Christmas Greetings from Cavan

Season’s greetings from Cavan. As we approach the end of 2023, it’s worth reflecting on what was a truly special year for the Cavan Diaspora.

Cavan Calling, which took place in July of this year, was an extraordinary gathering of the global Cavan family. Cavan people and friends of Cavan from all over the globe descended upon their ancestral and spiritual home, and the population of Cavan turned out to welcome them at events the length and breadth of the county.

There were too many highlights to mention individually, but I think watching Ballyjamesduff native Pete Briquette join Bob Geldof and his colleagues in The Boomtown Rats raise the roof in the Egg Market will live long in the memory.

Of course, Cavan Calling was about more than just concerts, art, and culture – it was about human connection. On a personal level, it was wonderful to meet many old acquaintances from the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, France, Germany and beyond, but also to make new friends, and indeed to see friends of Cavan from opposite ends of the world meet and bond over their shared love of the Breffni County.

There are many such instances of human connection at Cavan Calling, and I was particularly struck by the story of Katherine Greenhough Olwill, a Dublin-born lady who reconnected with her family at Cavan Calling after six decades of searching for her family, and who told her extraordinary story to The Anglo-Celt, saying “It was such a lovely time. When I was with my family, I felt a sense of peace”.

I would like to pay tribute to the recently retired Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Tommy Ryan, who was the driving force behind the event, and someone who made a hugely significant contribution to the Cavan Diaspora during his eight years in County Cavan. We thank him for all that he has done for the county.

Aside from Cavan Calling, we saw Cavan people achieve exceptional things in 2023. Leona Maguire was once again a standout performer in the European team which retained the Solheim Cup, while Lisa O’Neill’s acclaimed performance at the funeral of the legendary Shane McGowan was seen around the world.

Looking ahead to 2024, Cavan will celebrate one of its most famous sons, when the relics of St Kilian return to his ancestral home of Mullagh, which he departed in the 7^th century for Germany, where he brought Christianity to northern Bavaria and is revered to this day.

As well as being an event of great spiritual importance to those of a Christian faith, the event promises to be a wonderful cultural celebration of our Diaspora and of the friendship between Cavan and Germany – Kürnach and Würzburg in particular.

The management and elected members of Cavan County Council are proud to support this event and the council has also committed to support a series of concerts in July 2024 being organised at Kingspan Breffni, the home of Cavan GAA, which marked its centenary at Cavan Calling this year. There is much to look forward to in the coming year, and I would encourage those of you who were unable to attend Cavan Calling in person to consider visiting Cavan at some stage in 2024. It is a special place to visit, at any time of year.

This year has provided further proof, if any were needed, that the connection between Cavan and its Diaspora is as strong as ever. I have no doubt that the years to come will continue to bring exciting opportunities to further grow and develop these valuable friendships, and will see the global Cavan family continue to achieve extraordinary things on the global stage.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Le gach dea-ghuí i gcomhair na Nollag

Eoin Doyle,

Chief Executive

Cavan County Council