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Book your place now with a deposit - see below

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O'Dochartaigh Reunion Tour 2023

LIMITED NUMBER OF PLACES STILL AVAILABLE!
Tour Leader:  Jennifer Doherty

Welcome O'Dochartaigh Clann Member!
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The O'Dochartaigh Clann Reunion is set for July 2023 and we Dohertys in Inishowen, Co. Donegal look forward to welcoming our cousins and friends from the United States and all over the globe for what promises to be another great Clann Gathering.  

Irish Ancestral Research Services are offering a one of a kind, tailor-made tour over ten nights to a select group of Clann members and invite you to join us.  The tour will comprise of seven wonderful nights in Inishowen, the home of the O'Dochartaighs for centuries.  This is followed by a fun-filled tour along the Wild Atlantic Way, through the Ancient East and ending up in our capital city, Dublin.  You will spend each night in a four-star hotel with meals provided*.  

Jennifer Doherty will lead the tour.  With almost thirty years experience in Irish family and social history and living in Clonmany, an Inishowen village with the highest concentration of Dohertys in the world per head of capita, Jennifer is best placed to give guidance on everything Clann related.  

Information relating to the tour can be found on this main page, but should you have any specific queries, including adding a Dublin leg to the end of this tour, then please email Jennifer directly at:   

IrishAncestral@gmail.com  with the subject heading - "O'Dochartaigh Reunion Tour 2023"

For links to deposit payment, and later in the year, balance payment, please scroll further down this page to secure YOUR place!
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Roll on July 2023!  Let the Clann Reunion Countdown begin!

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Some photos of Clann members at the O'Dochartaigh Reunion 2015


Tour Itinerary - Sample of 2020

Please note that the rescheduled O'Dohartaigh Reunion 2023 will follow a very similar format.  We will release a new itinerary for July 2023 just as soon as the Reunion events are finalised by the committee.

The NEW dates for the 2023 Reunion TOUR are as follows:


Tuesday, 18th July - Saturday, 29th July 2023 (inclusive)


Proposed Departure Day from the United States:
​Tuesday, July 21, 2020
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Most of you will fly out of your nearest international airport for arrival in Dublin.  Some of you are arriving in Ireland on this date but most are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.  The tour begins on Wednesday.


Wednesday, 22 July 2020
TOUR DAY 1

 
Tour Pickups will take place as follows:
 
Dublin Airport                  10am                    and                       1pm​
Dublin City Centre          12pm
 
These timings will be firmed up once we have confirmation of all guests’ arrival details.  Do not worry regarding pickups as no-one will be left behind. 
 
2pm                      As a result of the various pick-up timings going into the afternoon, we will provide a Coffee Stop Lunch “on the go”                                on our way to Donegal, instead of stopping off in Monaghan for a sit-down lunch.  This is a compromise that had to                                  be made regarding the time the driver is allowed to spend on the road.
 
                              Arrive at our destination late afternoon / early evening
 
7pm                     Tour Group Dinner at the hotel and early night to rest.
 
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Accommodation / Meal Information
Accommodation:                                                         Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana
Meals provided - Tour:                                               Lunch and Dinner
Meals provided - ALL-EVENTS Ticket:                     N/A

 Thursday, 23 July 2020
TOUR DAY 2

 
10am                    Clonmany Village Historical Guided Walk with Jennifer and other guest tour guides.  Clonmany parish contains                                       the highest concentration of Dohertys (O’Dochartaighs) than any other parish in the world.  There are so many of                                     us Dohertys here, that we have to use nicknames to distinguish ourselves!  This fascinating walk will transport you                                   back in time, giving you understanding of what rural life was like in 18th-20th century times. 
 
12pm                   Special Farm Visit with Sheep Dog Herding Demonstration at an O’Dochartaigh farm!  This is a treat that I have                                  organised in addition to our initial itinerary. 
 
1pm                      Lunch at The Glen House, Straid, Clonmany, an 18th century home of the O’Doherty Family for generations,                                          landlords of the local area.
 
                              Down time to rest and visit with folks before evening events.
 
