This article appeared in the “Irish Roots” Magazine, 2nd Quarter for 2008, under ‘Society News’, giving advanced notice of the Clan Dalton/Dalton Genealogical Society Gathering in Birr, Co. Offlay, Ireland.

Friday, 1st of August in 2008 sees the start of the Annual Gathering of the Dalton Genealogical Society at Birr, County Offaly. The D.G.S. is a long established society with members spread over the “New and Old” worlds. It currently has an active DNA programme and is registered with The Clans of Ireland. Having held a successful weekend in 2005 at Mount Dalton in Westmeath, part of which in the past was known as “Dalton’s Counterie”, it was decided to revisit Ireland again in 2008. The picturesque town of Birr was chosen as the venue for this year. The recently convened Irish branch i.e. Clan Dalton, are co-hosting this event with the D.G.S. and the weekend begins with the official meeting at Dooly’s Hotel in Birr on Friday, 1st of August 2008. A programme of events and outings are being arranged and we look forward to meeting many Daltons, D’Altons or Daltüns, at our weekend. Those wishing to join us at Birr may find more information at www.daltongensoc.com and by following the link to “Forthcoming Gatherings”. So on behalf of Daltons everywhere may we extend an Irish Fáilte to old friends and new and help to make our Birr Gathering a memorable one.

Ciaran Dalton, (Irish Sec.), Churchill, Fenit, Co. Kerry

by Michael Neale Dalton

Wednesday 30th July 2008

Left Reigate after lunch and drove to Parkgate on the Wirral where I stayed overnight with Dick and Jenny Stock.

Thursday 31st July 2008

Up in good time for a planned 8.30am departure for Holyhead where I arrived at 10.15am in more than ample time for the noon ferry crossing to Dublin. The weather was dull and the sea was described as moderate. In the event the crossing was very comfortable with a near empty club lounge and excellent complimentary refreshments. Disembarked at Dublin soon after 2.00pm and drove north through the new tunnel out to the airport and found a quiet spot to relax before picking up Kate and Maureen who were scheduled to land at 4.25pm. A text message from Kate informed me that their Ryanair flight was delayed by an hour and a half, so I settled down to some final preparation work for the Gathering. Drove over to the airport and parked the car around 6.00pm – met Kate and Maureen and, after telephoning Dooly’s and The Maltings to advise of later arrivals, we set off for Birr around 7.00pm. After a good run we arrived in Birr well before 9.00pm and found Mel & Dairne, John & Sheila, Pam & Dave, Howard and Velma Boudreau in the bar. John & Sheila were very impressed with the Walcot B&B where they had been moved to for the first night (four poster bed and all); Howard was less impressed with his enforced move to the Spinners B&B (Dooly’s had failed to book him in for Thursday night). Kate, Maureen and I had a late dinner in the bar and took an early night after what had been a long day of travelling for us all.

Friday 1st August 2008

After breakfast in the coffee shop, we set up the Cumberland Suite for our Gathering. With the help of the other committee members, plus Kate and Sheila, we soon had everything ready – projector working, displays arranged, charity raffle prizes set out, programmes and badges ready for the delegates. Mel and I sorted out the intricacies of the Gathering finances and worked out the balances in euros owed by each delegate. Before 12 noon delegates started to arrive – our 2008 Birr Gathering had begun. It was a pleasure to greet our many new delegates, attending their first ever DGS Gathering and, of course, to renew old acquaintances.

By 2.30pm there were well over 30 assembled in the group to walk over to Birr Castle for a tour of the grounds and the Scientific Heritage Centre. One of the highlights was a talk about the wonderful old telescope that has recently been restored and shortly will be in use again to view the night sky. Following the talk, delegates were free to wander around the grounds at leisure and enjoy the impressive parkland with its lake, its formal gardens, its magnificent specimen trees and its beautiful views. We were also blessed with warm sunshine – an added bonus.

Forward Facing View of Birr Telescope as it is Today

At 6.00pm we opened the registration desk again and welcomed the later arrivals. Then at 7.00pm there was a wine and cheese reception in the Cumberland Suite, which allowed all of us to mingle, meet old faces and exchange news, and get to know our new delegates. Howard organised the tables for dinner in the Emmett Restaurant and ensured a steady flow into the dining room, which enabled the hotel staff to manage our large party without a bottleneck. Howard did this impeccably, but the Dooly’s staff appeared rather overwhelmed and some of us still suffered a little delay! Following dinner there was time for mingling before retiring to bed.

Saturday 2nd August 2008

Delegates were asked to assemble at 9.45am for the Saturday morning conference, scheduled to commence at 10.00am. Some were there well before then to take a closer look at the displays and most had arrived in time for our prompt start at 10.00am when I opened the first session and welcomed all present and, in particular, those attending their first ever DGS Gathering, of whom there were no less than 18. Delegates had travelled from all over the world – Australia, New Zealand, the United States including Alaska, Canada including Newfoundland, together with Ireland and the UK, a total of 42 and a truly international gathering. After running through the programme for the weekend, we moved into an interactive session introducing the Dalton Genealogical Society and our Irish Dalton ancestors. I reported briefly on the Society’s AGM held at Camberley, Surrey on Saturday 7th June and then Geoffrey spoke about the superb tour of the medal collection at the Headquarters of the Royal Logistics Corps, which of course included the James Langley Dalton VC. Our editors, John and Dairne followed with updates on the DGS Journal and on the monthly web newsletter, “Daltons in History”. I gave an update on the Dalton International DNA Project – it was particularly good to see so many members of identified genetic families amongst our delegates, many of them meeting their fellow genetic cousins for the very first time. Then Maureen and Helen Smith informed us all about the plans for the next DGS Annual Gathering, taking place in Orange, New South Wales, Australia in March 2009. This concluded the first session and everyone took a well-earned and welcome coffee break.

