub in Upperchurch that night for the launch of Mr Kennedy's second new book, 'The Ryans of Tipperary and Kilkenny: Their presence in Eliogarty, Ikerrin, Kilnamanagh and parts of Clanwilliam, Crannagh, Galmoy and Middlethird baronies'. The many connections between the Kennedy and Ryan families, have been well in evidence at previous clan gatherings, the author referring to an “inextricable” link between the families going back hundreds of years. In this book, Mr Kennedy traces the Ryan line in Tipperary back to 1305 and reviews their history in several north eastern Tipperary baronies and adjacent areas in Kilkenny.

Over 100 people took part in last year's Kennedy gathering, during which Nenagh Castle and Heritage Centre, the village of Toor and several graveyards and burial grounds in the foothills of Keeper were among the sites visited.

Looking forward to picking up where he left off with everyone on his return this month, Mr Kennedy is also hoping to make some new connections. He will furthermore continue the research for his next book, 'The Resilience of the Irish Kennedys – over a millennium. It tells the story of the Kennedys in Ormond over a thousand years, dealing with the Vikings, the Normans, the Elizabethans, Cromwell, Penal Laws, etc, and how the family remains a force here today.

A massive body of work, the complete collection (so far) of Brian Patrick Kennedy's books was recently presented to the Glucksman Library at the University of Limerick. The books are available to purchase online at theirishkennedys.weebly.com. They can also be purchased at The Nenagh Bookshop, Kennedy's bar & shop in Rearcross, Bookwork Bookshop in Thurles and Alan Hanna’s Bookshop, Rathmines Road Lower, Dublin.

Further details and updates about the Kennedy Gathering 2019 will be posted on the website irishkennedyheritagegroup.ie and Facebook page theirishkennedysbooks.