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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ'S) – Reunion 2020

WHO IS INVITED TO ATTEND THE O'DOCHARTAIGH REUNION?  

Anyone who is connected at all to the O'Dochartaigh name is welcome to join us for the reunion.  Actually at the reunion in 2005, 434 individuals came from 10 different countries and 39 US states.  In 2008, the commemoration of Cahir Rua O'Dogherty's death, it was great to hear all the different accents greeting each other as cousins. 

At the registration table, you could see the recognition in the faces of those individuals who when asked what their name was, gave the usual response of their last name.  The girls at the desk would say, "and......, first name...., or perhaps where are you from....., we need more than just your last name."   We had Jack's meeting Jack's, Bob's greeting Bob's. We even had some "honorary" O'Dochartaighs of other surnames who joined us for some of the events.  It was fun.

DO I HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF ANY ORGANIZATION?

For the reunion we don't have any membership lists or dues, although there are organizations such as the O'Dochartaigh Association who have membership lists and collect dues.  For the reunion, if you are O'Dochartaigh, or are married to one, or descended from one, YOU ARE ONE OF US!

WHERE DO YOU RECOMMEND THAT ATTENDEES STAY DURING THE REUNION?

There are many wonderful accommodations available in Inishowen and Derry, One idea is to search the internet to find possible places to stay with reference to the locations of the events.  We advise you to stay on the Inishowen Peninsula or in Derry City. 

Our Chairman, John Doherty "Saddler" has a very nice large B&B called Culdonagh Manor.  It is between Carndonagh and Malin on the Culdaff road.  It will be informally considered "reunion central" as we do have a few events that will be held there.  He still has some availability and you can contact him directly, +353 85 107 4180.  Be advised to remember the time difference between where you live and Ireland.

For the last reunion there was a group that was staying about an hour outside of Derry and it was very late for them returning to their accommodations after the events were finished each night because of the travel time. 

WHICH AIRPORT DO YOU RECOMMEND PEOPLE USE?

Many people traveling from America to Ireland will first travel over to the east coast, and then over to Dublin.  You can rent a car in Dublin and drive up.  The drive is about 4 hours. 

Many attendees fly into Belfast International Airport in Antrim too.  The airport code is BFS.  You can rent a car and drive to the area from there.  The drive from Belfast is about 2 hours.

It is usually a good idea to check out all the flights and compare the complete travel costs including the costs of the car rentals.  Sometimes it is cheaper to rent a car in Dublin, sometimes Belfast and sometimes Derry. 

Lately we have found that the airfare and car rental combined is cheaper in Belfast, and it is nice to not have to make the long drive up and down from Dublin. 

It is not advisable to go into Shannon airport, because it is an 8 hour drive from Shannon to Inishowen. 

HOW MUCH WILL MY TRIP COST?

We don't know how much the flight to Ireland will be from where you are.  Eva lives in Washington state and usually expects to pay about €1300 return to get from Seattle to Belfast (code BFS), Northern Ireland.  Prices do vary so be a careful shopper.  The cost of the rental car varies with the carriers and type of vehicle, but it can be around €400 a week. 

B&B cost are about €70 a night per person and that includes your breakfast.  We usually budget about €40 a day to cover lunch and dinner.  These prices are middle of the road, but hopefully will give you some idea of the cost.  Some of the reunion events include a meal, so that will help your budget also.

Remember that the currency of Republic of Ireland is the Euro and the currency of Northern Ireland is the British Pound Sterling.  The event ticket prices are all in Euros to make the international banking transfers easier.

HOW MUCH WILL THE REUNION EVENTS COSTS?

Each event has its own price attached to it for the ticket.   For the Reunion we sell the tickets to each event separately, you place your order on the website and make payment on line.

Your tickets will be available for pick-up at the reunion, usually at the door of your first event.  You can choose to go to any or all of the events that we are hosting.  For the previous reunions it has cost on average €400 (EURO) to buy 1 ticket to each event.  Beginning in 2015 we offered an All Event Ticket at a discounted price.  We will have that again for the 2020 reunion.  As soon as we have the final pricing from two more vendors, we will announce the ticket sales for the 2020 Reunion. It will be less than €400.

Our goal as a committee is to give the best value to the reunion attendees at the same time we need to cover the costs.  The reunion committee will not make a profit, and there are no resources to cover an overdraft, so the ticket price is the cost of the event person.

HOW IS THE REUNION SCHEDULE ORGANIZED?

We typically organize an event per day which will take a few hours, that leaves you time to do your own touring around and organizing your time in a way that will meet your needs and interests. Here are the various locations. 

