Past
Gatherings
Past
Gatherings
Twelfth Gathering of the Curtin Clan
22nd-25th September 2022
Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
Booking Your Accommodations
Killarney Plaza Hotel
Bed and Breakfast (B&B) rates have been negotiated with the Killarney Plaza Hotel for the Curtin Clan Gathering at the following rates: B&B Single occupancy is €110 per night and B&B Twin/Double occupancy is €160 per night.
To reserve your accommodation, please email info@odrhotels.com quoting ‘Curtin Clan Gathering Ref. 935601’ in the subject line and state your arrival and departure dates and the number of rooms you require. Alternatively, you may call +353 64 66 21100 with the same details. You will then be given a separate booking reservation for your own personal booking.
Adjacent to the Plaza Hotel is “A Garden Heaven in the Kingdom” as described in this article that tells of the recently restored Killarney House and Gardens.
Gathering Registration
Click for the registration form.
Registration fees may be paid using 1) PayPal (USD or Euro) or 2) Check.
If you use PayPal, please click here for the PayPal website. To Send Money, enter your email address, enter the Curtin Clan’s email address – curtinclan@gmail.com – and enter the amount for your registration. Use the "Sending to a friend or family" option to save on service fees. Send your completed registration form by scanning and emailing it to Joan Bentley Curtin at joancurtin@yahoo.com or by posting it to Joan (address on the Registration Form).
If you are paying by check in Euro, send your check and completed registration form to Katherine Walshe (address on form). If you are paying with a check in US Dollars, send your check and completed registration form to Joan Bentley Curtin (address on form). Checks should be made payable to “The Curtin Clan”.
Be sure to indicate your dinner selection on your Registration Form: Vegetarian, Beef or Salmon.
12th Curtin Clan Gathering Tentative Program Schedule
22-25 September, 2022,
Killarney Plaza Hotel in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
Thursday, 22 September
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Early Registration
8:00 pm - 9:30 pm Meet and Greet at O’Donoghue’s Public House
Friday, 23 September
9:00 am - 10:00 am Registration
10:00 am - 11:00 am Welcome and Introductions
11:15 am - 12:30 pm DNA Update by Dan Curtin, DNA Coordinator
12:30 pm - 1:45 pm Lunch
1:45 pm - 3:15 pm Michael Christopher Keane, clan member and author, From Laois to Kerry and The Earls of Castlehaven.
3:15 pm - 3:30 pm Remembering Clan Members
3:45 pm – 5:00 pm Pennsylvania Civil War Era Gov. Andrew Gregg Curtin—Patrick Curtin based upon Frank Whelan article
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Dinner on Own
8:00 pm - 10:30 pm Rambling House Storyteller Ray O’ Sullivan will emcee our Rambling House featuring The
Wren Boys. Join us with your favorite story, song or dance!
Saturday, 24 September
9:00 am - 9:15 am Biennial Election for Curtin Clan Board
9:15 am - 10:30 am Curtins in County Kerry Margaret Curtain
10:45 am – 12:15 pm Tom Roche—Killarney, Brosna and Rockchapel History
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm International Panel --Willie Joe, David & Joan
2:45 - 4:30 Limerick Dancers
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Gala Cocktail Hour
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Gala Dinner
9:00 pm - 12:00 am Gala Entertainment
Sunday, 25 September
11:30 am - 12:30 pm Mass at Franciscan Friary
1:25 pm - 5:00 pm Optional Tour of Killarney National Park
Plan on joining us as we honor and connect to the generations that went before us.
How to Get There
Air - The closest international access to Killarney is via Kerry Airport which is located only 15 minutes’ drive from Killarney town which provides Killarney with direct daily access to the UK and Germany with developing routes to Portugal, France and other EU and UK destinations. It provides multiple daily commuter connections to Dublin International Airport and onwards to the wider world. Cork Airport is approximately 75 minutes’ drive from Killarney and provides a range of UK and EU connections. Shannon is approximately 110 minutes’ drive from Killarney and, in addition to UK and EU connections, it offers direct flights to the USA. Dublin Airport provides significant international access to Killarney via Kerry Airport and also through its connections with Cork and Shannon Airports. Of course Dublin Airport also links to Killarney by road taking approximately 4 hours, and by rail from Dublin City direct to Killarney in approximately 3 hours.
Rail - Killarney is directly linked by railway to Cork and Dublin and currently has about 8 daily services serving both cities from its rail station. Through its line via Mallow and Limerick Junction it also connects to other cities and counties including Limerick City. Full Train schedule Information available from the Irish Rail website.
Bus - Ireland’s national bus service, Bus Eireann, links many parts of Ireland on a scheduled multi-time per day basis. A new service connection to Dublin, Dublin Coach, operates regular daily routes from and to Killarney and Dublin via Limerick.
Things to Do
In Killarney, there are many things to do and places to visit. The www.killarney.ie website gives an excellent overview of Killarney. The following are some of the key attractions.
Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park was the first national park in Ireland. It is just under 103km2 of lakes, forest, and mountains. It is also home to the only red deer herd in Ireland. Many of the main attractions and things to do in Killarney are located within Killarney National Park which is right beside the town. See www.killarneynationalpark.ie for further details.
Muckross House
Built in 1843, Muckross House was owned by a couple of different families before it was gifted to the Irish nation. Today, the beautiful mansion still elegantly furnished, and its gardens, are open to guests to explore. When visiting Muckross House you may also want to include a visit to the Traditional Farms where you can see and experience what Irish farming life was like in the 1930s and 1940s. See www.muckross-house.ie for further details.
Ross Castle
Ross Castle, a 15th century castle, which sits on the edge of Lough Leane in Killarney National Park and often surrounded by white swans, is a lovely place to visit.
