Report From Ireland!

Family members and neighbors at Cappauniac gathered on a damp Sunday
afternoon, December 29, 2002, to plant an oak tree in the fields
of Cappa to remember the family and the 2002 reunion.

Pat Marnane of Cappa provided the heavy digging in the field behind   his home at Cappauniac.  Pat and Mary and family also have taken on the task of nourishing the new "family tree." 

Although the photo doesn't indicate it, this tree will not need water for a long time.

Cousin Peter Ivin (at left) maintained a safe distance from the action.

Pat Marnane did get some help,
if not in digging the hole, at least in
filling it up after the tree was planted.

Pat Marnane had the hard job: digging the hole and selecting the tree.

Ed Murnane had the easy job: telling the family and friends assembled how much it meant to Murnanes and Marnanes on both sides of the Atlantic and how the participants in the 2002 reunion -- on both sides of the Atlantic -- would never forget it, nor their family bond.

Grey skies and an early morning mist did not dampen any spirits.  The visit was the high point of the Clan Reunion Visit to Ireland and set the tone for the six days of joy and reflection on a tour that ends Wednesday, August 7.

A steady stream of visitors from America crossed the rail bridge leading to their ancestral home at Cappauniac. The motor coaches arrived around 2 PM, shortly after the morning showers ended.

Following their tour of the family home, many of the visitors, mostly the younger members of the tour, followed the Marnane children of Cappa up into the foothills of the Galtee Mountains.

Some of us knew the buses wouldn't make it over the bridge
to Cappa but the drivers thought they could do it.  "Some of us" were right.
(Dane Luhrsen Photo)

Many families took the opportunity to have their photos taken in front of the family home at Cappa.  Rich and Mary Beth Murphy were among the many, joined in the photo by Pat Marnane of Cappa.

Saturday's Cappa visit provided a great opportunity for visiting between the American kids and their Irish cousins.  Here, Patrick and Grainne Marnane of Cappa, talk with some of their American cousins.  Patrick is in the blue and gold Tipperary shirt; Grainne (Celtic for "grace") is in the white #22 shirt.

John Marnane, his sister Nellie Marnane Mitchell, and Grainne Marnane pause for reflection at the Marnane grave at Kilaldriffe Cemetery in County Tipperary.   Grainne, representing the "next" generation of Murnanes and Marnanes, placed a wreath at the grave of our ancestors. John and Nellie's mother, Bridget (Biddy) was recently buried there.

The steady mist at Kilaldriffe Cemetery didn't stop visitors from taking many photographs.  Kilaldriffe is the resting place for many Murnanes, Marnanes, Bretts and other relatives of the family in Ireland.

Hobie Murnane, the senior member of the traveling family from the US
and Malachy Britt, a descendant of the Britt Clan, listened intently
at the prayer service at Kiladriffe Cemetery.  Malachy placed a wreath
in honor of the deceased Britt family members.  Johanna Britt, the wife
of Edmond Marnane, was Hobie's great-grandmother.
(Frank/Jackie Murnane Photo)

The story of 800-year-old Cahir Castle, only a few miles from the Murnane homestead, held the attention of Clan members during their tour on Saturday morning.

Bob and Sis Walsh and Mary Ellen Murnane walked the grounds of Cahir Castle during the Murnane Clan tour of the ancient structure.

The tour guides at Cahir Castle told about boiling oil being dumped on invaders; they didn't say what it would be like if the invaders met Katie and Eric Luhrsen, who look like they were getting ready to surprise Uncle Al.
(Dane Luhrsen Photo)

Spiderman doesn't have any trouble walking on walls but it was a bit more challenging at Cahir Castle for Jack Strain, Eric Luhrsen, Connery Brennan and Jack Marchiori.

A grandfather's note to the big kids: Thanks for looking after the little guys.
(Dane Luhrsen Photo)

Patrick Marnane, one of the Marnane boys who lives at Cappa, gives his American cousins some lessons in the Irish game of hurling.  Patrick is considered one of the rising stars on the hurling scene in County Tipperary.  He is wearing a Tipperary jersey.

Hurling is much easier to master if you keep your eyes open, as Jack Marchiori will learn.

	Marie Burke wasn't quite sure what to make of all the stone walls at Cahir Castle so she just watched.

Before visiting the Murnane/Marnane homestead, the Clan members stopped at Nagle's Pub for a soft drink or pint.  Nagle's has been the favorite pub for all the Murnanes and Marnanes for more than 125 years.

Among those who visited are John Marnane of Cappa, and Patrick and Rich Murnane of Illinois.

Angela Ivin, left, of Clonmel, talks with Dorothy Wehmer of Illinois during the visit to Nagle's Pub.  Behind them are Mary Rush and Erin Brennan, both of Illinois.