Following coffee, we moved on to the talk given by Ciaran on Richard D’Alton Williams. Ciaran gave a witty and informative account of this interesting man, who he described as one of our more famous forebears. Born in Dublin in 1822, Richard D’Alton Williams spent his early life at Grennanstown in Tipperary. He studied medicine but then achieved recognition as a leading poet, writing in the “Nation” newspaper, a forum for new political thinking on Ireland in the mid 19th Century. Ciaran’s talk, illustrated with excellent slides, gave us an insight into the life and thinking of Richard and concluded with details of his later life in America, where he died of consumption in Louisiana in 1862, just short of 40 years old.

The remaining time before lunch was used for short presentations by delegates about their Irish Dalton ancestry. Contributions were made by Karen Preston (coordinator of genetic family D), Wendy Fleming (coordinator of genetic family B), Tom Daulton from genetic family X, Mike Dalton of Oregon with roots in Co Kerry, Margaret Engler (Co Waterford and Co Wexford), Mel Irwin (Co Tipperary), Velma Boudreau (Co Waterford and Co Wexford), Kathleen Casey (Co Galway), Cathy & Regina Negrycz (Co Cork), Ana O’Connell (Co Westmeath) and Pat Robinson (Co Tipperary). Their individual accounts about their ancestors and their researches informed us all and, along the way, were very entertaining as well. Just after 1.00pm, I had to draw the proceedings to a close and we adjourned for a buffet lunch set up for us in the adjacent room.

Emmett Square and the missing Duke of Cumberland

In the afternoon, we were joined by Margaret Hogan, a well known local historian, and member of the Birr Historical Society, who had agreed to take us on a guided walk around Birr. Before setting off, she gave us a short illustrated presentation to provide some historical background to our walk. We then commenced the walk in Emmet Square and learnt about the Duke of Cumberland, whose statue used to be at the top of the column in the square. From there we went along John’s Mall to see many fine Georgian buildings including John’s Hall. We walked on to the Birr Library, now housed in what was the Convent for the Sisters of Mercy, a very fine Gothic building designed by Pugin. Inside there were many interesting displays, including a facsimile copy of the Gospel Book of Macregol of Birr, a very fine 9th Century illuminated document, which is an important relic of the early Christian monastery at Birr. The original is in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. Adjacent to the library is St Brendan’s Roman Catholic Church, another fine Gothic building opened in 1826, which includes some beautiful stained glass windows. Our walk continued along the walk by the side of the Camcor River to Market Square at the bottom of Main Street, where there is a somewhat controversial monument to the Manchester Martyrs, three Irish nationalists executed in England in 1867. Margaret’s knowledge of Birr and her lively commentary enabled us to see much that would otherwise have been passed unnoticed and we are most grateful to her.

Dooly's Hotel

There was a little time for delegates to relax before the DGS Annual Dinner and some of us walked on and explored other parts of what is a very interesting old town. At 7.00pm we assembled for the pre-dinner drinks reception and then 44 of us took our seats at five round tables for what we all agreed was a superb dinner prepared by the Dooly’s Hotel chef. Margaret Hogan joined us as a guest, as did Dave and Ann Hegarty, friends of Ciaran. Dave had been invited in order to entertain us after the meal by playing the Uillean pipes, an Irish version of the Scottish bagpipes. We much enjoyed the beautiful and subtle sounds of these Irish pipes and the programme of Irish folk music that he played for us. Following this musical interlude, we held our annual charity raffle, ably organised by Kate who had sold 236 euros worth of tickets. The chosen charity was the British Heart Foundation and a donation of £200 will be sent in memory of the late Dr Lucy Slater, for many years DGS committee member and Executive Secretary.

Dave Hegarty with his Uillean Pipes

To conclude the evening, Ciaran and Collette invited us to join in some Irish country dancing. They provided the music and the directions, and amongst much hilarity, DGS members were to be seen taking to the floor, and enjoying each other’s company in this way. Some displayed great talent on the dance floor and it was good to add this new dimension to our Gathering - another milestone for the Society!

Sunday 3rd August 2008

Sunday morning brought more fair weather and, following breakfast, we set off for a visit to Clonmacnoise. Pam and John had ensured that all delegates had seats in cars for the 30 minute drive and we met at the site at 10.30am. Clonmacnoise lies on the banks of the River Shannon, a few miles south of Athlone. It is an important ecclesiastical site founded in the 6th Century by St Ciaran. Our tour started in the Visitor’s Centre, which includes superb displays and some of the original high crosses, now housed inside to preserve them. The excellent audio-visual presentation gave us an insight into the history of the site and then we went outside to be shown round by Sean, one of the site guides. The amazing collection of churches, towers, crosses and gravestones is amongst the most extensive of their kind in Ireland. We know that Daltons are buried there, but unfortunately we were not able to locate the graves – only limited work has been done to record the inscriptions, but it is hoped to extend this and make it available in years to come. Adjacent to the site is a new churchyard where we found and recorded the inscriptions on six Dalton gravestones. A number of us also walked to the Nun’s Church, a fine Romanesque nave-and-chancel structure with a finely carved doorway and chancel arch. Clonmacnoise proved a most interesting place for the DGS to visit and it is perhaps fitting that our Irish Secretary shares his name with the founder. St Ciaran was well known for performing minor miracles, an attribute that perhaps he has passed on to his namesake!

