As I entered the barn I noticed Mary Cavanagh. I had met Mary and her husband Don the previous week in Dublin. We had spent a very pleasant evening together chatting about the clann and how I had become interested in the history of the family.

I approached confident in the knowledge that I had one friend here at least. I walked up to Mary and announced, "I'm Here!" Mary stared at me blankly for a couple of seconds and I got that sinking feeling. I gave my name as a clue and suddenly she remembered. Apparently she failed to recognise me because I had changed my hairstyle since last we met.

She welcomed me to the gathering and then led me to the function room for registration.

Following registration we headed back to the barn. German Jim was still deep in conversation with his fellow American so I took the time to browse around. I discovered a wonderful collection of old newspaper clippings, photographs and books all relating to the clann history. There were stories detailing important events and dramas in the lives of cousins, past and present around the world.

I then chatted with German Jim and his companion Ben for around 10 minutes when the call went out for the start of the official welcome in the function room. The Clann Historian Bridget Kavanagh Dalton took the microphone and bade us welcome. She thanked us all for making the trip from every corner of the globe and then outlined the rest of the evening.

When Bridget finished we tucked into the buffet dinner and mingled and chatted. As I munched and mingled I was struck by the camaraderie of the whole group - old members and new.  Then we were all called to order for the presentation of the clann awards.

At every gathering members are recognised for the contribution they have made to promoting and/or organising the clann over the previous two years. Recipients are called up to be acknowledged for their efforts and presented with a certificate of merit. They can then say a few words or retreat gracefully to their seat. This year there was a new lifetime award. The Michael A. Kavanagh award for outstanding contribution was presented to James Gethings who has been with the clann since it's inception in the early 1990's.

After the awards the "craic" began in earnest. A local traditional ceili band provided song, music and dance.  The beer flowed, whiskey warmed the hearts, jokes flew and the legs and arms of many cut the air in dance as the night wore on.

The divisions between the tables began to blur as people moved about anxious to meet others and share stories and histories.

Sadly the journey down to Wexford that morning had taken its toll on me and I had to retire before the festivities wound down. I left with the sound of laugher and song buzzing in my ears.

One of the attendees attempts the ancient  Gaelic art of Wine Glass Arranging	He seems a bit disappointed with the  marks he receives from the judges.