Gallagher's First Get-together Fri. 24th Feb. 2006

Gallaghers gather in Letterkenny

(Picture: Peter Gallagher, Roman Catholic Bishop of Raphoe, Dr. Boyce D.D., Minister of State for Transport, Pat the Cope Gallagher, Fr. Sean Gallagher, Adrian Gallagher)

 Over two hundred people gathered in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, to view a multimedia display on some of the Gallagher heritage. Among those welcomed by the chairperson of the Gallagher Clan, Fr. Sean Gallagher P.P., Gortahork, were the Church of Ireland, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Dr. Goode, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Raphoe, Dr. Boyce, and Chairman of the clans of Ireland, Mr Cahir Tirney, and Mr. Dessie Larkin, Chairman of Donegal County Council.

Mr MattGallagher, full-back on the 1992 All-Ireland winning team was also present as were members of the O’Donnell and Sweeney Clans. The new Minister of State for Transport, Pat the Cope Gallagher, officially launched the Gallagher Clan.

Mr Larkin congratulated the Gallagher’s on getting the clan organisation going and acknowledged the premier place the Gallagher’s hold in Co. Donegal. He emphasised the great economic benefits groups such as the Gallagher Clan organisation can and do bring to County Donegal, and the Northwest generally, in terms of awakening awareness of the heritage we hold and the benefits for the tourism industry flowing from that.

(Adrian, Fr. Sean, Matt, Paddy and Fionn with a copy of the 1992 All-Ireland Gaelic Football Final programme booklet.)

Anthony Gallagher gave an insightful talk on the coat of arms and why the Clan crest was selected and his role in producing the design that was accepted by the Gallagher Clan organisation. His artistry was much admired by all in the audience. Joseph Gallagher, Ballaghderg, Letterkenny outlined the aims and objectives and the future development envisaged for the Gallagher Clan organisation.

Mr Tierney, having congratulated the Gallagher Clan on their launch and the great evening they had presented introduced the Clans of Ireland organisation as the official umbrella group for the various clans. He also told of the benefits to the wider community that can follow from a clan group being set up.

Peter Gallagher gave a brief history of the Clan in early history. Adrian Gallagher concluded by mentioning the long history of the Gallagher’s stretching back to Niall of the Nine Hostages in the fifth century A.D., their heritage and the need in people to know their heritage. The evening was to be a forerunner of a number of events throughout the county leading up to a multinational gathering next year to coincide with the Flight of the Earls commemorations. As part of that commemoration the Clan would like everybody with any Gallagher connection to put their Family Trees together before the end of October 2006 so that these can be amalgamated to give a better understanding of their ancestry. Theses family trees can be sent to the Family Tree Project, The Gallagher Clan, Lisnanees, Woodlands, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal or e-mail them to: postmaster@gallagherclan.org

The evening concluded with Frank Gallagher, Derry and friends giving musical entertainment. The Gallagher Clan would like to thank the individuals and organisations without whose help the evening would not have been such a success.