By Eamonn MacDermott, Inishowen Independent
ARE you a descendant of a Nelson from the Ballybeg
or Altashane area of Carndonagh? If you are, then
this August you will want to make your way to
Inishowen for a clan reunion.
The weekend of August 5-6 will see a gathering of
Nelsons and their descendants in Carndonagh and
Ballyliffin.
Michael McCarron, whose mother was Nelson, is one of
the organisers of the reunion and he explained
what’s behind the reunion.
He said: “Anyone who has a connection to the name
Nelson from Ballybeg or Altnashane is more than
welcome.
“We have found that almost all the Nelsons in
Inishowen would have come from this area and they
have spread all over the globe.
“In 1972 there was a family reunion of my mother’s
family and ever since then we have talked about
getting the family together and of course never got
around to it.
“Then last year some of the cousins were talking and
we decided to try and get the clan together and this
is the result.”
Michael added: “The Nelson clan in the Carndonagh
area seems to have originated in the Altnashane/Ballybeg
area, with local records going back to the 1700s.
“Local folklore and traditional stories suggest that
the first Nelson was a shipwrecked sailor (possibly
of Norwegian origin – ‘Nielson’) who met and
subsequently married a Brigid McLaughlin.
“There are four Nelson families currently residing
in Ballybeg who are descendents of this union.
“These are known locally as ‘Jimmy’s Johnnies’, ‘Big
Johns’, ‘Jerrys’ and ‘Yankee Johnnies’.”
He said: “Offspring of these families have now
scattered worldwide and it is hoped that as many as
possible can attend the re-union.
“Confirmation of attendance has already been
received from people coming from the United States,
Scotland, Wales, many parts of England and the four
provinces of Ireland.”
The weekend will start with a reunion Mass in the
Church of the Sacred Heart, Carndonagh, at 7pm on
Friday, August 5. Light refreshments and a first
‘getting to know you’ meeting will follow the Mass.
On Saturday, a guided tour of northern Inishowen,
taking in some of the local attractions and places
that would be of interest to persons of the Nelson
extraction, will take place for those people who
have travelled for the reunion.
The main event of the weekend will be the Nelson
Clan Reunion dinner dance in the Strand Hotel,
Ballyliffin. Admission is by ticket only at €25,
available from Michael McCarron (07493 74479),
Madeline Doherty (07493 74360), Claire McColgan
(07493 74811) or any Nelson from the Carndonagh
area.
The history of the Nelson family in the Ballybeg
area can be traced back to the 18th century.
There seems to have been three brothers Michael,
Neal and George and the offspring of these three
include luminaries like former President of Ireland
Mary Robinson.
Michael McCrossan can still remember a commemorative
stone in his grandparents'house with the letters NN
and BD on it to mark the marriage of Neal Nelson and
Brigid Doherty all those years ago. |
