Clare Island coming to Chicago

Throughout the years many visitors to Clare Island have come from Chicago with similar stories of their heritage, but to the surprise of the local islanders, many of these visitors did not know each other. How curious that people crossed the Atlantic Ocean to find their relatives and did not know others living close to home.
Now is the time to find your relations or fellow island connections, living nearby, or throughout the US. We hope and expect participation from near and far connecting back to Clare Island and Clew Bay in celebration of their ancestors of emigration.
Come and learn about your ancestral home! Meet friends and relatives who share your common heritage. Learn more about Clare Island and its rich history and exciting future!
We have two exciting events planned for November 8 and 9 in the greater Chicago area.
Friday, November 8th from 6:00 pm
Industry Ales Brew Pub Chicago
• Pre-event get together for drinks, music and a whiskey tasting
• 230 S. WABASH, CHICAGO, IL 60604
• Tel: (312) 496-3624
• Proprietor: Dan Rook – [email protected]
• Dan is the 4th Great Grandson of Austin O’Grady (1841-1916) and Winifred O’Malley(1828-1909) who emigrated from Clare Island to Chicago in 1892 (Visitation Parish) and James Murray (1833-?) and Margaret Coghill (1828-1908).
No charge / registration only for numbers – This gathering will be very informal and a chance to mingle and meet others with ancestral ties to Clare Island. Carl O’Grady will make a short presentation on the process of maturation and of the Dolphin, the old ferry boat from 1968, which now acts as our maturation warehouse. We will enjoy a tasting of Clare Island Single Malt Spirit Drink against Connacht Distillery, Single Malt Whiskey, the source spirits for the Clare Island Whiskey brand until we begin our own production.
Local traditional entertainment will be provided on the night.
This is an adult-only venue (21+ years of age) and dinner, and drinks will be available from the Industrial Ales menu. Please join us for a fun, relaxed gathering of Irish music, storytelling and good old-fashioned Irish “craic”.
Saturday Nov 9th Noon to 4:00pm
Chicago Gaelic Park https://chicagogaelicpark.com
• A Celebration of Clare Islands heritage and diaspora
• 6119 W. 147th Street, Oak Forest, IL 60452 (708) 687-9823
• Chicago Gaelic Park is an indoor venue we have reserved to explore and celebrate our ancestral heritage, meet other clans and families with ancestral connections to Clare Island and learn about the island history and plans.
• Plans are for a primarily adult gathering with whiskey tasting, music, presentation and good conversation.
• Cover charge and afternoon Tea: €45 per person. Participants will receive a special Event Clare Island booklet with stories, poems and songs.
We have attached a draft schedule of events for our 4-hour gathering. Once you book, you will receive, via email, a copy of the registration form that we ask each family or Clan to complete and return. Please be prepared to answer as many of the questions on the registration form as you can along with giving an estimate of the number of attendees from your family or Clan. For purposes of this event, we are asking that multiple family units who are descendants of an emigrant from Clare Island select a “Chieftain” who can represent the “Clan” and register as a Clan. By grouping families together in Clans this way, we can be much more efficient in presenting a few facts about each Clan. We noted above that Dan Rook of Industrial Ales is the 4th generation from Austin O’Grady. By grouping all of Austin’s descendants into a Clan we will have time to cover some highlights of their history, rather than trying to say something about the 100+ individual families who are descendants of Austin. Obviously, if a single family wishes to represent their Clan’s history we will welcome that as well. Finally, we welcome anyone that would like to join us even if you do not have an ancestral connection to Clare Island. Join us and learn about our fascinating island!
The Clare Island Gathering: Celebrate your Clan… costumes, flags banners, posters and signage! Decorate your table and let us know who you are!
Noon: Arrival and afternoon Tea (light lunch)
Upon arrival we will have a selection of finger sandwiches and tea in the tradition of an Irish mid-day meal. Please enjoy these refreshments as you get settled, find your Clan and begin to mingle with other descendants of Clare Island.
1:00 – 2:00 Carl O’Grady opens the event
Chieftain review of Clans in attendance
Our shared history of emigration / community building
The Irish Clan System and its demise / The great famine / Grace O’Malley / Current life and times / population trends / farming & fishing trends
2:00 – 3:00 Introduction to Niall McCabe singer/songwriter / songs and story
3:00 – 3:30 Clare Island Whiskey Brand - Clare Island Whiskey journey / helping to build a sustainable future for Clare Island
3.30 - 4:00 Event opens to participants to mingle once again and build connections
4.00 Gathering ends…drive home safely