The Whispering Arch at Clonmacnoise

From Clonmacnoise we drove to the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in Athlone where an enjoyable light buffet lunch had been arranged in a private room. Suitably refreshed, delegates embarked on an afternoon that provided a choice of activities. Some stayed in Athlone and looked round the very fine castle. Others went to Shannonbridge for a trip on the Bog Railway. This guided tour across the Offaly peat bogs provided an insight into the historical importance of peat to the Irish economy – indeed peat is still used today as fuel for the generation of electricity. A third group found a local distillery to visit and sample the Irish whiskey.

The Bog Railway

Everyone returned safely to Birr in the late afternoon to ready themselves for the traditional Irish evening arranged at The Thatch Restaurant at Crinkill, a small village just a couple of miles outside Birr. Des Connole, the owner, welcomed us and showed us to the private room reserved for our party. A magnificent three-course dinner was served and, after the obligatory group photograph and some rearrangement of the room, it was over to Ciaran and Collette again to lead us in an evening of traditional Irish music, interspersed with many contributions from delegates – songs, recitations, jokes (clean ones!) and reminiscences about the weekend. It was truly an evening to remember for its camaraderie and the demonstration of such diverse talents displayed by us Daltons. What a talented group we are! All too soon the evening drew to a close and we returned to Dooly’s where many of us enjoyed a nightcap before retiring.

Sunday Evening at The Thatch

Monday 4th August 2008

And so to the conclusion of the weekend and bidding our farewells. From the start of breakfast through until late morning, I found myself busy saying goodbye, but before the final farewell, there was many a further conversation, and these demonstrate the true fellowship that has become a hallmark of our DGS Gatherings.

All agreed that it had been a superb Gathering, bringing together a wide and international group of people, sharing the common bond of Dalton ancestry. The mixture of family history, and the opportunity to enjoy and participate in some unique and truly Irish experiences, provided something for each of us to remember.

Kate and I finally packed up our car and departed from Dooly’s around midday. We set off for a week of exploring in Co Clare, Co Galway and Co Mayo with many happy memories of Birr fresh in our minds.

It was wonderful to meet everybody during the Gathering!

I thought the Gathering was a great success! For me, the best part was having a chance to meet so many of the people I have been exchanging emails with since I became a member. Meeting the other folks in my Genetic Family from the DNA Project was a highlight. Making that personal connection allowed us to share more family history. By the end of the weekend there was a real feeling of "family". And, it was a great reason to make a trip to Ireland!

We are looking forward to the next event in Australia in March!

Karen Preston, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

 

Just a quick note of thanks for all of your efforts in organising the meeting in Birr. I know that Karen has already sent a note, but as a 'dispassionate attendee' (no Dalton connection), I was a bit hesitant to attend the formal sessions.

Rest assured that your efforts created an event that was informative, fun and a wonderful opportunity to meet interesting people from all over the world. It was a magnificent event, despite the very minor issue some apparently had with the first dinner. We felt well-taken care of, and the mix of events was spot on.

Whilst we were working, both Karen and I had to organise similar functions for sales and marketing groups. We understand the level of effort and planning it takes to have such an event so seamlessly flow.

As you know, I have provisionally committed to our attending the next meeting in Orange; this is in no small way due to your excellent design and execution of the Birr meeting.

Again, many thanks for all of your efforts!

With kind regards.

David Preston, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

 

I can only say that I had a great first experience of the DGS Annual Meeting.

It was wonderful to meet so many nice people and to see that everybody is genuinely and seriously interested in the Dalton family history. It felt good to meet like minded people, who may also be distant cousins!
I found out a lot of information about my branch of the Daltons as well as other branches. Thank you to everyone who makes this possible.

Ana O’Connell, London, England

 

This was the first time that I have attended a Gathering. I found it very informative and greatly enjoyed meeting our "family". The evening entertainment was great fun!!! I am hoping to attend the gathering in Australia.

Etta Dalton Rodriguez, Saugatuck, Michigan, USA

 

As one of the Irish Dalton family, it was a great pleasure for myself and my wife Pat to meet so many international Daltons in Birr, and to welcome them to Ireland. It would have given enormous satisfaction to my late father, Patrick Dalton of Waterford, to see such a gathering as he often spoke of the DGS with pride.

I would like to compliment all those involved in the arrangements for the Gathering, which had an attractive mixture of informality and interesting discussion, allowing for lots of interaction between all present. Maybe at a future time, some French Norman Daltons would be interested in participating in the DGS, to represent the original source of the family name.

Pat and Pat Dalton, Enfield, Co Meath, Ireland

 

Just want to say thank you, to all who were on the organizing end of the Birr Gathering. You did a wonderful job. I enjoyed every minute! I made friends and memories, that I'm sure will last a lifetime. The stories we heard, were all so interesting. I found it most intriguing to hear how we all got to that space in our lives ....a sort of odyssey.

I look forward to seeing you all again, maybe not next year, but possibly the following year. By the way, Birr was the perfect venue.

