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Day 1: Friday, 3rd July 2026
Calling of the Clann Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana 7pm - 10pm The McLaughlin Clann Reunion kicks off in style with The Calling of the Clann, a vibrant welcome event for all who’ve journeyed near and far to be here. Held on opening night, this evening marks the official start of our 2026 gathering - a chance to reconnect, meet new faces, and celebrate our shared heritage. Guests will be greeted with a warm Irish welcome, followed by a hearty meal featuring local fare and traditional favourites. As the evening unfolds, live music fills the room - fiddles, flutes, and voices rising in celebration. Laughter, stories, and the rhythms of our culture will carry us into the night. |
When the plates are cleared, there will be some jigs and reels performed by talent from a local school of Irish Dancing.
The Calling of the Clann is more than a party - it's a homecoming. A celebration of who we are, where we come from, and the legacy we share. Let the music play, the glasses raise, and the reunion begin.
The Calling of the Clann is more than a party - it's a homecoming. A celebration of who we are, where we come from, and the legacy we share. Let the music play, the glasses raise, and the reunion begin.
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Day 1: Saturday, 4th July 2026
Inishowen 100 Tour Pick Up: Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana, Co. Donegal Tour of Inishowen, Co. Donegal 9am - 6pm On Day Two of the McLaughlin Clann Reunion, we hit the road for the Inishowen 100 Tour - an unforgettable journey around Ireland’s largest and most northerly peninsula. This scenic loop, rich in history and natural beauty, will take us deep into the heart of our ancestral homeland.
Our day begins with a visit to the ancient stone fort of Grianan Aileach, perched high above Lough Swilly with panoramic views stretching for miles. From there, we follow the winding coastal route to Fort Dunree, once a vital military post, now a peaceful lookout over the Atlantic. |
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We’ll wind our way up through the dramatic Mamore Gap, a mountain pass steeped in legend, before pausing at the sacred sites of St. Patrick’s Cross and the Marigold Stone in Carndonagh. After lunch, we’ll stand at Malin Head - the northernmost tip of Ireland - where cliffs and sea meet in raw beauty.
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The journey continues with a stop at Clonca Monastic Site, where ancient crosses and ruins whisper stories of early Christian life.
The Inishowen 100 Tour is more than a drive - it’s a pilgrimage through place, time, and shared memory. Bring your camera, your curiosity, and your sense of wonder.
The Inishowen 100 Tour is more than a drive - it’s a pilgrimage through place, time, and shared memory. Bring your camera, your curiosity, and your sense of wonder.
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Day 3: Sunday, 5th July 2026
C'é Tusa / Who Am I? Genealogy Forum St. Columb's Hall, Derry 11am - 5pm This special event blends knowledge, heritage, and local culture. Hear from top Irish genealogy experts and historians as they trace the story of the McLaughlin Clann across centuries. Attendees can book private one-on-one consultations to explore their family lines and discover lost connections.
Alongside the talks, a vibrant craft fair will fill the hall with the work of local artisans - pottery, textiles, woodwork, and more - offering a taste of the region’s living traditions. |
Throughout the day, guided walking tours will take small groups through the landmarks of Derry: the Guildhall, the iconic City Walls, the Tower Museum, the Bogside, and the historic docks where many McLaughlins began their journey to distant shores.
Cé Túsa? / Who Am I? is a day of discovery - for the mind, the heart, and the soul. Whether you’re tracing your lineage or walking the paths of your ancestors, this is where stories are found, remembered, and passed on.
Cé Túsa? / Who Am I? is a day of discovery - for the mind, the heart, and the soul. Whether you’re tracing your lineage or walking the paths of your ancestors, this is where stories are found, remembered, and passed on.
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Day 4: Monday, 6th July 2026
The Scattering - Part I Doagh Famine Village, Isle of Doagh, Clonmany 4pm - 5.30pm Our final day begins with The Scattering – Part I, a reflective and immersive experience at the Doagh Famine Village on the Isle of Doagh, Clonmany. This powerful setting offers a window into the resilience and hardships of life on the Atlantic’s edge, from the mid-1800s to the present day.
