O’Neills from America, Ireland, France, Portugal and Spain
Gathered in Paris for An International Association O’Neill Clans
By Kathleen O’Neill Benshila
The meeting of the International Association of O’Neill Clans is the continuation of a series of events dedicated to celebrating and remembering The Great Hugh O’Neill who, more that 400 years after his death in Rome in 1616, has come to symbolize ancient Gaelic traditions, especially the Clan system, whose demise began in the early days of the 17th century during the reign of Elizabeth I, Queen of England.
Interest in O’Neill began to emerge in 1995, the year that marked the 400th anniversary of his inauguration as The Great O’Neill at Tullyhogue in 1595. A surge of interest in exploring the heritage of O’Neill culminated with the creation in 2004 of the O’Neill Summer School at Shanes Castle under the direction of Christine Doherty, and in the many important events in Ireland and Rome in 2007/2008 to commemorate the “Flight of the Earls.”
Doherty rightly sees the clan gathering in Paris as confirmation that “the five years we hosted the O’Neill Summer School is recognized as being the foundation for the International Association. She goes on to say, “I did not bring the O’Neills together, it was a stronger force which somehow drew the international grouping individually to Shanes Castle. I think the old stones sent out some vibes and the right people were tuned in. We have formed some wonderful friendships and the circle continues to widen.”
The gathering in Paris last June was the cornerstone for the creation of the International Association of O’Neill Clans. On Thursday afternoon the 24th of June when, one by one, O’Neills and friends, most of whom were unknown to each other, began arriving to collect their badges and programs, a feeling of excitement and anticipation filled the air. The relaxed atmosphere, the sunny blue skies and the warm welcome extended by the French O’Neills, our hosts and organizers, set the stage for what was to be a truly enriching event.
The Irish College in Paris
The site of the meeting at the Irish College, near the Sorbonne and Pantheon in the Latin Quarter, lent a special significance to the gathering. The Irish College in Paris is an institution that traces its beginnings to 1578 when it was established to educated priests and students from Ireland who, because of restrictions placed on Catholics at home, were obliged to go to the continent to study.
Irish colleges were then being established throughout Europe in France, Spain, Spanish Flanders and Netherlands, Italy and Poland.
The Irish College in Paris, however, is the only remaining institution; the others have long since disappeared. The historic building, renovated in 2002, is located on the rue des Irlandais (street of the Irish) in the 5th arrondissement.
Known today as the Irish Cultural Center, it is devoted to spiritual, cultural and educational endeavors. Pat O’Neill from Dungannon thought the setting of the Irish College was “so meaningful, as it was there that throughout the centuries so many of our family members were trained to be priests for our home parishes,” Pat was moved to see in the courtyard of the college the “sculpture of St. Columban, one of our first missionaries to Europe who founded many monasteries in the 7th century.”
On June 25th, the day started with a program of conferences by historians from Ireland. Thomas O’Connor, senior lecturer in history at the National University of Ireland at Maynooth; Liam Chambers, lecturer in history at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick; Eamon O Ciosain, lecturer in French at the NUI Maynooth; and Eoghan O hAnnrachain, writer and historian, born in Cork who lives now in Luxembourg.
As the Clan meeting was held in Paris, the themes covered in the lectures were pertinent to Europe and particularly to France and, since all four speakers were fluent in French, lectures were given in both languages.
Thomas O’Connor, who directs the research project “The Irish in Europe” and is director of the historical review Archivium Hibernicum, examined Irish migration in Europe and the rest of the world and presented an overview of some primary sources, neglected up to recently, about the O’Neill in Europe.
Liam Chambers discussed the significance of education for Irish migrants to Europe in the 17th and 18th century when more than 30 Irish colleges were being established. He also discussed the careers of John O’Neill and Charles O’Neill, key figures at the Irish College of Paris in the 18th century.
Eamon O Ciosain and Eoghan O hAnnrachain discussed Irish military migration and service in continental armies from the 16th to 18th century, with particular reference to the O’Neills.
For Carolyn Cracraft from Chicago who has been a part of the O’Neill events since 2004 and is, as she says, “not an O’Neill, just passionately engaged by The Great O’Neill” and “whose interest is purely historical,” the lectures were the most fascinating part of the gathering.
A first-time participant, young Callum O’Neill, age 17, who has already lived in five countries (Scotland, Venezuela, USA, Nigeria and now France) and plans to study history at university found the lectures “very informative, I’m glad I attended as it shed some new light on the O’Neills and I am now happy knowing I come from such a family.”
Following the historical lectures, Eoin O’Neill, a scientist who worked in industry in the UK and the USA then spent 25 years at Trinity College Dublin where he managed an Innovation Centre, spoke about higher education in Ireland and the role of universities and colleges in stimulating the rapid economic growth of Ireland at the end of the 20th century.