Velma Dalton Boudreau, Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, Canada

 

You asked for a reply or comments on the Birr Gathering this year. Well I have started to answer several times now, but each time I get saturated with all of the events we experienced on our 26 day tour of England, Wales, then Ireland followed with a visit to Scotland and down back through England and back again to Dublin and Birr Ireland. It was a lot to take in all at one time. I must say that the Birr trip was a good finishing touch to the long tour. It was really a good chance to meet not only some of the Dalton's and to put a face to the names I have read about, or e-mail, but by being in the center of Ireland and in a rural setting it was a chance to see up close some of my Irish friends as well as the Dalton friends. I was astonished to find out that Ireland had a world class telescope in the mid 1800, long before other nations, then to top it all off the tour of Clonmacnoise and to realize all of the people who were touched by the events and times of that location for the many centuries. The mind can only wonder at the emotions they must have felt, the joy, peace, dreams, love and success to down right fear and terror of all the invaders and attacks they dealt with as they lived their lives there on the River Shannon. I did set out to understand the meaning and purpose of the Celtic cross while on this trip and the time at Clonmacnoise answered that. As far as the location of the meeting, it was excellent to actually see real Irish people in a place where they live and work, in hotels, bed and breakfasts, retail store keepers, customers and waiters . A very good opportunity, I must say. As for the Gathering, it was very much worth the time and money spent there. I now can see Michael Dalton's face and demeanor as I hear or read about him. The same applies for all of the other officers as I hear of or from them as well. I was impressed with our Clan Chieftian Ciaran Dalton, a good choice was made there. He has a leader quality about him that shows him to be a caring and humble person, who is outgoing and personable, a good combination. And when I left the States I wanted for sure, to see and know the clan colors and dress, much as the Scottish have (naive American) only to find out there are none, which seems very Irish, at that. All in all it was very Good Experience. Hope to do it again some day.

Tom and Carol Daulton, Kasilof, Alaska, USA

 

Hope you had an enjoyable time after that most successful and enjoyable Gathering in Birr. It was so nice to meet all the Irish and we much enjoyed the two musical evenings as well as all the other events. We had a good few days in Donegal afterwards, with generally good weather.

Sir Geoffrey and Lady Jane Dalton, Catherington, Hampshire, England

 

Regina and I had a great trip and truly enjoyed the Birr meeting. It was a very interesting meeting and we enjoyed talking with Daltons and their descendants from around the world. Just emailing Maureen before the meeting, I was able to trace one of my grandfather's brothers to Brisbane, Australia. I was able to get ships' records, marriage certificate and birth certificate, something I hadn't been able to do via the internet without her direction. As you will see below, my great grandfather, William Dalton, seems to have been living in an area very near where Eric's Daltons came from.

As mentioned above, we found another Dalton birth listing in another county, in Limerick (not far in distance from Co. Cork where we knew them to be a few years later, and have not yet figured out if this is the same person as one we knew immigrated to the US. The problem is the "year" is the same, but the first name is different. Having had a McCarthy (my grandfather Dalton married a McCarthy) been baptized Bartholomew, but entered into the civil registration as Patrick, it could very well be. Interestingly, we saw some information from Eric and this Dalton seems to be within 4k of where his Dalton came from. We will be investigating that further. We did convince a Dalton living near Mitchelstown to do the DNA test, so that might help lead us to where some of the older generations lived, especially if he is in the same genetic family.

Part of the new information we received, on one of our last days in Ireland, had to do with Daltons who went to England and married there.

Cathy and Regina Negrycz, Punta Gorda, Florida, USA

 

As I was in France till the end of July this year, it was a bit of an effort to get to Ireland for the meeting at Birr, County Offaly – but was it worth it? Of course it was and Ciaran and Collette Dalton did a wonderful job in organising such a memorable week-end.

It was good also to be one of 4 Australian delegates at the meeting. Jilly Warren and I were booked into the Maltings Guest House and both our rooms had views to the river and were very spacious and comfortable. Breakfast there was a meeting in itself as we met Velma Boudreau from Newfoundland, Tom and Carol Daulton from Alaska and Pat and Geoffrey Robinson from Cambridge - an international collection plus our Irish hosts.

Several members have already written their stories of Birr but Jilly, Velma and I took a side trip to Ballinasloe rather than Athlone on the Sunday afternoon. One of Jilly’s forebears had been a jockey there and it is very much a part of the Galway Race week and there is a large bronze statue of a jockey with his horse in the centre of the town. It was a beautiful day and a treat to wander around this west Irish place and to walk along one of the canals and cross an ancient stone bridge. Many of us have Irish ancestry but not in the Dalton line and I do not tire of spending time in Ireland and soaking up the atmosphere even though research progress is slow for me. Caught by the history perhaps!

We have a lot to live up to in Australia after many successful Dalton Gatherings and I am sure that Orange, New South Wales in March 2009 will be another such occasion.

Maureen Collins, Australian Secretary

 

