Events
Next O'Molloy Clan Rally
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The O’Molloy Clan Gathering 2008 Hello once again! We are now pleased to announce details of our second clan gathering which will take place on 1st –3rd August 2008. Membership of the O’Molloy Association is open to anyone with family links or interest in the O’Molloy clan or its ancient territory of Firceall. The O’Molloy clan ruled Firceall from the 5th to the 17th centuries. Firceall itself is comprised of the ancient baronies of Ballycowan, Ballyboy and Eglish, and extends from Durrow north of Tullamore to Eglish on the edge of Birr in an area which is some 25 miles in length by 5 miles in width. The O’Molloy Association has a full weekend of events planned with something for everyone. You do not have to hold the Molloy name to participate. In this area of Firceall, most families have some Molloy connection as the O’Molloy ruled the area for centuries. A Mr Molloy founded the Distilleries in Tullamore that made Tullamore Dew famous. No clan would be complete without a Chieftain! The present Chieftain of the O’Molloy Clan is Frances Molloy Berry who resides in Durrow in the north of Firceall. We are calling all members and friends to come together once again to celebrate our heritage and forge and renew family links. A Clan Rally has been organized for 1st to 3rd August 2008, in Tullamore, A programme of events has been set out, which will include lectures by a guest speaker, and a tour of locations of particular connection to the O’Molloy clan. The weekend activities will conclude with a Chieftain’s Banquet in The Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore. The Rally will afford people to meet up with the extended O'Molloy family Complete family history research available. Bring along your old photos, slides, prints, film and we will scan them over the weekend and include them in this website and other O'Molloy publications. Add your DNA to the O'Molloy Gene Database! Tickets for the main events can be purchased in advance by telephone at 086 3857376 or 0579343300 or 087 7817526 Tickets are priced as follows:- Guided Tour 20 Euro Chieftain’s Banquet and Dance 45 Euro Or Discounted price for both events Guided Tour and Chieftain’s Banquet 60 Euro
The Rally will conclude with the Chieftain’s Banquet on Sunday 3rd August in the Bridge House Hotel followed by dancing from 10pm to 1.00am. The music for the Dance will be provided by PJ Murritty and his band. This hails the triumphant return of Irelands Premier Country and Irish musician, the great PJ Murritty and his band. PJ wooed thousands to Tullamore at the recent National Ploughing Championship. PJ will play lively dance music after the Chieftain’s Banquet. This part of the proceedings is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. Dancing will be 10.00pm to 1.00am. The O’Molloys are descended from the famous Niall of the Nine Hostages, High King of Ireland in the fifth century. Following the battle of Druim Deirg in the year 515, the descendants of Niall established control over extensive lands including Firceall, which stretched from north of Tullamore as far south as the edge of Birr. Ownership of these lands remained with the O’Molloy’s until the first half of the seventeenth century, when the area was subjected to the plantations of James I and Cromwell. Firceall means ‘Men of the Churches’, due to the great number of ancient churches in the area such as Durrow, Drumcullen, Killyon, Kilcormac, Lynally and Rathline. Firceall was comprised of the baronies of Eglish, Ballyboy and Ballycowan. Surrounded by strong warlike septs such as the O’Carroll’s of Ely, the MacCoughlan’s of Delvin Eathra and the O’Connor’s of Offaly, the O’Molloy territory was the scene of regular conflict over the centuries with neighbour and Crown forces alike. The ruins of a number of important castles are found here, such as Broughal, Eglish, Ballindown, Dowras, Le Porte near Whigsborough, Kiltubrid, Rathmackilduffe (Rath), Ballyboy, Derrydolny, Rathline, Rathrobin, Garbally, Cully, Killooly and Pallas. The O’Molloy Clan Association was formed in November 2004 with a view to promoting the O’Molloy name and the territory of Firceall. It is hoped to achieve this through holding Clan Rallies and by developing connections in Ireland and worldwide which will gather, conserve and share relevant historical and geneaological information. We are constantly updating our collection of old and new family photos of O'Molloy descendants and family locations. Please email any O'Molloy photos to us and we will add them to our new look gallery and website. Email any suggestions: info@omolloy.com |
