The Carolan family reunion

The Carolan family from the townland of Crossmakeelan, held a family reunion in Bailieborough on Saturday, July 13, 2024.

One hundred and seven members of the family, comprising three generations, congregated in the newly refurbished Bailie Hotel.

While Crossmakeelan remains the homestead, the Carolan family has spread themselves far and wide over the decades. Attendees on the day arrived from South Africa, America, England, Spain and from Ireland itself.

The reunion was organised by Tomas Carolan who now lives in Longwood, County Meath. Tomas set out to invite all direct descendants of the late Michael and Margaret Carolan (nee Lynch) of Crossmakeelan. It was also a chance to celebrate the 70th birthday of Sister Geraldine who is a Missionary Sister of the Assumption, based in South Africa. Sister Geraldine returns to her hometown of Bailieborough every three years.

Jerrard Kielty is the grandson of Michael and Margaret, who returned to Ireland from Manchester with his mother, who is also named Margaret. Now 76 years old, Margaret moved to Manchester when she was aged 17 or 18, where she later reared her four children Amanda, Anita and Jerrard who were at the reunion and Gabriel, who couldn't attend. Jerrard described the day as “perfect.”

“We got to meet lots of family members who we haven’t seen in a long long time, people travelled from all over the world to attend the reunion. It was a lovely occasion,” he said.

“We’ve spread all over the world now and it's just nice to see everybody.”

Having lived in Manchester all his life and working as a civil servant, Jerrard remains very attached to his roots.

“Even though I’m a Kielty, we’d still see ourselves as part of the bigger Carolan family.

“I love to come over and I love to stay in the Bailie [Hotel], it’s a lovely place.

“I love going to Crossmakeelan and seeing the farm and seeing how it's changed over the years and also seeing how Bailieborough has changed over the years.”

The last such reunion took place in 1990, which was also held in the Bailie Hotel, when there were 42 attendees. They had a photograph taken by the late Willy Coleman of Main Street, Bailieborough.

“We’ve all got that [photo], dotted around the house up on the walls so it’s nice to have another photograph now.”

The most recent picture depicts the expansion of the family. Taken by Barbara Englishby from Snaptastica Photography, it captures siblings Michael John (MJ), Thomas (Tom), Mary, Peter, Patrick (Paddy), Margaret, Stephen and Geraldine who were all born and raised in Crossmakeelan, plus their ever growing family. Terence, another child raised in Crossmakeelan but now based in New York, was unable to attend on the day, but has made a visit to Bailieborough since then.

The Carolan family remain proud of their roots in Crossmakeelan and Bailieborough, and are “forever grateful” for the hospitality shown to them when they return.