Mel, You asked for a reply or comments on the Birr Gathering this year. Well I have started to answer several times now, but each time I get saturated with all of the events we experienced on our 26 day tour of England, Wales, then Ireland followed with a visit to Scotland and down back through England and back again to Dublin and Birr Ireland. It was a lot to take in all at one time. I must say that the Birr trip was a good finishing touch to the long tour. It was really a good chance to meet not only some of the Daltons and to put a face to the names I have read about, or e-mailed, but by being in the centre of Ireland and in a rural setting it was a chance to see up close some of my Irish friends as well as the Dalton friends. I was astonished to find out that Ireland had a world class telescope in the mid 1800, long before other nations, then to top it all off the tour of Clonmacnoise and to realize all of the people who were touched by the events and times of that location for the many centuries. The mind can only wonder at the emotions they must have felt, the joy, peace, dreams, love and success to down right fear and terror of all the invaders and attacks they dealt with as they lived their lives there on the River Shannon. I did set out to understand the meaning and purpose of the Celtic cross while on this trip and the time at Clonmacnoise answered that. As far as the location of the meeting it was excellent to actually seeing real Irish people in a place were they live and work, in hotels, bed and breakfasts, retail store keepers, customers and waiters. A very good opportunity, I must say. As for the Gathering, it was very much worth the time and money spent there. I now can see Michael Dalton's face and demeanor as I hear or read about him. The same applies for all of the other officers as I hear of or from them as well. I was impressed with our Clan Chieftian Ciaran Dalton, a good choice was made there. He has a leader quality about him that shows him to be a caring and humble person, who is outgoing and personable, a good combination. And when I left the States I wanted for sure, to see and know the clan colours and dress, much as the Scottish have (naive American) only to find out there are none. Which seems very Irish, at that. All in all it was very Good Experience. Hope to do it again some day.

Tom and Carol Daulton, Alaska

 

Thank you to Ciaran, Collette, Michael, Kate and all others involved in organising the D.G.S. Gathering at Birr, County Offaly in August.

It was wonderful once again to meet up with the members I had met at previous D.G.S. Gatherings and delightful to see so many new faces.

One of the many highlights of the weekend was having Ciaran and Collette entertaining us with their music on Saturday and Sunday evening. After dinner on Saturday night Ciaran managed to get many of us face to face doing the "Siege of Ennis" which is an Irish dance. I assure you, it really was a battle with our partners at times. All in all lots of fun and laughter.

Every year the D.G.S Gathering is an experience not to be missed and I hope all those who attend Orange, NSW, Australia in 2009 will have a wonderful time.

Helen Smith, Australia

 

My mother and I had an enjoyable time at the Birr Gathering. It was great to renew acquaintances and to meet new Daltons who came from so many distant places. Also, many thanks to Michael and Ciaran for their successful organization of the event.

Eric Dalton and Karen Dalton, USA

 

Our thoughts about the Birr Gathering were principally that it was an excellent choice of place to have it and we enjoyed the town and the hotel where we were so well looked after. The Irish evenings were certainly memorable; it was so nice to meet and get to know the members of the Irish Clan so ably led by Ciaran. The visits were well chosen and Clonmacnoise was fascinating and our excellent guide provided an interesting commentary. The afternoon visit to the Shannonbridge Bog Railway was quite a contrast and an eye opener to the way the peat is cut collected and processed. Altogether another great success very much due to the faultless organisation.

Geoffrey and Jane Dalton, England

 

My thoughts of the gathering!

The weather was decidedly better than the last time we were in Ireland! I learnt so much about a tiny bit of Ireland's very interesting history but most of all the Gathering was made special by the company we had. I felt privileged to be part of the Family and that is how I look on the Gatherings now as meeting up with members of the family even if I haven't met them before! I look forward to meeting old and new members of 'The Family' at the next Gathering!

Pam and Dave Lynam, England

 

A personal report on the Dalton Genealogical Gathering
Birr, Co. Offaly, Ireland
August 1st 2nd 3rd 2008

Birr is an historic town in the centre of Ireland. There is The Birr Stone marking the exact centre of Ireland to prove it. Anyway it is in central Ireland and boasts a castle, with its 50 acre demesne and Scientific museum, well preserved Georgian malls, nice little shops, leafy walks along the Camcor River, converted distillery and an ancient staging post now Dooly’s Hotel which was the centre for our activities. A public holiday on Monday ensured a generous weekend of genealogy and various frivolous activities.

For my cousin Helen Smith and myself, the gathering provided two serendipitous connections.

The program of activities began on Friday afternoon in the demesne of Castle Birr where a number of DGS members strolled between showers. If I lived in Birr I would demand daily access to the demesne of Birr Castle. These beautiful grounds are owned by the current 9th Earl of Rosse, reputedly absent in China with his Chinese wife for the birth of his son. He and members of the family still live in the castle but not having sufficient funds to restore and maintain the gardens, allow Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration Scheme to assist with the massive undertaking.

It is early days and the grounds are somewhat wild and perhaps this is part of the seduction. There are gardens within gardens – a formal garden, 500 year old wild flower meadows, a lake, a bridge, a waterfall, Victorian glasshouses and hundreds and hundreds of significant trees from many parts of the world-all too much to see in a few hours. On the day we visited rolls of golden silage lay on the wide meadows like sculptured installations imitating the circular tube of the World Famous Telescope, strange and wondrous structure which dominates these fields. Created by the third Earl of Rosse (William Parsons) in the 1840’s- the largest telescope in the world for 70 years restored for a cost of €1.3 million, it now works as well as it did when the Earl discovered Whirpool Nebula 51 which proved the existence of galaxies other than ours.

For a brief instant walking through the columns of lime trees in the Whirlpool Spiral looking up into the leaves you can imagine the awe and wonder felt when 150 years ago the Earl looking in his great telescope discovered the Whirlpool Nebula, M51, -all those stars!

The demesne simultaneously creates a great calm and sense of purpose, a most appropriate beginning to the DGS weekend gathering in Birr.

In the evening, a meal in Dooly’s Hotel provided a chance to renew acquaintanceships and meet new members from as far away places like as Argentina and Alaska, Florida, New Zealand, Ireland and UK before the business of DGS began on Saturday morning in the Cumberland Room.

