February 2016 - The O'Donovan of Clan Cathail

Clans of Ireland note with regret the death of The O Donovan, who died in Bantry Hospital, Co. Cork on 25th January 2016. He was a member of the Standing Council of Irish Chiefs, with whom Clans of Ireland (Finte na hÉireann), is in association, together with History Department of Trinity College, Dublin and History/Ireland magazine in offering an annual prize for the winning essay on Gaelic Ireland.

The O Donovan was the patron of the very successful O Donovan Gathering during June 2000. It was estimated that during the week long activities over 4,000 participated. There were certainly around 1,500 in attendance at the final ceremony on 25th June at the village of Castle Donovan. This event concluded with Síle de Valera, then Minister for Arts, Heritage, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, dedicating a plaque recognizing the Clan Gathering, organised by John Emmett Donovan and his daughter, Regina Crixell, was the Clan Organiser. The Minister promised to help the restoration of the castle, and it was announced in 2013 that the castle would open the following year, after a cost of €1.67m+, by kind permission of the land owner.

Our condolences to his wife Jane, children Teige, Katharine and Mary, and his eight grandchildren.