If you look at the faces, you can get a pretty good idea of whether the visitors were enjoying Nagle's Pub.
(Dane Luhrsen Photo)

After Saturday night's dinner in Bansha, the group split.  Some returned to Clonmel after a long day and others went to The Foot, a popular pub at the "foot" of the Galtee Mountains. 

Can you tell where this bus was headed?

The Murnane Clan filled Kilmoyler Catholic Church on Sunday.  Father Dan Dwyer, who also spoke at the Saturday service at Kilaldriffe Cemetery, welcomed the visitors and offered prayers for deceased members of the Clan.

Martin and Una O'Donnell, clan members from County Monaghan in the north of the Republic of Ireland, joined the party on Saturday evening and visited again on Sunday at the Hotel Minella.  Martin is the grandson of Ellen Marnane Peters.  Joining them were daughter Johanna and Johanna's friend Paul.

Are four Pats equal to two Mikes? (see below)  There were four Pat Murnanes in the crowd on Sunday night at Aherlow House, including Singer Pat Marnane (right) who livened up the evening considerably with his upbeat music.

The others are, from left, Pat Marnane of Cappa, Patrick Murnane of Wheaton, Illinois; Patrick Marnane of Cappa, and singer Pat.

Mike Murphy, who plays and sings with several Irish bands in the Chicago area, joined Pat Marnane's group for several songs Sunday night.

Mike is the great-grandson of James Murnane and lives in the Chicago area.

Carmel Marnane of Wicklow, Ireland, also demonstrated her exceptional singing talent during the Sunday evening entertainment.  Behind her is Fran Murray, Pat Marnane's wife and musical partner.

Carmel is married to Declan Marnane, great-grandson of William Marnane.

Jackie Murnane and Eddie Wehmer formed a duet for a song or two.  There was no shyness to this crowd.

Perhaps the most off-key singing of the evening came from this quartet of Hobie Murnane, Jr., Mike Murnane, Eddie Wehmer and Bob Walsh.  Maggie Murnane doesn't know whether to stand with her dad or to run for cover.

Singer Pat Marnane is wondering why he agreed to this gig.

Riverdance it was not but just about everyone tried a bit of Irish dancing, including Mary Ann Murphy and Hobie Murnane, Jr.

You can tell by the smiles that everyone was having a good time, and the smiles got bigger as Sunday evening got longer.

Dancing cousins, both Irish and American, took time to mug for the camera.

These Tipperary Marnanes were content to relax at their table and enjoy the entertainment.  They are Nellie Marnane Mitchell, Breda Marnane McGonnell, Kathleen Marnane, and Peg Marnane Marsland.

Peg is the senior member of the Marnane Clan and is the daughter of Matt Marnane.

Some of the younger set found the floor to be the perfect spot for listening to Pat Marnane and many of the others who took the stage. 

All of these kids were on the dance floor before the night was over.

John Linehan and Rich Murnane were engaged in some serious conversation during the Aherlow House event.

John is married to Eileen Marnane Linehan, daughter of Billy and Vera Marnane of Cork.  The Linehans live in Sligo, Ireland.

Rich is the grandson of James Murnane and he lives in the Chicago area.

All the excitement and fun wasn't indoors at Aherhlow House Sunday night.  Just as dinner was ending, the cloud cover lifted and a beautiful double rainbow appeared.  There are still some relatives looking for the pot of gold just over those trees. (Frank and Jackie Murnane Photo)

For some, including Frank Murnane and kids, Blarney provided the first good shopping opportunity.

Kissing the Blarney Stone isn't for everone but Michele Ewoski (right)and Bill Rowley (below)
were up to the challenge. Just lean back a little bit more and  you'll get it!
(Julie Crowley Photos)

The Cork branch of the family was out in force at the Kingsley Hotel event Monday evening. Here, Brenda O'Callaghan (standing) joins her mother, Vera Marnane, seated, and aunt Peg Marnane and Mary Frances Brennan.

Different branches of the family met for the first time in many cases.   Here, Mary Kay and Pat Stanley talk with Jim Brennan at the Kingsley in Cork.   Mary Kay is the granddaughter of Bridget Murnane Gately and Jim is the great-grandson of Mary Murnane Connery.

Billy Marnane, senior member of the Cork branch of the family, welcomed the visitors to Cork.  Billy is the grandson of William Marnane, first child of Edmond and Johanna.

William moved to Cork while a young man and his descendants by been Cork residents ever since.

Angela Marnane of Cork and Jackie Murnane of Wheaton, Illinois, enjoyed a laugh (and a fully-stocked bar behind them) at the evening party at the Kingsley Hotel in Cork.

Angela is married to Liam Marnane, great-grandson of William Marnane, and Jackie is married to Frank Murnane, Jr., great-grandson of John Murnane.

