The first day, Friday the 24th was held at the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago. We recieved a warm welcome from the Director and the staff at the center and we were grateful for the use of one of their rooms for our first meetings. On Friday June 24th and Saturday, highlights at the Irish American Heritage Center included:
Slide Show:
Heritage Center
A visit to the Museum, officially opened by the President of Ireland, Mary Robinson in 1991 started our first day (see pictures above. The Vice Consul General for Ireland in Chicago, Mr. Tim Reilly, presented the insignia of the Order of Clans of Ireland to Margaret Curtain on behalf of Clans of Ireland at 2.00pm at the Irish American Heritage Centre . We had a great tour of the Heritage Center by the Director, Tim McDonnell.
“An Gorta Mór” – Anne Emperor, our new Chief, led a narration of a multi-media presentation on the "Great Hunger of Ireland" and Potato Famine and the Irish genocide which forced so many of our ancestors away from their homeland. See slideshow Below:
An Gorta Mor
More pics coming!
Saturday Highlights
Some pics from our Grand Banquet and more Irish music- the Chicago Chancey Brothers
Coming soon! More Pics of the Gathering.