Resting Place: Kilmore graveyard. There were over 100 Gleeson families resident in Kilmore Civil Parish in 1851. Photograph courtesy of Michael Hynes Photography to Silvermines Historical Society.

Gleeson Clan Gathering in Nenagh

Published: Mon 25 Apr 2016, 12:00 PM

Are you a Gleeson or connected to a Gleeson family? If so, the Gleeson Clan Gathering is the place to visit this August. The Gathering is scheduled to take place in Nenagh from August 19th to 24th and consists of a mavellous programme of events that is already attracting Glessons from all over the world.

The aims and objectives of the Gathering is to celebrate what we have today, informed by what happened yesterday, and to encourage and unite the Irish diaspora and locals with a deeper understanding of their shared ancestry, heritage, and culture.

Whether you are a Gleeson, Gleason, Glissan (there are many variations of the name) or not, you are welcome to attend. The festival of events has been carefully put together by the organising committee, headed up by local born (Kilcoleman) Chairman, Michael G. Gleeson.

The officisl opening will take place on Friday night with a brief introduction of visitors from Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia, and other local or faraway destinations, followed by a keynote address by local historian and author Danny Grace, entitled 'Dermot E Gleeson Memorial Lecture.'

With questions and answers, meeting and greeting, and light refreshments, the Gleeson Gathering will commence on Friday night, August 19th, and a full day's programme will take place on Saturday in the Scouts Hall. This will include speakers from home and abroad on subjects varying from 'Chain Migration to New Zealand,' 'From Ballyhiskey to Canada,' 'The DNA of the Gleeson Clan,' and much more.

Over the weekend, visitors will be made welcome in Nenagh's many historic places of interest including Nenagh Castle, Nenagh Heritage Centre, North Tipperary Genealogy Centre, and many more. The ever popular Walking Tours of Nenagh with Kevin Whelan will be available for groups and easily organised.

On Sunday, visitors who wish to visit Silvermines will be greeted by member of Silvermines Historical Society and organised tours will include the village, with its local mining history, Dolla graveyard and Kilmore graveyard (in 1851 there were over 100 Gleesons resident in Kilmore Civil Parish, Barony of Upper Ormond).

Further details will be published before August. Meanwhile, for any enquiries or information about the programme of events for the weekend, please visit the Gleeson Clan Gathering 2016 website.