RECENTLY, a large gathering of the extended Cotter and Murphy families took place in the Maritime Hotel in Bantry.

Coming together at the end of September, Pat Mahoney told how the reunion brought together the Cotters of Goulanes ‘some seven miles east of Bantry’.

‘We had sixty-seven members of the Cotter family from Australia, England, the United States, Germany, and various parts of Ireland. My mother’s father, John Cotter, came, from this townland. His daughter-in-law, niece, grandchildren, grandnephews, great-grandchildren, great-grandnephews, and even some great-great-grandchildren and great-great-grandnephews were present. It was the first gathering of all my surviving first cousins’. 

Pat told how the siblings of his grandmother, Julia Murphy, had all gone to America at an early age. Three of their descendants got word of the reunion, and they were delightedly welcomed along for the special occasion.

‘We had a family tree on display with three hundred names of seven generations of Cotter and Murphy families’ said Pat, ‘and a large photo display which both gathered a lot of attention and discussion’.

The Cotters and others were also entertained with an ‘excellent talk’ on Irish family names from genealogist Margaret Murphy from the Skibbereen Heritage Centre. Praise was also heaped upon the Maritime Hotel as a ‘superb venue’ with a buffet that was commended by many. 

On the Sunday morning, mass was held for the deceased members of the Murphy families, followed by another excellent meal at the Maritime Hotel.

‘I think I am right in saying that all those present thoroughly enjoyed the event. It was particularly good to see the younger generation, many of whom had never met before, all mixing together’.

However, Pat is done with the administration and says: ‘I am leaving it now to the next generation to organise another one.’