Ancestral Trails The Newsletter of the Cassidy Clan Christmas 2010 The Cassidy Clan Nollaig faoi shean Returns to agus The Cassidy faoi shonas duit Ancestral Homeland of Dear Friends, A Clan is the roots that secures the many branch- Co. Fermanagh es of a great Family Trees and as each branch attends a Clan gathering it is the homecoming of family to celebrate the Clan. Earlier this year I travelled to Dublin to join with the many Clan Chieftains, Clan Representatives and Delegates to attend the Clans of Ireland AGM and Dinner which was held in the Mansion House. It was an occasion of pageantry and camaraderie, a coming together of the Ancient Clans of this great Country. As An Caisideach I Come and join us was honoured to be a part of it. in The 2011 Cassidy Clan Gathering will be held at the end of July. I am sure Nuala and Brent will be keeping you all up to date with the details and I look forward to welcoming you all to our Ancestral Homeland of Co. Fermanagh , to celebrate our family and the heritage of this great Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh Cassidy Clan. on I wish you all Christmas Blessings and a Happy Prosperous New Year July 29 - 31, 2011 An Caisideach Pat Cassidy The Irish Festival of Oulu festival’s poetry and music featuring a mind blowing bodhrán performance, which was nearly solo by Eamon Murray. Marianne September 30th to October 3rd 2010 full to capacity on a sunny Green accompanied by Magnus Saturday afternoon. Harry Clifton Wiik showed why she is the The 5th anniversary Irish Festival carries the baton of success from upcoming new voice in trad music of Oulu, September 30-October 3, previous poetry performances by today with a beautiful selection of once again brought the City of Michael and Edna Longley, songs from the North of Ireland. Oulu a wide range of cultural Pulitzer prize-winner Paul Altan, the super group also activities that attracted 8,000 Muldoon, former Irish celebrating their 25th anniversary, people. Fans came not only from Ambassador Philip McDonagh, put on a legendary concert to a the Oulu area but from all over and Gerald Dawe, organized in sold out audience with a mixture Finland and from as afar afield as cooperation with Oulu University of Donegal tunes and the Ireland, France, Denmark, and and The Irish Embassy. The event masterful voice of Mairéad Ní Russia. The weather was sunny was intertwined with songs from Mhaonaigh. The group even and ideal for the 4-day festival the North of Ireland from the managed to get the audience to weekend. The festival welcomed lovely new voice of Marianne stand up and dance. distinguished guests including Green accompanied by Magnus Irish Ambassador to Finland Wiik. Local bands Cascade, The Dermot Brangan and Comhaltas Brogues, and The Soap Pig once Director Vince Hearns. The festival workshops (7) and again showed the talent of the the weekend dance course were Oulu Irish music scene with Irish Film Week II was expanded equally full with 63 participants original arrangements at concerts to include 23 films, including a respectively from all around and also hosted daily sessions wide variety of documentaries, a Finland and as far away as St. with visiting musicians from all live concert, and a collection of Petersburg, Russia. For the first over Finland and Ireland. The award winning Irish short films. time the dance course offered 3 sessions were packed with the The film week’s main attraction levels of instruction (beginner, highlight being the festival Gabriel Byrne – Stories From intermediate, and advanced) closing session which featured Home was screened in Valve which allowed anyone to join in. band members from Misneach Concert Hall to a crowded and Altan amongst local and audience of 108 people. Director Oliver Hussey and Eamonn national musicians playing in Pat Collins hosted questions and Keenan delighted a lively crowd unison together. Altogether, there discussions immediately of 90 people, the majority adults, were 25 musicians playing as well following the film. at the City Library with as dancers showing their skills on storytelling. The venue had to be the nearby stage. The festival expanded its cultural changed to a larger area to activities into theatre offering 2 accommodate the attendants. The Festival Work Group would stellar performances of Tom like to thank the City of Oulu Crean – Antarctic Explorer, The festival featured 4 concerts Culture Department, Culture written and performed by Aidan that attracted a record 1784 Ireland, the Irish Embassy, our Dooley. Attendance was great on people. Local band The Brogues supporters and sponsors, local both nights and Aidan received opened the festival with a lively media, musicians, volunteers, and his first ever standing ovation for concert of pub