Tag Archives: Dysert O’Dea

On May 25, 2018, Irish society changed forever. In a move every bit as significant as the Marriage Equality referendum of 2015, 66% of the Irish population voted to the remove the Eighth Amendment, and pave the way to legalise abortion For many who voted Yes that day, it was a seminal moment in history. Ireland was shedding the clothes of generations of Church control and taking a bold step into the modern world. But that view was not shared by all. For many of those who voted No, the Repeal Referendum represented the death of the Ireland that they knew, and the ushering in of an altogether more scary and dangerous world. These complex and contrary feelings are at the heart of the debut short film by Dysert O’Dea writer and actor, Lisa O’Connor. Like many Irish artists, Lisa was based in the UK in 2018 when the Repeal Referendum took place. Without the financial means to travel home …

FROM all across the United States members of the O’Dea clan will be in Ennis and Dysert O’Dea this weekend for their 11th annual clan gathering. The international O’Dea clan gathering, from July 8 to 10, will see more than 50 clan members travelling from various parts of the USA, including California, Florida, Missouri, Ohio and other states to attend the event. Unfortunately, clan members from Australia and New Zealand will not be attending due to Covid 19 restrictions. Nevertheless, a fully packed weekend programme for those attending includes lectures, DNA workshops, a visit to Dysert O’Dea castle, a sightseeing tour to the Cliffs of Moher, Ballyvaughan and Corcomroe abbey and a farewell gala dinner in the Old Ground Hotel. The highlight of the weekend will be the inauguration of the incoming Clan Chieftain (Taoisigh) Ennis man Shane O’Dea at Dysert O’Dea castle on, Saturday. In honour of the weekend event, the Ennis Municipal District will host a mayoral reception …

FOR any dog lover, spending time walking and caring for the animal is a really enjoyable experience and so placement at a dog kennels was ideal for one participant during EmployAbility Clare’s annual Job Shadow Week last year. Job Shadow Week, a national initiative, takes place each year in the last week in April and is designed specifically to introduce people with a disability to the world of work. For many people, it is their first employment opportunity, spending time shadowing someone in their workplace and finding out about different work environments and jobs. Rosaleen and Mark Burns, owners of Dysert O’Dea Dog Kennels, hosted a job shadow for the first time last year and found it a rewarding experience. “We had the most fantastic young man with us for a job shadow. He’s a dog lover and our kennels and newly-opened daycare service are very busy, so he helped out walking the dogs and learned about the importance of …

OVER 170 O’Dea delegates from all over the globe assembled to celebrate the recent ninth International O’Dea Clan Gathering, in Ennis, from July 11 to 13 and at the ancestral home of Dysert O’Dea Castle. This triennial event, which began in 1990, brought together O’Deas of every variation, including Deas, O’Days, Days and Odyas, from all over the world. This year, there were delegates from places as far away as Poland, the United States, Australia, United Kingdom and New Zealand, as well as a number of delegates from Ireland also in attendance. Locally, clan members from Ennis, Kilfenora, Shannon, Lissycasey and Cooraclare were also present. Ennis native, James O’Sullivan, now resident in San Francisco, whose mother, Cecelia, is an O’Dea, made a surprise visit home for the clan gathering. The reunion commenced with a civic reception in Ennis. Councillor James Breen, the deputy mayor, warmly welcomed the delegates and, afterwards, the O’Deas returned to The Old Ground Hotel for a …