By Liam McGrath

Greetings from sunny Ireland. I just came back this afternoon from our annual McGrath Clan Reunion in Pettigoe, County Donegal.

John McGrath and I went up to Pettigoe for the Reunion, and enjoyed it very much. John Cunningham launched his new book entitled: Pettigoe and Its People (including a history of the Clan McGrath). The northern McGrath Clan Chief Brendan McGrath welcomed us all, to a program of talks, tours, good food and memorable tours. People attended from the U.S., southern Ireland, Brazil, Korea, and even greetings and enquiries came from Scotland and Switzerland. There were guided tours to local villages and cemeteries, talks at the Reunion, new books that have been published about our Clan, and good chats with all those who came. The hospitality of our clansmen in County Donegal was warm and encouraging. Thanks again to Brendan McGrath and his family, all those who sang the old songs, walked with us on the tours, and dreamed with us of what the future might bring. We shall be looking forward to seeing you next year. This year's June 21-23 McGrath Clan Reunion was a lovely celebration of the ancient Celtic Midsummer Solstice, formerly called Alban Heruin.

We may try a different kind of Reunion next year. It was decided to work towards forming two McGrath Heritage Centres in Ireland, around a rebuilt McGrath castle in the South, and another rebuilt McGrath Castle in the North. There are 88,000 McGrath families the world over, to say nothing of Magraw and McCrae, which are all one and the same people originally. If two Heritage Centres are begun, there would be enough to service all the enquiries and visitors-- depending on whether the individuals being researched lived in the North or in the South. One Centre would be near Pettigoe, and the other in County Waterford.

In September, we shall have a Steering Committee Meeting to include those planning on organising and promoting the rebuilding of two McGrath Castles for Heritage Centres. Several properties are under consideration and reports shall be given. A solicitor (lawyer) will be contacted about forming a Trust to safeguard the funds and books and other furnishings being donated for the use of either or both castle sites. A secretary will send out reports and updated news of developments.

Several projects are under discussion for use to promote the Castles and Heritage Centres projects. One recommended at our recent gathering was the planning of a rowing and sailing of boats, under the command of our rowing sportsman John McGrath, up the Shannon River estuary, through the canal network and Lakes of Central Ireland to the Northern community of Pettigoe, Co. Donegal. This would duplicate some of the routes used in ancient times by Celtic emigrants, who sailed from North Western Spain to southern Ireland and northern Ireland, and portaged from lake to lake. Several boats could travel in a flotilla and demonstrate how ancient Celts could have penetrated from the sea to the interior of Ireland. You may want to travel along with the boat tour, at the Midsummer Solstice of June 21, 2003. A book will be published by Liam McGrath on the subject of: Ancient Celtic Migrations, Ships & Sea Journeys, Castles & Forts.

John Cunningham remarked that the seas were regarded by the ancient Celts as links binding their tribes together, rather than obstacles keeping them apart. John McGrath affirmed that Celts regularly travelled by ships and boats from Galician Spain to Brittany, Cornwall and Ireland. Some boats were rowed round the clock by specially trained crews. Even women and grown children took turns rowing and bailing out the boats. Celtic sportsmen loved the challenge of the sea and could row for many hours at a stretch in good racing weather. Frequent voyages were made for trade purposes, and visits among the tribes, and emigrations. We have accumulated a mass of details from ancient writers describing the Celtic boats, ships and trading ventures. Did you know that one of Christopher Columbus' navigators was an experienced Irish pilot?