6.30pm                Opening Reunion Dinner and Ceilli, Ballyliffin Hotel**
 
11pm                   Transport back to accommodation
 
Accommodation / Meal Information
Accommodation:                                                         Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana
Meals provided - Tour:                                               Breakfast and Lunch
Meals provided - ALL-EVENTS Ticket:                     Dinner



 Friday, 24 July 2020
TOUR DAY 3

 
9am                      “Donegal Delights Tour” with Jennifer – we will be exploring the beautiful Fanad Peninsula via Rathmullan and                                           Ramelton, both towns historically rich and with connections to the O’Dochartaigh Clan.  The highlight of the tour will                                 be a visit to Fanad Peninsula, an award-winning tourist attraction with lots of wonderful photo opportunities!
 
1pm                      Lunch at beautiful Rathmullan House
 
5pm                      Approximate return time to hotel for down time to rest and visit with folks before evening events
 
7pm                      Fifth Clann Genealogy Forum in the Colgan Hall, Carndonagh (no meal provided – although lunch will be a                                             proper sit-down meal during the day).
 
11pm                   Transport back to accommodation
 
Accommodation / Meal Information
Accommodation:                                                         Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana
Meals provided - Tour:                                               Breakfast and Lunch
Meals provided - ALL-EVENTS Ticket:                     N/A
 



Saturday, 25 July 2020
TOUR DAY 4

 
9am                      Northern Coastal Tour with Jennifer – this tour will cover the Causeway Coastal Route and will include Dunluce                                        Castle (Game of Thrones location) and the Giant’s Causeway (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
 
1pm                      Lunch at Portrush
 
3pm                      Approximate return time to Carndonagh for the Carndonagh Market Faire**; all-day event which will run into the                                  evening.  Spend a couple of hours there before returning to the hotel to freshen up.
 
8pm                      Private Dinner at Harbour Inn, Buncrana with Traditional Music Session
 
11pm                   Transport back to accommodation
 
Accommodation / Meal Information
Accommodation:                                                        Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana
Meals provided - Tour:                                              Breakfast and Lunch and Dinner
Meals provided - ALL-EVENTS Ticket:                    N/A


Sunday, 26 July 2020
TOUR DAY 5

 
From 9am           Sunday Church Service (for those who wish to attend)
                              Transport will be provided for services at local churches of your preference
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1pm                      O’Dochartaigh Reunion BBQ – Culdonagh Manor, Malin**
 
6pm                      Approximate return time to hotel for down time to rest and visit with folks before evening events
 
8pm                      Private Screening of “The Last of the Name” with Buffet Dinner (Inishowen Gateway Hotel)
 
Accommodation / Meal Information
Accommodation:                                                         Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana
Meals provided - Tour:                                               Breakfast and Dinner
Meals provided - ALL-EVENTS Ticket:                     Lunch

Monday, 27 July 2020
TOUR DAY 6

 
10am                    Inishowen Bus Tour** - with tour guide Emma Doherty, a tour of the scenic and historical Inishowen 100 (including                                 lunch)
 
6pm                      Approximate return time to hotel to freshen up
 
8pm                      Private Dinner at the Award-Winning “Nancy’s Barn” in Ballyliffin with entertainment
 
11pm                   Transport back to accommodation
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Accommodation / Meal Information
Accommodation:                                                         Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana
Meals provided - Tour:                                               Breakfast and Dinner
Meals provided - ALL-EVENTS Ticket:                     Lunch

Tuesday, 28 July 2020
TOUR DAY 7

 
This is our final day in Inishowen. You may want to sleep in this morning in order to rest up for the next leg of the tour or get out and explore Buncrana by foot.  There are lots of beautiful walks locally – especially along the shore front.
 
