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Carrowmenagh to host McFeeley
family reunion
24.07.19
BACK in 2009, an
American tourist described the thrill of finding the
roots of his family tree in Inishowen thanks to a
book by local Carrowmenagh historian John A
McLaughlin. Dan McFeeley from Illinois, started
researching his Irish roots nearly thirteen years
ago but only knew that his paternal great
grandfather, Michael McFeeley, hailed from Co
Donegal.
He was stunned when he came across an extract from
the book 'Carrowmenagh: History of a Donegal Village
and Townland', penned by John A. The extract told of
the evictions of 1881 and mentioned the McFeeley
family name.
"Scrolling down the page I saw at the top of the
list, two of the evictee families, Charles McFeeley
and John McFeeley, and realised that this was likely
the village where my great grandfather Michael came
from," explained Dan.
Ten years ago, Dan visited Carrowmenagh with his
daughter Rachel. To read more about their visit to
Inishowen in 2009 read our previous story -
US visitor finds
his Inishowen roots . |
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Dan McFeeley visited
Carrowmenagh with his daughter Rachel back in 2009 |
Between July 27 and
August 4th 2019 there will be a McFeeley family
reunion taking place in the Moville / Carrowmenagh
area. Approximately 43 descendants of the McFeeley
families of Carrowmenagh are coming to Inishowen
from the United States.
Mary McCann Stone, Dan McFeeley's cousin, has
organised the reunion along with the help of Anthony
McGonigle and locals from Carrowmenagh village.
On Sunday, July 28th, there will a meet and greet at
the Carrowmenagh Community Centre where tour group
members will make contact and get to know each
other. The McFeeley clan are coming from different
parts of the US and although many of them have
conversed online, they have not met in person. After
the meet and greet, activities will continue in the
Tremone Bar.
The McFeeley family group will be touring the
peninsula during their stay and learning about the
history of their descendants, Carrowmenagh
villagers, who found themselves having to leave
after the harsh evictions in 1881. |
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