McManus Heritage
Second McManus Clan Gathering — 1993
The Impartial Reporter describes the international gathering in County Fermanagh, with music, Belle Isle, a banquet and Devenish Island.
An Dara Chruinniú Clainne, Bliain 1993
The second McManus Clan Gathering brought visitors from around the world to County Fermanagh for a three-day programme of music, visits, a banquet and a boat trip. The following report appeared in The Impartial Reporter (Enniskillen), 9 September 1993.
Newspaper report
McManus’s of the world unite at ancestral seat! – The McManus Clan “international gathering” in the county [Fermanagh] at the weekend has been hailed an “outstanding success”. McManus’s came from as far away as Australia, Canada, the United States of America, Barcelona [Spain], England and there was even a young man from Moscow who enjoyed the activities during the entertaining three day programme. Arrangements for the special venture were made by a Fermanagh committee, including: chairman Mr. Frank McManus, Enniskillen; treasurer, Eugene McManus, Enniskillen; secretary, Brian McManus Aughakillymaude; Kieran McManus, assistant treasurer; and members, Maureen Magee and Nuala Marron.
The international gathering got off to an entertaining start on Friday night, when accomplished musicians from the local McManus clan performed at a traditional music evening at Blakes Lounge, Derrylin, when there was a large attendance. The evening offered an opportunity of meeting new friends in a pleasant atmosphere in a village, situated in a area of Fermanagh where the McManus’s “are particularly numerous. It is also adjacent to an area with similar concentration of clan members on the eastern side of Lough Erne centred around Lisnaskea, eight miles away”, according to a McManus clan spokesman.
On Saturday afternoon a very large crowd attended an official reception at the Ardhowen theatre in Enniskillen, before a coach departed for a visit to Belle Isle. According to Frank McManus, the weather was beautiful for the weekend venture and Belle Isle looked “exquisite” on a lovely day. The Saturday afternoon programme included a guided tour of the castle [Knockninny] and there was a lecture of the history of the clan. Following light refreshments and group and individual party photographs, the coach then left for a visit to the ancient Abbey at Gola. Situated two miles from Belle Isle, it was founded in 1630 by McManus, chieftain of Ballymacmanus, now called Belle Isle. After visiting the ancient monument at Gola, the coach returned to the Ardhowen. About 300 people attended the banquet at Delaney Rooms, Mahon’s Hotel, Irvinestown, on Saturday evening, which proved a huge success. During the evening there was the nomination of the honorary chieftain, and the introduction of the chieftain, VIP s and distinguished dignatories. Music and entertainment followed the banquet.
A special Mass for members took place at St. Mary’s Church, Lisbellaw, on Sunday morning, before a boat trip to Devenish Island on MV Kestrel was arranged in the afternoon, giving visitors the opportunity to see the island town of Enniskillen and surrounding areas from the River Erne. In addition to the guided tour of the ancient monastic ruins and round tower, there was a talk on the clans of Fermanagh. Mr. Frank McManus said that arrangements for the gathering started about two years ago and he is delighted with the project’s success. He said the visitors, who stayed “all over the place”, expressed their pleasure with the accomodation and the county. Discussing where some of the McManus’s had come from, he said the occasion was “truly international”.
Background information on the McManus’s include details on famous members of the McManus clan. Cathal og McManus was chief of the clan and resided in a stately house at Ballymacmanus on the eastern shore of Lough Erne near Lisbellaw - the estate now known as Belle Isle. Cathal og was the chief compiler of the Annals of Ulster, a manuscript that is ranked along with the Annals of the Four Masters as among the greatest works of Irish history. He was also dean and vicar of the diocese of Clogher and died in 1498. Terrence Bellew McManus, born at Tempo in 1811, was a founder member of the Young Irelanders, but was arrested and transported as a convict to Australia in 1848. He escaped to America where he died in California in 1861. His remains were brought back to Ireland and his funeral cortege to Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin was the largest ever witnessed in this country.
Source and gathering series
The Impartial Reporter (Enniskillen), 9 September 1993. Transcription supplied from the historical clan website material collected by Phil McManus. Original spellings and bracketed additions are retained; paragraph formatting has been adjusted for reading.