The rally scheduled for October 2021 had been shelved by Covid, and when the clan finally returned to Enniscrone in October 2022, Kieran O’Dowd had held the Taoiseach’s office longer than anyone in the modern era. She passed the White Wand to Colum O’Dowd; the clan elected a new Tánaiste — Sean O’Dowda Stephens of Canada — for 2025.

Back Together

Members arrived in Enniscrone from the afternoon of Wednesday 5 October, some using the free day to visit the Enniscrone Castle ruins and others going further afield to Castleconnor. The genealogy clinic ran all afternoon. The rally itself opened that evening in the hotel ballroom with finger food, chicken and chips, and the first real chance in almost four years for the clan’s dispersed members to meet each other again.

During the opening session, the Ollamh, Conor MacHale, was congratulated on being awarded the Order of Merit by Clans of Ireland for long service to Irish history and genealogy. Tánaiste Colum O’Dowd gave a short and affectionate lecture on the clan’s genealogy, entitled ‘Back to Adam’ — via history, legend, and mythology, which the audience found about as gripping as a Gaelic seanchaí.

Marion Dowd & Tormore Cave

The main lecture was delivered by Dr Marion Dowd — Tormore Cave: Sligo’s Civil War Hideout. In 1922, she explained, a group of IRA volunteers had used the cave to avoid Free State troops, supplied by local sympathisers. The talk closed the circle that the 2018 lanterns had opened: caves as refuges, for our own ancestors as much as for anyone.

Thursday & Friday

Thursday’s two tours split between the O’Dubhda castles of Tireragh (with Ardnaree Friary, Rosserk Friary, Foghill and Killala) and the Céide Fields. That evening the clan chose between Irish-language class, whiskey tasting and a lesson on how to pour a pint of Guinness. Thursday closed with Remembrance Lanterns on the patio again, now a standing tradition.

Friday opened with a Council of Chieftains meeting reviewing the charitable status of the clan, and an 11am general meeting. Taoiseach Emeritus Mike Dowd sent apologies from Australia. A presentation was made to Paddy Tuffy, the local historian, for his attendance at every rally since 1990. The committee was re-formed: Kieran O’Dowd as Marketing Officer and Events Planner, Colum O’Dowd as Treasurer, Carianne Rochford as Secretary, Terry Rochford as Sergeant-at-Arms. Sean O’Dowda Stephens of Canada was elected Tánaiste, to be inaugurated at the 2025 rally.

The Inauguration

The inauguration of Colum O’Dowd as the seventh modern Taoiseach followed immediately after the general meeting. The White Wand was again passed through the hands of every member before being raised over Colum’s head by the outgoing Taoiseach, Kieran. Colum passed the Tánaiste’s standard to Sean; Kieran passed the Taoiseach’s standard to Colum, to the applause of the assembled Ó Dubhda.

The Banquet at Belleek

The banquet at Belleek Castle was held with the ceremonial sword of Clans of Ireland on display (courtesy of the chairman, Gearóid Ó Ceallaigh) — a claymore-style claíomh mór used for ceremonial purposes. Comment was made, during dinner, of the number of young people in the room: a sign of hope for the future. Kilglass Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann provided music and Irish dancers; transport carried the clan back to Enniscrone afterwards, with only the dwellers in Belleek Castle’s own rooms staying the night.