I was delighted to meet Mike and Kate Dalton from UK, Mike being a member of Group B genealogical family, with an ancestor trail back to Athea in Limerick close to where Helen Smith and I have relatives. Although we cannot find a documented connection apart from the DNA studies, Helen and I decided Mike does bear a resemblance to our cousin Leo Dalton.

Chairman Michael Neale Dalton guided the proceedings with its various reports and informative, entertaining address by Irish Secretary Cairan Dalton about Richard Dalton Williams.

Maureen Collins and Helen Smith from Australia were called upon to give the latest developments on arrangements for the March 2009 DGS gathering in Orange, New South Wales, Australia in and around Duntryleague the former family home of James Dalton, son of James Dalton of Limerick. This aroused much interest and we know of one UK couple who have already booked their tickets.

In the afternoon after an illustrated talk we undertook a guided walk with local historian Margaret Hogan visiting the various sights including the restored heritage Convent of Mercy which now houses the Birr library and Civic offices. Here we had our first moment of connection. Helen in talking to Margaret discovered that she is the great niece of Sr Mary Perpetua Walsh, a Mercy nun who taught at the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia where we both attended school, and where Sr M. Perpetua had guided me through Leaving, Yr, 11 and Matriculation, Yr. 12. We are now in the process of sharing memorabilia about Margaret’s great aunt.

Helen Smith, Margaret Hogan and Wendy Fleming
at Birr Library in the historic renovated Mercy Convent

When we came home we calculated there were 7 Dalton descendants who went to the Academy.

After the Gathering Dinner at Dooly’s and charity raffle (proceeds to the British Heart Foundation in memory of Lucy Slater) the Irish Secretary Cairan Dalton took over leading us into a night of Irish entertainment.

The first treat came with traditional piper Dave Hegarty who entertained and fascinated all with his playing of the Uilleann Pipes. This was our second moment of connection when we were able to tell Dave about grandfather Richard Dalton b.1868 Abbeyfeale, Limerick who used to play the pipes for the Irish community in South Melbourne and St Patrick Day events in the Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne. He was always making reeds for the pipes. We were impressed when Dave looked at the photo of Richard and commented ‘You can tell by the way he holds the pipes he knew his instrument’. We are sending Richard’s details to Dave for his database of Irish pipers.

Pipes and Fiddle

Cairan Dalton plays a number of musical instruments so accompanied by his wife Collette on keyboard led the evening’s entertainment. Very soon we were tapping our feet or dancing. Just about everyone managed to get up and take part in the waltzes, foxtrots, Seige of Ennis set dance or a progressive barn dance. The award for ballroom dancing must go to John and Sheila Dalton - they were truly light on their feet, and for set dancing it would be hard to go beyond Kathleen M. Casey from NZ (Dalton ancestor from Co Kerry or maybe Co Limerick) although Helen Smith from Australia, Paddy and Pat Dalton from Meath, were also in the running or should it be dancing? .No one expired on the dance floor although I thought I might.

Sunday morning we went to Clonmacnoise site of a huge Abbey and scholastic community dating from 800s. A great morning among the ruins beside the Shannon.

Maureen at Clonmacnoise

Formalities closed with an excellent dinner at Thatch restaurant in Crinkle and more frivolity- this time singing. The depth of singing talents is yet to be fully measured however with songs from Paddy Dalton, Maureen Collins, Catherine Dalton and others.

Not everyone stayed the distance!!

Jilly Warren resting her eyes!

Is it too much to imagine it was because of our shared name that we go on so well all and entered into the spirit of the weekend?

Our experience of life in mid-Ireland was not yet finished as guests at Dooly’s experienced a noisy night from riotous guests of a wedding party (one of many that weekend) and a break- in at 3 am by three local lads looking for liquor. Helen and I slept through it.

Thanks must go to our chairman Michael Dalton for his considerable organisational efforts to arrange the gathering, and to Cairan Dalton, Irish Secretary for his address and coordination of entertainment all of which ensured a most enjoyable and entertaining weekend. Monday we made our farewells and now look forward to the next Gathering 15th March 2009 in Orange, NSW, Australia.

Wendy Fleming, Australia

 

It was lovely to meet you. I have only just returned from OS (11/09/2008) having visited Ireland, England, France and Japan.

I really enjoyed the conference and meeting more Daltons and their retinue, especially Irish ones in their own surroundings. I also enjoyed each person’s family story, bridges yet to cross and their successful research so far.

I enjoyed the Irish food and countryside but not the rain which managed to follow me after I left Birr and toured Ireland for 10 more days.

Whilst at the Gathering I detoured via Balinasloe (Galway) on my way back to Birr from Athlone and the Sunday luncheon. My father Aubrey Dalton's mother’s father was a Patrick Kelly and we have traced this family to Balinasloe in the very early 1800's. I took some great pictures of the ubiquitous stone walls, black faced sheep and stone cottages and have details to contact the Catholic Priest there.

I really enjoyed my accommodation in the Maltings at Birr, terrific breakfasts and the delight of the river flowing gently passed the building where I could hang out the window and watch the ducks socialising.

When I left the Gathering I made a dash with Howard Dalton to Abbeyleix (South before I headed North) on my way back to Dublin where I photographed Heywood Gardens the surviving garden of a great house which burned down in the 1920's. Heywood has significance in Australia because of a property near where I live is named after it. As development progresses here local historians and I are trying to have this new development named Heywood. My photos I hope will help our lobbying.