style Irish music especially the fans all who made the Saturday night performance, with a Finnish twist and set the the festival such a huge success. which received a great review by energy level to high for the entire Kaleva newspaper the following weekend. South Sligo traditional day stating, “the festival can be band Misneach, performing with proud for successfully extending The Soap Pig, performed its programme into theatre.” traditional Irish music to a near sell out audience who were very Following an inspirint seminar at eager to dance. The lively band the University of Oulu, Harry Beoga, performing with Cascade, Clifton recited his poetry at the electrified the audience with their The Soap Pig inventive blend of arrangements, Clans of Ireland News Comhghairdeas. Order of Merit Plans are well under way to insti- Dame Maura O'Gara O'Riordan, Registrar, Clans of Ireland. tute a new Clans of Ireland Order of Merit which will be awarded to Clans of Ireland is delighted to announce that along with former individuals who have made a sus- President Mary Robinson, Prof. Gerry McNamara of DCU and tained and significant contribu- Caroline Casey, founder of the Ability Awards, our Registrar, tion to Irish culture and heritage. Mrs. Maura O'Gara O'Riordan was chosen to receive a Knight- Any clan who has been registered hood of Merit from the Grand Master of the Military & Hospitaller for 3 consecutive years will be Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem when he visits Ireland in able to nominate someone to re- September. His Excellency Don Carlos Gererda de Borbón, ceive the award and a sub com- Marquis de Almazan, is a cousin of the King of Spain and has mittee established to co-ordinate been 49th Grand Master of the Order of St. Lazarus since 2008. the Order of Merit will make the The Order of St. Lazarus is an ancient ecumenical and chival- final decision. Nomination forms rous Order of Knighthood and has chosen a hand full of Irish will be made available in due people to receive awards during the Marquis' visit to Ireland. course in the members section of Mrs. O'Gara O'Riordan was singled out for her sustained and the Clans of Ireland website. significant contribution to Irish culture and heritage over many years. Clans of Ireland is delighted that our colleague has been Charitable Status honoured and shares in the Order of St. Lazarus' recognition of her significant contribution to Irish culture and heritage. We are delighted to announce that "Dame Maura" as she will be known received her knighthood at we are now in a position to extend a ceremony in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin on the 30th our charitable status to cover all September. Clans with a permanent address in Ireland. Such clans can use the Clans of Ireland charitable status number to collect funds for edu- cational and cultural purposes without creating a tax liability. Those Clans who wish to use the Clans of Ireland charitable status number will be obliged to main- tain accounts for inspection by the board of Clans of Ireland as requested. Dame Maura O’Gara O’Riordan Research We have applied for funding ,Clans of Ireland has once again negotiated a special rate with Irish Roots from the Heritage Council to Magazine for 2011. commission research on the con- cept of kinship and Clans in Gael- All clans currently registered and renewing for 2011 can avail of the special ic Ireland up to the present day. It annual subscription of €20. Cassidy Clan Members can avail of this offer. is our hope that this research will be useful in providing a scholarly To avail of this special rate please follow these instructions: basis upon which Irish Clans can Click on website www.irishrootsmagazine.com continue to develop into the fu- Under the sample tab click on 'products purchase' ture. In the description box type 'Clans of Ireland' Nuala Cassidy-White In the payment box type 20 (this is euros) Director Click on ‘make payment to finish' and proceed to enter payment details as normal. Clans of Ireland EARLY LIVERMORE The town, to which Father Cassidy came, was a busy and growing place. The Catholic people who wel- comed Father Cassidy in 1878 had been settling in Livermore in the 1850's and 1860's. Many were Irish, seeking relief from the potato famine that was causing widespread economic disaster in Ireland. Some Ital- ians and Portuguese came during that time. They all joined the few of the h3ish heritage who were already here. These families lived a hard life, often working from sun up to sun down, enduring droughts and Father John Francis Cassidy, storms and the loss of crops and livestock. Through it all, their strength and their refuge was in each other John Francis Cassidy was born in Melbourne, Aus- and in their religion.