We will remember August 20002 as the month when The Canadians came home and brought the fine weather with them. That such a gathering was arranged and enjoyed by so many people was truly great.

We were delighted to be associated with this rare and very unusual event, it was a privilege to be of assistance to the descendants of people from our parish who were forced by hunger to leave the land of their birth. If we care at all about the millions who starved and emigrated during this most distressful period then we can show it by extending the hand of friendship and making visitors feel at home. We did, the people of Conna did, and the visitors were very aware that the welcome they received was indeed a warm one.

Jim Hagerty along with Jack and Joan, Peter and Elaine Hagerty were the people we met soon after their arrival, we knew that they were capable and very able to sort out the documentation and paperwork necessary for the registration of the group.

The Muintir Hall was used on three occasions for meeting, food, and speeches, the Catholic Church was used on Sunday for Mass, celebrated by Fr. Tim Uniack, a descendant of the original Hagerty family. The old farm house at Coolbawn was prepared for the visitors, and they received tea from Bridget Sheehan and family. The visitors really were delighted with this; to take tea on the very ground where their ancestors had for many years before 1852.

Many of the group had never met, they had a few days to get to know each other, August 18-20 were the official days, but many arrived earlier and stayed later to see some of the country. It was for them an emotional deeply moving experience, to return home after 150 years surely is. The spirits of their ancestors that guided them to the this gathering must have been proud, as they looked on and saw the many happy and deeply moved extended family members walk the ground and travel the roads where they once did.

The village came alive for the visitors, they brought with them happiness and goodwill, and it was felt by all who met them. We were pleased to have the Canadian flag flying at the Church and Hall. The Community Council can be proud of its efforts. The family history files held by Pa Barry were of great assistance to the Canadians when they were looking for their relatives.

The reunion ended on a sad and nostalgic evening, it was Tuesday the 18th. The Hagerty family went to Coolbawn and lit candles in the old house which is not in use any more. As the sun went down and long shadows began to fall Dr.Michael Coughlin played the violin, he had also played the harp at the Mass, stories were told, and thoughts went back 150 years to the evening when the family gathered for the last time in Ireland, how moving an experience that must have been all those years ago for John and Abigail and the entire family. As the night moved on the younger people moved off to the village, then many of the cousins, until a small group remained. This group remained for some time and began to leave one by one until Jack Hagerty was the last person left, he closed the door and walked away across the yard as his ancestor John had done. The group then took a last look at the house and walked away.

All that was planned had been achieved, it only remained now for the families to make their way to the New World where they now call home. A spiritual calling had been fulfilled, we had seen the family, their names will remain with us they are part of our history, Jim, Jack, Peter and Jerry Hagerty, John Agustine the Fourth, the Uniacks, Coughlins, Fracis, McBride, and many more.

To commemorate the reunion we plan to place a plaque on the wall in the Hall, so future generations will know that one time the descendants of a family driven from the land by hunger came home to thread the ground and see the place where once their people lived, toiled and had to leave.

Links to photos of the reunion will be placed here soon.

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