Gillespie

This page is for information about the Gillespie Ireland Trip 2026

Since there are so many photos, I have added the below buttons so that you can go directly to those. If you have additional photos you would like to add, please contact shawnmosch@gmail.com

• We have dates for the 2026 Ireland Family Reunion in Ireland
  • Thursday, Sep. 17th, 2026 – Sunday, Sep. 20th 
  • If you have never attended a reunion before you should begin looking at flights and housing for the reunion. 
• Housing Options – Book on your own
  • Yates Country Inn – Currey
  • The Forest – Tubbercurry
  • Murphy’s  – Tubbercurry
  • Cowley’s- Tubbercurry
  • Check out VRBO 
  • If you need help with housing contact Andrew Temple!

• Wednesday Sept 16th –  O’Conner Farm Visit – Doon, Ireland

It was discovered at the meeting that not everyone is aware that they have ancestors and / or connections through marriage, with the O’Connor family.

Family members should determine their family connection to the O’Connors  in Doon. If unsure, refer to the “ Descendants of Austin Gillespie “ hand out that Mary distributed at the meeting. Or ask people like Mary Temple, Jack Gillespie.

 Doon is about 2 ½ hours from Tubbercurry. 

Depending on how you will be traveling in Ireland ( i.e. car, bus, train ) will determine how we decide to organize the trip.  Because it is so early in planning, we won’t expect to make definite plans until  next summer. 

In the meantime, contact Jackie Petersen if you have questions. 

• Arrival in Turbercurry on Thursday – Pub Crawl – Informal Meet UP
  • Murphy’s
  • Micky Mac’s
  • Foley’s
  • May Queen’s
  • Discussion of organizing some live music at one of the pubs

• Friday – Keep in mind that there will only be a few organized events on Friday morning.
  • Morning – Ideas discussed
    • Hiking around Lake Tault 
    • Irish History Museum – Castlebar
    • Marquis Castle 
    • Golf – Golf Tournament , golf in Enniscrone or Tubbercurry
    • Seaweed Bath
    • Westport ?
    • Tour a distillery or brewery 

• Banquet
  • Crawley’s around 4:00 pm
  • Hopefully we are able to book entertainment 
• Saturday
  • Visit Mass Hill (Homestead) 
  • Dance on Bridge – box lunches 
  • Soup/Desserts at JoDan’s 

• Sunday – Depart Tubbercurry – Safe Travels
  • Church at Sacred Heart 

• Shirts will be purchased from Gillespie’s but the type of shirt will be different. There was discussion of long sleeve, rugby type shirts and/or sweatshirts. More information is coming
• Alfie has offered to help us with music as well as transportation from Turbercurry. More details will be given as we get closer to departure. 
• Very excited to begin the planning of the Gillespie Reunion. We will be meeting again in September. We may be sending out “surveys” before September to get a better idea of who is for sure. 
• If anyone has any questions, suggestions please email Andrew or me. As always if you know anyone who would like to be added to the email list let me know

Follow up from Oct. 12th Ireland Family Reunion

The next meeting will be in the Spring after the Snowbirds return!

1. Welcome – Ancestry Review and History of Ireland Reunion (Vince)
   a. Remember to check your passport! Be sure that it will not expire by
   next September!
   b. Vince gave a wonderful history of how the reunion started 20 years ago!
   2026 will be the 20th Anniversary of the first reunion in Ireland.
   c. It appears we may have about 70 people attending the reunion! This is
   awesome!
2. We have dates for the 2026 Ireland Family Reunion in Ireland
   a. Thursday, Sep. 17th, 2026 – Sunday, Sep. 20th
   b. If you have never attended a reunion before you should begin looking at
   flights and housing for the reunion. The best time to book flights is in the
   Spring, March – May.
   c. There was some discussion on places to stay. Update: Cowley’s and
   Murphy’s are full As we get closer to the reunion rooms may become
   available.
3. Wednesday Sept 16th – O’Conner Farm Visit – Doon, Ireland (Just a
   reminder) –
   It was discovered at the meeting that not everyone is aware that they have
   ancestors and / or connections through marriage, with the O’Connor family.
   Family members should determine their family connection to the O’Connors
   in Doon. If unsure, refer to the “ Descendants of Austin Gillespie “ hand out
   that Mary distributed at the meeting. Or ask people like Mary Temple, Jack
   Gillespie.
   Doon is about 2 1⁄2 hours from Tubbercurry.
   Depending on how you will be traveling in Ireland ( i.e. car, bus, train ) will
   determine how we decide to organize the trip.
   Because it is so early in planning, we won’t expect to make definite plans until
   next summer.
   In the meantime, contact Jackie Petersen if you have questions.
4. Arrival on Thursday – Pub Crawl – Informal Meet UP
   a. Update: We did not really discuss Thursday at the meeting. Hopefully we
   will have more information at the meeting in the Spring which is still to be
   determined.
   b. Murphy’s
   c. Micky Mac’s
   d. Foley’s
   e. May Queen’s
   f. Hopefully, some live music at one of the pubs
5. Friday – Keep in mind that there will only be two organized events on Friday
   morning.
   a. Update: Keep in mind that everyone has a choice as to what they want to
   do on Friday. The group will have two organized activities.
   i. The two activities will be golf in Tubercurry and hopefully a trip to a
   distillery.
   ii. Other options listed below are still available:
6. Irish History Museum – Castlebar
7. Marquis Castle
8. Seaweed Bath
9. Westport

b. Banquet
i. Crawley’s around 4:00 pm – Event is booked. More details to come.
ii. Hopefully we are able to book entertainment

6. Saturday
   a. Visit Mass Hill (Homestead)
   b. Dance on Bridge – box lunches
   c. Soup/Desserts at JoDan’s
7. Sunday – Depart Turbercurry
   a. Church at Sacred Heart