Tentative Schedule: July 2017

Following is a loose schedule for the 2017 Walsh Family Reunion. We wanted to put together a few days worth of events so we can be sure you all can meet your Irish and American relatives!

(This can also help inform your choices for travel and tickets/hotels.)

Walsh Family Reunion – Ballinadee, Ireland

Thursday, July 13, 2017: Early Arrivals

  • Early Arrivals – Meet for Happy Hour
  • Corcoran’s Bar, Ballinadee, County Cork
    (Informal meet and greet for whomever is in town)

Friday, July 14, 2017: A Free Day for Small Group Exploration/Adventures

• All meals – On own

• Grab some relatives and go explore – here are some manageable day trip options from Ballinadee: (These are our suggestions and feel free to do your own thing!)

– A Day in Kinsale – Harbor Boat Trip, explore Signal Tower on Old Head, and see historic Charles Fort and James’ Fort. (Ann Corcoran has generously offered to host anyone who wants to check out these forts and beautiful Kinsale! Meet Ann at Corcoran’s Bar around 9am if you’d like to go!)
– For the Golfer – Old Head, Bandon, Kinsale golf courses all offer world class links!
– For the Explorer – Take a mini road trip to Blarney Castle! Kiss the Blarney Stone & shop/explore the gardens! You can also visit Midleton Distillery for the Jameson Experience-a tour of their historic distillery!
– For the Spa Lover – MacDonald Spa & Hotel in Kinsale
– For the Surfer – Garrettstown offers beaches, lessons and waves!
– For the History Buffs: – Check out any of these museums and tours: Michael Collins Museum, Famine Museum, Kinsale Ghost Tours, & Cork City Gaol – Prison Tour

-Road Adventure: Drive through to the historic market town (and castle) Macroom, Gougane Barra (a scenic church on an island) Bantry, and Beara Peninsula!

–Killarney-take a one hour drive to scenic Loughe Leane in County Kerry, where there’s a historic castle (Ross) right on the lake. You can take a short boat tour to an island monastery, Innisfallen, populated by wild deer.

Saturday, July 15, 2017: Let’s Get Together (Reunion Day)!

Meeting first at Corcoran’s Bar, we’ll go just up the road from in Ballinadee to the Cartha House (Michael Joseph Walsh’s childhood home on the River Bandon-see homepage for picture) and return to Corcoran’s Bar for a pint and a BBQ!

  • Breakfast – On own
  • 1-1:30pm: Meet at Corcoran’s Bar for meet and greet, visiting, updating family tree!
  • 5pmish – Go down to the Cartha House for a family photo
  • Afternoon/evening – Family BBQ Corcoran’s Bar! Ann Corcoran will be arranging a caterer, if we all chip in we can make sure that there’s enough for everyone!

Sunday, July 16, 2017: Cobh Field Trip!
Family trip to Cobh – See where MJ’s journey to America began

  • Breakfast – On own
  • 11am – Meet in Ballinadee for trip to Cobh! A family field trip to Cobh, where MJ got on the boat to America and Alaska! (Need to be there by 10:45)
    • Bus will depart Ballinadee and swing through Kinsale to pick up relatives there before heading out to Cobh and the Heritage Center.
    • Bus drive is approx 45 min
    • On arrival, the first thing we will do is take a family photo on and near the steps that MJ used to board the ship to America. These steps are right in front of the Heritage Center. After that, all are welcome to go exploring!
    • Bus will collect all relatives at 5pm-please meet at the Gazebo near Cobh Pier for pickup!