The McKenna Clan will stage the first event of their International Gathering at the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan on Friday, the 22nd of April, the eve of the 1916 Easter Rising. The evening will begin at 7.30pm with an inauguration ceremony when the current Clan Chieftain, Marie Curley, Ardaghy, Monaghan will pass the title to the incoming Chieftain, Jerry McKenna from Texas, USA. This will be followed by a buffet and entertainment. The Four Seasons will be the base of operations for the entire weekend and special rates are available for attendees.
On Saturday 23rd commencing from the Four Seasons Hotel, attendees will tour the North Monaghan McKenna Trail taking in such places of interest such as Liskenna Fort; Errigal Truagh Old Graveyard; Donagh Graveyard, the grave of the ancestors of General Don Juan McKenna, military officer and hero of the Chilean War of Independence; and the McKenna Cross. This will be followed by lunch and a talk by a McKenna historian in the Four Seasons Hotel.
On Saturday night a buffet and musical entertainment is being held in Ardaghy Community Centre, hosted by the outgoing Chieftain, Marie Curley to honour the newly inaugurated Chieftain. Coach transport will be provided from and back to the Four Seasons Hotel for the McKenna Trail and the Saturday night entertainment.
The incoming Clan Chieftain, Jerry McKenna– the first United States chieftain – is a world renowned sculptor from Boerne, Texas. He a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and formerly an officer of the US Air Force. Two of his sculptures in Ireland are of the famous Kilkenny hurling goalkeeper, Ollie Walsh, in Thomastown, County Kilkenny and in Clonmel, County Tipperary of “Ireland’s Golden Tenor”,, Frank Patterson.
All details of the Clan McKenna International Gathering including accommodation lists available by contacting Clan McKenna at: clannmckenna@gmail.com or from the secretary on 011- 353-87–755-9095.