In Dublin I met up with an Australian friend and spent another 10 days travelling around Ireland in the rain, just managing to miss the floods. Places that I was most interested in were Down Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Museum, Belfast, The Giant's Causeway (the only day that was fine), Westport and Newcastle. At the tail end of our tour I even managed a few hours in Enniscorthy of particular interest to me because of Vinegar Hill and the 1798 Uprising. I managed to get a few photos of Vinegar Hill and the Black Stair Mountains. Many of the political prisoners from this uprising were deported to NSW where in March 1804 they rose again, unfinished business with the English from 1798. In Australia this uprising is known as the Battle of Vinegar Hill and it took place very close to where I lived for 40 years. In recent times we have managed to get the area designated as the Historic Area of Vinegar Hill of 7 square kilometres. It now boasts a Memorial, a Reserve, a road and a Library all named Vinegar Hill.

Jilly Warren nee Dalton, Australia

 

Being there for the gathering at Birr: It is indeed the heart of Ireland – people, buildings – olde, renovated and new, with so much to experience in a relaxed atmosphere within easy walking and driving distance. Kudos to DGS founder Michael Neale and Irish bard Ciaran for making things happen in a smooth, coordinated manner and for providing an irish rendition of American Idol and Dancing with the stars.

Mike Dalton, Oregon, USA

 

Birr, what a Gathering!

A time to renew acquaintances (it didn’t seem a year since our last meeting in Worcester). A time to make new friends from across the world, Alaska to New Zealand. Memories of the Georgian townhouse where we stayed, the elegant homes of Birr, the Thatch at Crinkle where music and singing filled the air. A time to listen to each other’s Dalton family stories spurring us on to find that elusive male living Dalton. (We are getting closer and hopefully more news after our further trip to Ireland in November).

A time to say thanks to everyone for their friendship.

Mel and Dairne Irwin, England

During the weekend Michael Neale Dalton and Cathy Negrycz took many photographs covering most elements of the weekend. A selection of over 100 of these will be found in the DGS Birr 2008 Gallery – just follow this link:

www.daltongensoc.com/gallery/birr2008

In addition to being a photographic record, they attempt to capture the spirit and camaraderie of the gathering and we hope both delegates and this website’s wider audience will enjoy them. Inevitably there are gaps and, if you have any of your own photographs which you would like to add to the gallery, please email them to michaelndalton@aol.com and we will upload them – the more the merrier!!

On Saturday morning, a talk was given by Ciaran Dalton on Richard D’Alton Williams.

Ciaran gave a witty and informative account of this interesting man, who he described as one of our more famous forebears. Born in Dublin in 1822, Richard D’Alton Williams spent his early life at Grennanstown in Tipperary. He studied medicine but then achieved recognition as a leading poet, writing in the “Nation” newspaper, a forum for new political thinking on Ireland in the mid 19th Century. Ciaran’s talk was illustrated with excellent slides and gave us an insight into the life and thinking of Richard, and concluded with details of his later life in America, where he died of consumption in Louisiana in 1862, just short of 40 years old.

Power Point Presentation: www.daltongensoc.com/presentations/dalton-williams08

Annual Gathering for 2008
including the first official meeting of Clan Dalton
Friday 1st August to Monday 4th August 2008

PROGRAMME FOR THE WEEKEND

Friday 1st August 2008

from 12 noon
Delegates check in and register at Dooly’s Hotel reception or at B&B accommodation in the usual manner. Access to bedrooms will be arranged as early as possible.
12 noon - 2.15pm

The DGS Registration Desk will be open at Dooly's Hotel for delegates to pick up badges and information packs.

Light lunches will be available in the Dooly’s Hotel Coach House Lounge.

afternoon

Enjoy a visit to Birr Castle. See the famous telescope and tour the extensive gardens and grounds. View Ireland's Historic Science Centre.

from 5.45pm

DGS Registration Desk open again.

7.00pm

Informal Reception in the Cumberland Suite, Dooly's Hotel. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine. Meet the DGS Officers and Committee, and other delegates. Displays of Dalton family history will be on view.

Dinner will be available in the Dooly's Hotel Restaurant and in the Bar Grill at individual tables on an informal basis. It is recommended that reservations are made at lunchtime.

Saturday 2nd August 2008

from 8.00am

Breakfast at Dooly’s Hotel or your B&B.

9.45am

Gather in the Cumberland Suite, Dooly's Hotel.

10.00am

Introducing the Dalton Genealogical Society and Irish Daltons.

an interactive session led by Michael Dalton, DGS Chairman.

11.15am

Break for coffee and biscuits.

11.45am

Richard D'Alton Williams.

a presentation by Ciaran Dalton, DGS Irish Secretary.

1.00pm

Buffet lunch in the Cumberland Suite.

2.30pm

A guided walk around Birr starting from Dooly's Hotel. The walk will be led by Margaret Hogan, a well known historian and we will see and hear about a number of places in the town of historic interest.

there will be some free time between the conclusion of the guided walk and the evening's activities.

7.00pm

Gather in the Cumberland Suite at the hotel for an informal reception.

7.30pm

The Annual Dalton Genealogical Society Dinner in the Cumberland Suite followed by entertainment and a charity raffle.

Sunday 3rd August 2008

from 8.00am

Breakfast at Dooly’s Hotel or your B&B.

10.00am

Depart for visit to Clonmacnoise, an important medieval ecclesiastical site, north of Birr on the banks of the River Shannon. Spend the morning viewing the excellent displays in the information centre and touring the site.

