The weather cooperated for our annual meeting at Three Castles Head on Sunday, 23 June, 1996. Early morning preparations began prior to our picnic departure - decorating the Taoiseach's Chair, assembling the "flag raising" team, and posting road signs along the way to help those misdirected or unfamiliar with the route.
Three Castles Head was selected for the 1996 Gathering as it was built (reputedly in 1207 by Donagh Na Himrice O Mahony) as the first of ten O Mahony castles which dotted the 20 mile long peninsula of Ivagha. The area is known locally as Dun Locha (fort of the lake) and is at the tip of Mizen Head peninsula overlooking Dunmanus Bay. The castle is the most southwesterly mainland stone fortification in Ireland. The current land owners, Tomi and Yvonne Ungerer, gave special permission to hold our Gathering on their property.
After a scenic drive from Schull to Dun Locha, we ate our picnic lunches, then headed on foot to the castle remains. Our gracious hosts (Tomi and Yvonne) provided transportation to those not able to hike the two mile journey. The gathering site was marked by seven flags flying in the breeze. The flags (France, Vatican, United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada) represented O Mahony Society membership from around the world.
Dermot O'Mahoney called the meeting to order, welcoming all members, guests, and friends. He gave a brief history of Dun Locha to the crowd. The remants of the castle were sighted on a prehistoric fortress which spanned the area between the lake and the sea, making a easily defended promontory settlement. It was a spectacular setting between a small lake and cliffs that dropped 300 feet to the Atlantic. Dermot spoke of the legend of the lake being haunted by an enchanted woman...and whoever saw her, soon died. The castle builders used the same technique as the ancient dun builders by erecting a wall linking the lake to the cliff edge, a distance of some 150 meters. In the wall were three towers, one large and squat, the other two narrow with very small chambers.
Dermot welcomed and presented our newly elected Taoiseach, Jim Mahoney of Melbourne, Florida, as he passed the bata (baton) to Jim. The new Taoiseach beamed as he spoke. He encouraged the American O Mahony's to meet, talk, and get to know the O Mahony's from all parts of the world.
Father Patrick Hickey presented a lecture on "James Mahony: An Artist's Visit to West Cork in 1847." James Mahoney was born in Cork in 1810. He was commissioned by the Illustrated London News to visit Ireland during the famine and graphically depict the living conditions with "unexxagerated fidelity". The sketches are a "painfully interesting series of illustrations of the famine". Their purpose was to make "this affliction known to the charitable public" especially in England.
After the picnic, we returned to Schull and the East End Hotel for the O Mahony Banquet. The hotel's dining room was filled with O Mahony's (approximately 90 ). After dinner, Dermot toasted our new Taoiseach, and the wonderful Irish music began. A popular Irish trio named Killarney Manor Trio sang Irish ballads we could sing (and dance) to like: Rose of Tralee, When Irish Eyes are Smiling, Cockles and Mussels and Wild Rover. There was not a person seated towards the end of the musical programme -- we were all standing, holding hands and singing. What a great time!
Thank you all Society members and friends for making the 1996 O Mahony Gathering such a great success. A special thanks to Tomi and Yvonne Ungerer for allowing us to meet at Dun Locha Castle; to Mr. and Mrs. Dermont O Mahony (former Taoiseach) the officers and council members for their leadership and direction; and to Mrs. Roche and her staff at the East End Hotel.