Muckross Abbey
Muckross Abbey, an Old Irish Monastery, is only about a five-minute walk from Muckross House. The first monastery was believed to have been built in the 6th century by Saint Fionán. Today, visitors can explore the ruins of a 15th century Franciscan Friary which was abandoned in the 1650s when the monks were reported to have been driven out by Cromwell’s forces.
Lakes of Killarney
There are three lakes of Killarney; Lough Leane, Muckross Lake (Middle Lake), and Upper Lake. There are walking and hiking trails around the lakes as well as boat tours. One of the most beautiful viewing points for these lakes is called Ladies View which was named after Queen Victoria’s ladies in waiting. This viewpoint is part of the famous Ring of Kerry route, along the N71.
Innisfallen Island
Located in Lough Leane, Innisfallen Island is home to the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey, one of the most important archaeological sites in Ireland. The Annals of Ireland, which tell the early history of Ireland, were written by the monks here.
Torc Waterfall
Torc Waterfall is about 18m high and is a picturesque waterfall about 7km from town. It is a must-stop on your Ring of Kerry tour. It’s best observed when it is raining when the water flow is more powerful.
St. Mary’s Cathedral
A beautiful Roman Catholic Cathedral in Killarney Town. Be sure to go inside and look at the stained glass windows.
Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry is probably the best-known driving route in all of Ireland and is a beautiful day trip.
Tentative Agenda
Thursday Evening. 7 October
Registration, Meet and Greet in the Killarney Plaza Hotel
Friday, 8 October
DNA Update
International Panel
The 1885 Murder of John Curtin
Lady Kenmare Scrapbook on the Curtin Sisters Testimonial Fund
"From Laois to Kerry" and "The Earls of Castlehaven"
Pennsylvania Civil War Era Gov. Andrew Gregg Curtin
Tomas MacCurtain Tribute
Irish Civil War
Wren Boys and Rambling House for Friday evening
Saturday, 9 October
Killarney Local History
Local Crafts (Killarney)
Irish Dance
Gala Dinner with Music
Sunday, 10 October
Mass at the Franciscan Friary
Afternoon Tour around the Gap of Dunloe
Details on Hotel and program registration coming soon!
How to Get There
Air - The closest international access to Killarney is via Kerry Airport which is located only 15 minutes’ drive from Killarney town which provides Killarney with direct daily access to the UK and Germany with developing routes to Portugal, France and other EU and UK destinations. It provides multiple daily commuter connections to Dublin International Airport and onwards to the wider world. Cork Airport is approximately 75 minutes’ drive from Killarney and provides a range of UK and EU connections. Shannon is approximately 110 minutes’ drive from Killarney and, in addition to UK and EU connections, it offers direct flights to the USA. Dublin Airport provides significant international access to Killarney via Kerry Airport and also through its connections with Cork and Shannon Airports. Of course Dublin Airport also links to Killarney by road taking approximately 4 hours, and by rail from Dublin City direct to Killarney in approximately 3 hours.
Rail - Killarney is directly linked by railway to Cork and Dublin and currently has about 8 daily services serving both cities from its rail station. Through its line via Mallow and Limerick Junction it also connects to other cities and counties including Limerick City. Full Train schedule Information available from the Irish Rail website.
Bus - Ireland’s national bus service, Bus Eireann, links many parts of Ireland on a scheduled multi-time per day basis. A new service connection to Dublin, Dublin Coach, operates regular daily routes from and to Killarney and Dublin via Limerick.
Things to Do
In Killarney, there are many things to do and places to visit. The www.killarney.ie website gives an excellent overview of Killarney. The following are some of the key attractions.
Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park was the first national park in Ireland. It is just under 103km2 of lakes, forest, and mountains. It is also home to the only red deer herd in Ireland. Many of the main attractions and things to do in Killarney are located within Killarney National Park which is right beside the town. See www.killarneynationalpark.ie for further details.
Muckross House
Built in 1843, Muckross House was owned by a couple of different families before it was gifted to the Irish nation. Today, the beautiful mansion still elegantly furnished, and its gardens, are open to guests to explore. When visiting Muckross House you may also want to include a visit to the Traditional Farms where you can see and experience what Irish farming life was like in the 1930s and 1940s. See www.muckross-house.ie for further details.
Ross Castle
Ross Castle, a 15th century castle, which sits on the edge of Lough Leane in Killarney National Park and often surrounded by white swans, is a lovely place to visit.
Muckross Abbey
Muckross Abbey, an Old Irish Monastery, is only about a five-minute walk from Muckross House. The first monastery was believed to have been built in the 6th century by Saint Fionán. Today, visitors can explore the ruins of a 15th century Franciscan Friary which was abandoned in the 1650s when the monks were reported to have been driven out by Cromwell’s forces.
Lakes of Killarney
There are three lakes of Killarney; Lough Leane, Muckross Lake (Middle Lake), and Upper Lake. There are walking and hiking trails around the lakes as well as boat tours. One of the most beautiful viewing points for these lakes is called Ladies View which was named after Queen Victoria’s ladies in waiting. This viewpoint is part of the famous Ring of Kerry route, along the N71.
Innisfallen Island
Located in Lough Leane, Innisfallen Island is home to the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey, one of the most important archaeological sites in Ireland. The Annals of Ireland, which tell the early history of Ireland, were written by the monks here.
Torc Waterfall
Torc Waterfall is about 18m high and is a picturesque waterfall about 7km from town. It is a must-stop on your Ring of Kerry tour. It’s best observed when it is raining when the water flow is more powerful.
St. Mary’s Cathedral
A beautiful Roman Catholic Cathedral in Killarney Town. Be sure to go inside and look at the stained glass windows.
Ring of KerryThe Ring of Kerry is probably the best-known driving route in all of Ireland and is a beautiful day trip.