The first event of the reunion is at the Ballyliffin Hotel with the dinner and the Ceili on Thursday night in Ballyliffin. Friday is the Clann Genealogy Forum at the Colgan Hall in Carndonagh and Saturday is busy with the Carn Faire in Carndonagh.  Sunday is at Culdonagh Manor in the afternoon for the Bar-B-Que.  Monday is the Bus Tour leaving from the SuperValu in Carndonagh, followed by Dinner at Nancy's Barn in Ballyliffin.  Tuesday is the tours of Derry City with the closing Banquet at the An Grianan Hotel in Burt.

RENTING A CAR IN IRELAND

Most Car Hire companies are based in airports or in cities.  You will need a valid license and a credit car to rent a vehicle in Ireland.  Most rental car companies will not rent to drivers under 25 but there is no upper age limit.  However, if you are over age 75, you will be asked to meet additional requirements.  Be sure to investigate the various car rental insurance options and learn how to pay the toll if you are traveling on toll roads. 

The terms and conditions are usually included on the various companies website.  Most of the cars are standard shift (manual transmissions).  Automatic cars are available but you should book well in advance of traveling to avoid disappointment.  If you are in need of a child car seat, tell the rental company in advance.

 A great online resource about driving in Ireland - https://www.ireland.com/en-us/about-ireland/travelling-within-ireland/travel-by-road/

CAN YOU HELP ME MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR MY TRIP OR ACCOMMODATIONS?

We are able to advise people on possibilities for accommodations and travel plans, but since we are a voluntary organization and not tour operators, our insurance won't allow us to book the travel or accommodations for people. We are more than happy to answer your questions, please contact us.

 Here is some travel information related to Buncrana, Co Donegal.  You can use the websites for information about connecting to other towns and cities.

Airports - See car directions to Buncrana or bus connections below.
City of Derry Airport - Distance to Buncrana by car is 38 mins. www.cityofderryairport.com
Belfast International – www.bial.co.uk & George Best Belfast City Airport – www.belfastcityairport.com
Airporter shuttle bus timetable at www.airporter.co.uk
Dublin Airport – www.aer-rianta.ie

Bus connections to Buncrana, Inishowen, Co. Donegal
John McGinley Coaches. Direct run from Dublin to Buncrana. Leaving Parnell Square twice daily at
9:30am and 5:45pm to Buncrana. Tel: +353 (0)74 9135201. www.johnmcginley.com
Bus Ιireann. To Letterkenny for connection to Buncrana. Tel: +353 (0)1 8366111 or www.buseireann.ie
Ulsterbus. To Derry City for connection to Buncrana. Tel: +44(0)28 9033-3000 or at www.ulsterbus.co.uk.
Lough Swilly Bus. From Letterkenny and Derry\Londonderry to Buncrana. +44 (0)28 71262017

By Car
Derry \ Londonderry: Distance 14 miles  | Time 31 mins

Follow the A2 signposted Letterkenny, Buncrana. At Bridgend take R238 signposted Buncrana.

Letterkenny: Distance 25 miles |  Time  50 min
Follow the N13 signposted Derry, at Burt, opposite the 'round church' turn left onto the R239 to Buncrana.

Donegal Town: Distance 59 miles |  Time  1hr.20 min
N15 signposted Ballybofey, Lifford. Continue through Stranorlar. Follow N13 to Letterkenny onto Buncrana.

Dublin: Distance 157 miles |  Time  3hr.15 min
On N2 to go Monaghan and Emyale. Take A5 to Omagh, to Strabane, to Derry/Londonderry to Buncrana.

Car Ferry routes direct from UK and main land Europe to Ireland
www.stenaline.com - www.poirishsea.com - www.irishferries.com

Local Ferry Service
Lough Foyle Ferry – 30 minutes from Magilligan, Northern Ireland to Greencastle, then R241 through
Moville, then R238 signposted for Derry, at Muff take R238 to Buncrana. Tel: +353 (0) 74 938 1901 or at www.loughfoyleferry.com

Lough Swilly Ferry
- From Rathmullan, Donegal take the 40-minute scenic voyage of the Lough Swilly to
Buncrana. Tel: +353 (0) 74 938 1901 or at www.loughfoyleferry.com

N.I. Railways Service
From Belfast & Dublin to Derry City for bus to Buncrana. Tel: +44 (0)28 9089-9411 or www.nir.co.uk

WHO IS ON THE REUNION COMMITTEE?

The O'Dochartaigh Clan Worldwide Reunion Committee is a committee of volunteers.  We're deeply committed to the rewarding task of bringing the O'Dochartaigh clan home to visit from around the world!