Guides will lead us through stories of survival, struggle, and community spirit—shaping a vivid picture of what it meant to live in rural Ireland during times of famine and beyond. |
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Special focus will be given to the Great Famine itself, a turning point that scattered so many McLaughlins across the globe, while also exploring the traditions, produce, and folklore that anchored people to this land.
Talks will touch on Ireland’s rich mythology surrounding funerals, wakes, and death - rituals that reveal both sorrow and celebration of life. Alongside these stories, guests will have the chance to sample unique local flavors: a taste of poitín, and coastal delicacies such as Carrigan’s Moss and dulse, harvested from the sea that sustained generations.
The Scattering – Part I is not just a history lesson, but a grounding moment - a chance to reflect on where we’ve come from before the reunion’s closing celebrations.
Talks will touch on Ireland’s rich mythology surrounding funerals, wakes, and death - rituals that reveal both sorrow and celebration of life. Alongside these stories, guests will have the chance to sample unique local flavors: a taste of poitín, and coastal delicacies such as Carrigan’s Moss and dulse, harvested from the sea that sustained generations.
The Scattering – Part I is not just a history lesson, but a grounding moment - a chance to reflect on where we’ve come from before the reunion’s closing celebrations.
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Day 4: Monday, 6th July 2026
The Scattering - Part II Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa Hotel, Ballyliffin 6pm - 9.30pm The McLaughlin Clann Reunion draws to a close with The Scattering – Part II, a joyful farewell celebration at the Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa Hotel.
This final gathering is our chance to share one last evening together, celebrating the memories we’ve made and the bonds we’ve renewed over four unforgettable days. |
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The night begins with a relaxed buffet meal, giving everyone time to mingle, chat, and reflect on the reunion’s highlights. After dinner, the energy rises as a professional Irish dancing teacher takes the floor, inviting everyone to learn the steps of céilí dancing. Local dancers will showcase their incredible skill before joining guests on the dancefloor - ensuring plenty of laughter, music, and movement. |
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As the evening winds on, the celebration shifts to song. Backed by a local entertainment group, we’ll lift our voices together in a singsong that unites the Clann in harmony. Booklets with lyrics will be provided at every table, making it easy for all to join in - whether you know the tunes or are singing them for the first time.
The Scattering – Part II is a heartfelt send-off: a night of food, music, dance, and song to close the reunion in true McLaughlin style.
The Scattering – Part II is a heartfelt send-off: a night of food, music, dance, and song to close the reunion in true McLaughlin style.
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The McLaughlin Clann Reunion (Ireland) 2026:
An Invitation Home In July 2026, the McLaughlin Clann will gather in Ireland for a reunion unlike any other - a homecoming that celebrates family, heritage, and the enduring spirit of connection. For those who carry the McLaughlin name or trace their roots to it, this reunion is an extraordinary chance to stand on the same soil as our ancestors, walk the paths they once walked, and share in traditions that shaped who we are today. Attending the reunion is about more than sightseeing - it’s about belonging. Whether you’ve travelled from across the world or live just down the road, this is a rare opportunity to meet Clann members from every corner of the globe, to exchange stories, discover kinship connections, and strengthen the ties that bind us together. Each event on the itinerary has been crafted to bring history to life, from exploring sacred sites and breathtaking landscapes, to tracing family lines, to celebrating through music, dance, and song. |
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But the impact of the reunion reaches further still. A professionally run event of this scale supports the local economy and community - bringing custom to hotels, restaurants, guides, musicians, and craftspeople, while giving visitors a deeper appreciation of Inishowen and beyond. In turn, we gain a living connection with the people who continue to carry forward the culture and traditions of this place.
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Coming “home” to Ireland in 2026 is a chance to honour the past, celebrate the present, and create memories for the future. The McLaughlin Clann Reunion will not only remind us of where we come from - it will bring us together as one family, across generations and continents, united in pride, heritage, and belonging.
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