10am                    City of Derry Tour – visiting The Walls, the Diamond, St. Columb’s Cathedral, The Murals, the Tower Museum**                                 (lunch not included)
 
5pm                      Approximate return time to hotel for down time to rest and visit with folks before evening events
 
6.30pm                Closing Banquet and American Wake – An Grianan Hotel, Burt** (with dinner included)

11pm                   Transport back to accommodation
 
 
Accommodation / Meal Information
Accommodation:                                                         Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana. 
Meals provided - Tour:                                               Breakfast
Meals provided - ALL-EVENTS Ticket:                     Dinner



Wednesday 29 July 2020
TOUR DAY 8

 
8.30am                Check out of hotel after breakfast and head south on the Wild Atlantic Way – Coastal Drive
 
11.30am              Grave of William Butler Yeats, Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo
                              W.B.Yeats, was an Irish poet and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. A pillar of the Irish literary                                    establishment, he helped found the Abbey Theatre, and in his later years served two terms as a Senator of the Irish                                Free State.  Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923.
 
1pm                      Private Guided Tour of Westport House, Co Mayo and Afternoon Tea
                              The house was built by the Browne family in the 18th century, near the site of an O'Malley castle. The architects                                        were Richard Cassels (see also Trinity College), who built (1730) the east section of the house facing the town, and                                    later James Wyatt (famous neo-classical and neo-gothic architect), who built the other three façades to form a                                          quadrangle.
 
4.30pm                Kylemore Abbey – Private Tour of Abbey and Gardens
                              Kylemore Castle was built in 1868 as a private home for the family of Mitchell Henry.  The construction of the castle                                  began in 1867 and took the total of one hundred men and four years to complete.  It was bought by the                                                    Benedictine Order in 1920 by nuns fleeing WW1 and was used until 2010 as a school for girls.  Since 2015, the                                          Abbey has entered a partnership with the University of Notre Dame. The abbey hosts academic programs for Notre                                Dame students, and the university renovated spaces in the abbey.
 
8pm                      Check into hotel and Group Dinner
 
 
Accommodation / Meal Information
Accommodation:                                                         Connemara Coast Hotel, Galway
Meals provided - Tour:                                               Breakfast and Lunch (Afternoon Tea) and Dinner
 



Thursday 30 July 2020
TOUR DAY 9

 
8.30am                Check out of hotel after breakfast and head south west on the Wild Atlantic Way – Coastal Drive
 
10am                    Cliffs of Moher
                              One of the Signature Points on the Wild Atlantic Way, the Cliffs of Moher are sea cliffs located at the southwestern                                    edge of the Burren region in County Clare, Ireland. They run for about 14 kilometres (9 miles). At their southern end,                                they rise 120 metres (390 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head, and, 8 kilometres (5 miles) to the north, they                                    reach their maximum height of 214 metres (702 ft).  Ireland’s top tourist attraction.
 
12.30pm              King John’s Castle, Limerick City with lunch at the Castle
                              King John's Castle is a 13th-century castle located on King's Island in Limerick, Ireland, next to the River Shannon.                                      Although the site dates back to 922 when the Vikings lived on the Island, the castle itself was built on the orders of                                  King John in 1200. One of the best-preserved Norman castles in Europe, the walls, towers and fortifications remain                                  today and are visitor attractions.
 
3pm                      Check into hotel – you may want to rest or explore the hotel grounds – check out the ancient cemetery nearby.                                         There are a couple of quaint Irish pubs to sample a pint or two in, plus some traditional Irish stores.  You can of                                       course visit the castle park (entrance not included) which is right across the road. 
 
5.30pm                Medieval Banquet – Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare
                              Ireland's iconic Bunratty Castle is a must on your itinerary to Ireland.  Named after the river Raite which runs                                              alongside this strategic battlement.  The spot on which this castle stands has been occupied for over 1000 years.                                      From the Vikings to the Normans, great Irish Earls and noble Lords and Ladies. Graciously restored in the 1960's                                      and furnished by Lord Gort's magnificent collection of medieval furniture and furnishings, this is your chance to                                        experience a window on Ireland’s past and explore the acclaimed 15th century Bunratty Castle. 
 
                              The lifestyle of medieval Ireland is recaptured at the Castles with the medieval banquet nights. Once the preserve of                                the nobility who resided in these fortresses, it can now be experienced by everyone.   Over 3 million people have                                      experienced this unique medieval banquet since its inception. Delight in a four-course meal in this historic castle                                      and be entertained by the world famous Bunratty Castle Singers. Enjoy music, song and dance while you dine in the                                Great Hall of Bunratty Castle.
 