Serious discussion? Probably about grandchildren as Laurel Murnane, Vera Marnane and Peg Marnane spent some time at the Kingsley.  This conversation will resume in December when Laurel returns to Cork for Norma Marnane's wedding.

Connery Brennan learned it doesn't take much effort to entertain an almost-two-year-old, such as Joey Marchiori.

Actually, Connery and his brother Logan deserve a prize for helping keep Joey and older brother Jack occupied on the trip, and on the long flight home.

After a great meal at the Kingsley, it was down to the pub for an almost-private session of traditional Irish music, featuring tin whistles, bodhrans and pleasant conversation.

Julie Crowley, of Chicago, front left, joined her Rowley-clan cousins of Boston for a pint at the Kingsley.  Dr. Bill Rowley, who was pressed into service on several occasions during the trip, leads a toast with what looks suspiciously like water.

Michele Ewoski, who traveled from Denver for the reunion, had a chance to visit a newly-discovered cousin, Billy Marnane of Cork.

Cobh, the harbor where most of our ancestors left Ireland, tells a somber story of difficult travel and anxious and frightened Irish leaving home.  It also tells the story of the Titanic, which left Ireland before sinking, and the Lusitania, sunk just off the Irish coast.

The bars behind some of the exhibits provide a stark reminder of the conditions under which some of the Irish travelers spent their time aboard crude sailing ships.

Bill Rowley was intense as he read one of the many descriptions of Irish migration from Cobh Harbor.

Liz Christensen examined one of the miniture replicas of the flats the Irish lived in when they arrived in America or Australia.

Nancy Flowers, Mary Fran Brennan and Mary Rush chat along the Quay at Cobh Harbor, departure point for thousands of Ireland who left home in the 1800s and 1900s.

Before leaving Cobh, Al Brennan had a grandfatherly conversation with grandson, Connery Brennan.

While Cobh may have been somber, Kinsale is a cheeful town, bedecked with flowers and tiny shops and restaurants.   Julie Crowley, Anne Brennan and Mary Fran Brennan visited quite a few of them.

Terri Marchiori, Laurel Murnane, Anne Brennan and Erin Brennan compared shopping notes, or perhaps dining notes, during a pause in their tour of Kinsale.

The Rowley Clan found a few places to visit and shop in Kinsale.  Perhaps with an eye on some baby clothes?

Terri Marchiori, Laurl Murnane and Vera Marnane found a quite park bench to relax and visit near the Kinsale Harbor.

Rich Murnane, Billy  Marnane and Frank Murnane outside the Trident Hotel in Kinsale before Tuesday night's tour finale.

After six nights of dining out and lots of excitement, Joey Marchiori finally collapsed, even with the view of Kinsale Harbor over his shoulder.

A beautiful summer evening helped send the travelers back to Cork from Kinsale.

The Stanley Clan took advantage of the beutiful evening and scenery to get one final group photo...

... and Frank and Jackie Murnane did the same thing.

It may have seemed like we spent a lot of time on the bus, but it was mostly pleasant time, thanks in part to Micky Nolan and Martin, our two Celtic Tours drivers.   Micky was with us from start to finish

The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland's most
imposing and impressive sites.  Murnane Clan
members enjoyed a private tour of the place
where St. Patrick converted the Munster Kings.

Reunion participants listened
intently to the story of Cashel.

Patty Strain and Mary Frances Brennan read
the inscription on the grave of Mary Marnane,
perhaps a distant relative, at the Rock of Cashel.

How many Mike Murnanes do you
need to change a lightbulb?
Two, if you're at the Rock of Cashel,
where these two Mikes were Thursday night.
Mike on the left is the son of Hobie and Joan
Murnane and the great-grandson of John Murnane.
Mike on the right is the son of Ed and Laurel
Murnane and the great-grandson of James Murnane.

The legend is that if you can wrap your arms around St. Patrick's cross, you'll be spared any future tooth aches.  Not sure if it applies when it takes two sets of arms to reach around.

Jack and Joey Marchiori are trying, however, helped by dad Ray (right) and Uncle Mike Murnane.

The Rock of Cashel makes a pretty imposing backdrop for Brian Murnane and Beth Belken, who announced their engagement just a few weeks before the Clan Reunion.  Wedding date is May 31,2003   in the Chicago area.

This is not the official engagement photo.

Sure, there are lots of old things to see at the Rock of Cashel but rain drops dripping through a hole in the ceiling can be a pretty unusual site, too, as Jack Marchiori and Connery Brennan learned.

Trans-Atlantic bonding took place all over the room at the
Welcome to Ireland banquet.  Here, Michael Cornwall,
Peg Marsland, Frank Murnane and Marie Ivin Cornwall
enjoyed a newly-discovered kinship.
(Frank/Jackie Murnane Photo)