Third Mc Grath Clan Gathering.

A very successful third Mc Grath Clan Gathering was held in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis, County Clare on the weekend of June 23rd with more than 100 attending from as far away as the USA, Canada, Australia and Switzerland.

The clan organisation is making rapid progress with its web site now in place at www.clan-mcgrath.com and plans are being drawn up for next years clan gathering back in Pettigo, County Donegal, where the inaugural gathering was held in 1996.

With three major groupings of the clan name in Ireland around Waterford in the south east, in the Clare and Tipperary area in Munster and in the north in Donegal, Fermanagh and Tyrone the clan gathering has now circulated to each area major area. This year's clan organisers were John Mc Grath of Carrick on Suir and Liam Mc Grath of Dungarvan. John will be captain of next year's Irish rowing team to the Celtic Games.

Northern representatives to the gathering were Brendan Mc Grath now a Dublin businessman but originally from Ederney, County Fermanagh who was elected Clan Chieftain in Pettigo in 1996. Brendan's brother Maurice was also present and as clan bard and historian respectively were Cormac Mc Connell of Belnaleck and Clare FM Radio fame and John Cunningham who gave a talk on the Northern Mc Graths. Nicholas Mc Grath chief of the Waterford Mc Graths also attended.

In the regally medieval setting of the Thomond Function room matters of clan interest were discussed and the evening ended with traditional music and Sean nos singing.

Anyone interested in taking part or contributing to next year's clan gathering in Pettigo on the weekend of the 22nd of June should contact the clan website for information updates or phone
0044 2868 658327 or 051 640545.