7.45pm                Back to the hotel – just a five-minute walk (up early tomorrow!)
 
 
                             
Accommodation / Meal Information
Accommodation:                                                         Bunratty Castle Hotel, Co. Clare
Meals provided - Tour:                                               Breakfast and Lunch and Dinner
 
 


Friday 31 July 2020
TOUR DAY 10

 
7am                      Check out of hotel after breakfast and head south east across the country
 
9.30am                Glendalough Monastic City, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow
                              Glendalough a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement                                              founded in the 6th century by St Kevin and its stunning vistas.
 
12.15pm              Arrive in Dublin City centre for a day of touring – packed lunch “on the go” today
 
12.30pm              Trinity College Walking Tour and Book of Kells – 1.5hr
                               
2.15pm                Dublin Castle Tour – 1 hr
 
3.45pm                Christchurch Cathedral – 1hr
 
5.15pm                Guinness Storehouse – 2hrs
                              (Closes at 9pm / last admission in July is 7pm)
 
 
8pm                      Check into hotel – Private Group Final Dinner (Ballsbridge Hotel)
 
 
Accommodation / Meal Information
Accommodation:                                                         Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin City
Meals provided - Tour:                                               Breakfast and Lunch and Dinner



Saturday 1st August 2020
TRAVEL DAY

 
12pm                   After breakfast, we will be leaving the hotel for the final leg of the tour.  Latest checkout of the hotel is 12pm, so you                                may wish either to rest before your flight home or take advantage of the free time in the morning and explore a little                                more of Dublin. We will be heading then to Dublin Airport (via the City Centre drop-off point) for those of you who                                    wish to catch afternoon flights, arriving at 1pm approx.  If you wish to leave for the airport at any other time, please                                  note that this is not included in the tour, however, private transfer can be arranged for you at an additional charge. 
 
                              Should you want a tour guide on this day or for a couple more days, then please note that they are not included in                                  the tour price and you should make your own reservations with Jennifer privately in advance of the tour beginning.                                  She would be happy to arrange private tours for small to medium sized groups and is knowledgeable about the                                        perfect itineraries for visitors with limited time.
 
 
Accommodation / Meal Information
Meals provided - Tour:                                               Breakfast only





Price Per Person**(new pricing for 2023)

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€4,991 Euros (approx. $4,785 US Dollars)++




**Payable in three installments before 31st January 2023
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Billed in EUROS


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++ Based on currency exchange service at 27 September 2022





Please note that a single supplement charge will apply for those travelling solo who are not sharing a room
Cancellation policy on request


PAY Deposit (Includes 4.5% Credit Card Fee)
Pay in FULL (includes 4.5% Credit Card Fee)
Should you wish to pay by BANK TRANSFER please email Jennifer at IrishAncestral@gmail.com to request bank transfer details
 
​Since places are limited and there has been an unprecedented rush on accommodation bookings in Inishowen (especially for a tour group of this size) as of this month, we have had to move the date up.  

Places are strictly on a first come first served basis.





Notes to Tour:
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner each day, except where mentioned on ALL-EVENTS Reunion Ticket
Accommodation in 4* or above hotels
Fully guided tours with entrance fees to all locations
Tour Guide on call to handle all guest requirements


WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Flights to and from Ireland
Individual Travel Insurance - guests must arrange their own insurance cover
Any additional meals not mentioned
Drinks are NOT included with any meals

The ALL-EVENTS Reunion Ticket - this must be purchased separately from the Reunion Committee
http://www.odochartaighreunion.com/booking.htm
The cost is TBA 

The itinerary above includes the schedule of the Reunion so it is advisable to ensure you have purchased the All-Events ticket too.


Any changes to the itinerary which incur additional costs once booked including price increases



More information on Tour Attractions, Dublin City Add-Ons and Accommodation can be found here:
More Information
©Irish Ancestral Tours and Research 2022
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