Magic of Dan O’Hara’s home

Jan 4 2013 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

If you’re Irish come into the parlour...

Better still, if your name’s O’Hara there’s a special welcome there for you.

And if your name happens not to be either Timothy or Pat – as the old song goes - but Dan O’Hara then you could be on a winner.

Because, for the 2013 Year of the Gathering in Ireland, anyone called Dan O’Hara will be able to visit Dan O’Hara Homestead in Connemara free of charge.

And the first Dan O’Hara to visit the Homestead, near Clifden, Co Galway, will have a tree planted with a plaque showing their connection with Ireland.

Anyone else called O’Hara will get 50 per cent off the admission charge to the Heritage Centre, where the owners, Martin and Nora Walsh, will make Scots especially welcome.

Martin said: “As the theme of the Gathering is bring our Diaspora home to Ireland, where so many Scots have family connections, a visit to Dan O’Hara’s Homestead will give them an insight into the lives lived by their ancestors.”

The award-winning Heritage Centre and Farmhouse includes bed and breakfast accommodation and is just 6km from Clifden on the N59 in Connemara.

Overlooked by the majestic Twelve Bens mountain range, this agri-tourism enterprise is run by Martin and Nora and their family on a traditional Irish hill farm.

It’s now 20 years since they diversified into agri-tourism and decided to share with visitors the history, heritage, culture and traditions of stunningly beautiful Connemara.

The farm has cattle, sheep and the world famous Connemara ponies with a few friendly donkeys in the fields and lively chickens strutting their stuff in the yard.

The centre is based around the restored pre- Famine cottage of Dan O’Hara, who was forced to emigrate in the 1840s when he was evicted from his home.

Guided tours are both entertaining and educational and offer demonstrations of traditional farming activities such as turf cutting, sheep herding, soda bread making on an open fire and games for the children.

Tours are suitable for student groups, school tours, active retired people and corporate or incentive groups. Other items of interest at the centre include reconstructions of a crannog and an ancient ring fort.

And there is a craft shop with souvenirs and traditional Irish gifts, not to mention internet access and free parking for coach parties. Admission charges are modest and special group rates are available for guided tours.

You can contact Paula or Nora info@connemaraheritage.com or telephone 003539521246.

The details are here: http://www.facebook.com/Connemara.Heritage.History.Centre#!/events.