On Friday evening, Ambassador John Paul Kavanagh, who until 2009 was the Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations in New York before being named Ambassador to France and Monaco, and his charming wife Rosemary hosted a cocktail party at the exquisite Irish Embassy. Ambassador Kavanagh told us that the Embassy was built in the early 1890s by the 8th Marquis de Breteuil and his American wife Marcellita Gardner, a cotton heiress. It has housed the Irish Embassy for the past 50 years.
On Saturday morning, Hugo O’Neill from Portugal introduced the first General Assembly of the International Association. With Laurence O’Neill (Paris) and Sean O’Neill (Dublin) as moderators, discussions on the future organization of the association were debated. Hugo O’Neill, Chief of the Clanaboy O’Neills, has for years been the impetus driving the idea of an O’Neill clan association with the aim of contributing to the “preservation of our moral and material heritage.” It is worthwhile being reminded today of Hugo’s belief that the “heritage of ancient values championed by our forefathers whose examples are dignity in trying times, fairness in dealing with the less favored, merit as the access to power, generosity and courage, will leave a mark when told, especially in young people’s minds.”
O’Neill DNA Project
Josephine Mandeville of Philadelphia introduced the O’Neill DNA Project that was presented by Pat and Aidan O’Neill from Dungannon. We were spellbound by the information provided by Pat and Aidan on the DNA project. Josephine impressed on us that “besides the known genealogy and lore, we now have a unique opportunity to explore the bonds that link us together from another aspect, that is, using the science of DNA testing. Since we have many established O’Neill lines of genealogy which Desmond O’Neill (author of The Ancient and Royal Family of O’Neill) has researched, compiled and recorded in such extraordinary volume, it will be fascinating to see if with this new scientific tool we can document or reinforce these family lines.”
Josephine adds that “while O’Neills needed to leave their homeland due to persecution, famine and hardships, they seemed to keep a bond of family, Clan and Ireland flourishing in their hearts.” Finally, Josephine encourages “any male O’Neill who is descended from an unbroken line of male O’Neills to consider joining the O’Neill Family DNA Project, details of which can be found on the website: www.oneillclans.com.”
On Sunday, the final day of the clan gathering, a trip was organized to the medieval port town of Quillebeuf in Normandy. It was here, in 1607, that the boat carrying the Irish leaders Hugh O’Neill, Ruairi O’Donnell, the Maguire and other loyal families fleeing Ireland for Spain in what has become known as “The Flight of the Earls” was forced to seek shelter being driven by contrary winds. As Carolyn Cracraft so aptly put it “nothing prepared me for Quillebeuf, in the narrow streets of that little town, frozen in time, I felt O’Neill’s presence.” Patrick and Anne-Marie O’Neill graciously offered coffee and Calvados in their home following the visit.
I’ve only evoked here the main highlights of the O’Neill Clan gathering in Paris, there was so much more. Mass celebrated by Father Edouard O’Neill, S.J assisted by our historian Father Thomas O’Connor, the exposition of Marie Helene O’Neill’s paintings, the Youth Forum with Severine Chavanne, the guided tours with Virginie Rampal, the lunches and dinners.
Pat O’Neill was “surprised by the family atmosphere.” Tom O’Gorman from Chicago echoed this sentiment “how very much at home we felt, I am glad we all came to Paris…this is the real dynamic that makes everything worthwhile…. a bright fresh chapter in the centuries old saga of the O’Neills.” Everyone came away from the clan gathering feeling part of a community of friends and family.
What is the next step? We hope to attract many new members from around the world to the Association. It is the people in our group who are its heart and soul, it is the people with their multifaceted talents who can translate ideas into action so that our Gaelic traditions and our historic legacy can be preserved and propagated.
Plans are underway to decide where and when the next Clan gathering will be held. It is likely that it will be 2012 in Ireland or in the USA. Consult our website: www.oneillclans.com where information will be posted as soon as it is available.
Pat O’Neill observes that “for the past 50 years in Ireland, O’Neills have talked about forming an association. The Paris conference is doing that. We now have a fulcrum to attract the various researches and developments through DNA and the Irish families who attended will expand the association in Ireland.”
I like to think that The Great O’Neill and all of our ancestors know that they are not forgotten, that their efforts to preserve and ensure our unique identity are not unrecognized, and that the flame of their struggle still burns in our hearts.
LAMH DEARG UI NEILL ABU, The Red Hand of O’Neill to Victory
Special thanks to the O’Neill clanswomen and men in France who made the conference possible and whose generous hospitality and warm welcome made the event particularly memorable: Laurence, Severine, Gwenael, Virginie, Marie-Laure, Nial, Marie-Clarté, Bernard, Beatrice, Nathalie, Olivier.
Kathleen O’Neill Benshila is a former Philadelphian now living and working in Paris.