12.30pm

Depart for Athlone where you can take a light lunch and look around the town.

afternoon

The afternoon is free for you to make visits to other local places of interest. Suggestions include:

  •  Athlone Castle
  •  Locke's Distillery at Kilbeggan
  •  The Shannonbridge Bog Railway
by 5.30pm

Return to Birr in time to ready yourself for the evening.

7.00pm

A traditional Irish evening, including a three course dinner, at The Thatch Restaurant at Crinkle, a small village just outside Birr. We have a private room reserved and the owner, Des Connole, promises us an evening to remember.

Monday 4th August 2008

from 8.00am Breakfast at Dooly’s Hotel or your B&B.

Departure from Birr.
Early Picture of Main Square, Birr Co. Offaly
Early Picture of Main Square, Birr Co. Offaly

The selection of the town of Birr, the venue of the 2008 Gathering of the Dalton Genealogical Society, is to be welcomed. It is the Society’s second occasion to hold their Gathering in Ireland. In 2005, the Gathering was based around Mount Dalton, near Mullingar in Westmeath. This area was part of the ancestral lands of the original Norman D’Alton family.

Birr, a heritage town, is one of the best Georgian towns in Ireland. A hundred and thirty kilometres from Dublin, it is situated on the Camcor River in the county of Offaly. Originally an ancient monastic site founded by St. Brendan of Birr, it later became a stronghold of the O’Carrolls and was temporarily “bestowed” on none other than Philip de Worcester. There are a number of references to Birr to be found in the ancient Irish Annals.

Birr boasts many interesting buildings and attractions, among them The Castle Demesne and of course, the famous Great Telescope. This was, for over seventy years, the largest telescope in the world. Many interesting scientific artefacts may be viewed at the Science Centre there. One recent valuable addition to the town is a copy of The Gospel Book of Macregol of Birr. This beautiful illuminated manuscript copy, courtesy of The Bodleian Library, is on display in the elegantly restored library in the town. It was originally compiled in Latin (a gloss of Old English was later added) in the 9th century by Macregol, Abbot and Bishop of Birr and is, we are told “an important source for the history of the English Language.” This and many other local attractions made Birr an exciting venue for the 2008 Meeting of the Dalton Genealogical Society.

At Birr Castle Demesne Ireland’s Historic Science Centre is situated. There, many pioneering achievements of the Parson’s family and other famous Irish scientists, in the fields of astronomy, engineering, botany and photography, can be seen.

Telescope on the Lawn
Telescope on the Lawn

In the grounds of the castle can be seen The Giant Telescope. This was designed and built by the Third Earl of Rosse, a member of the Parson’s family, in the 1840’s. For three quarters of a century it was the largest telescope in the world.

Contemporary Picture of Birr Telescope
Contemporary Picture of Birr Telescope

Lord Rosse constructed the mirrors, tubes and mountings for the 72” reflecting telescope over a two year period. It was first used on 15th February, 1845 to view the double star Castor. He was then able to study and record details of other far distant stellar objects.

Birr Telescope pictured as it is today
Birr Telescope pictured as it is today

After the death, in 1908, of the Fourth Earl, the Giant Telescope fell into disrepair but fortunately between 1996 and 1998 a full restoration took place so, the telescope can still be seen today in Birr.

A forward-facing picture of Birr Telescope
A forward-facing picture of Birr Telescope

Ciaran Dalton, Irish Secretary, takes a brief look at what proved to be a highlight of our weekend…..a visit to Clonmacnoise.

Clonmacnoise viewed from the River

"Cluain moccu Nois" as it was written in Gaelic, meaning the meadow land of the descendants of Nos, was an ecclesiastic site founded by St. Ciaran in the Mid 6th Century. It prospered and became one of the leading seats of learning in medieval times attracting scholars from Britain and Europe.

Clonmacnoise could be considered therefore, as the central site of early Christian Ireland. Situated on the banks of the Shannon in Co, Offaly, twenty-one kilometres from Athlone, it has become, in recent times, a major attraction for tourist and scholars alike. Some commentators maintain that to get the full perspective of this hallowed place, it should be viewed from the lordly river Shannon. Included among its majestic ruins are a cathedral, seven small churches, two round towers, three high crosses and a collection of ancient grave slabs. (Reputed to be the largest collection of ancient tombstones in the British Isles).

Though many of its ancient buildings now lie unroofed and exposed, it stands testament to the master stonemasons of the time, that it has largely survived attacks by Danes, Irish and Normans. Copies of its registers have also survived and the Annals of Clonmacnoise make many references to the life of this great monastic settlement. It has also proven a popular landscape for painters, illustrators and antiquarians.

In 1738,a visit by an artist called J. Blaymires, caused some commotion when some country folk thought he was the pope’s nuncio come to repair the church, while others presumed he was an agent intent on destruction of the site.

As often happens with our society gatherings, we discover by chance some item of historical interest to our D.G.S. members, in this case a burial slab in Clonmacnoise, with the following epitaph:

Pray for the soul of Christopher Dalton who departed this life, Octobr The 20, 1767.

Also on this tomb are mentioned James Dalton, Judith Dalton, alias Eagan and her husband Robert Dalton.

The modern site boasts an impressive interpretative centre with audio-visual facilities and the Society looks forward eagerly to a visit to this most interesting venue, to learn of its monastic history and understand better medieval Ireland.

Coupled with our visit to the historic town of Birr, we hope that Clonmacnoise also proved to be a highlight of the 2008 Dalton Gathering.