I’ve just been inaugurated as the new Chieftain of the Farrell Clan. My late father Conal (Connie) asked me in 2022, after the Clan Rally, if I would take over the position. I was both surprised and honoured, and of course accepted.

I grew up in Camlisk where my father, his father and many previous generations were born and lived.

Back in 1993 when the first Farrell Clan Rally was held, I was young and exploring the world. I don’t think I really understood the significance of if it and what it meant and the impact it would have.

I think, having always been aware of my family history and knowing it went back, to beyond the early 1600’s, this privilege  wasn’t evident to me at the time.

In 1993, my attention was not then on the Farrell Clan Rally. As a young 20-year-old woman I was seeking adventure in foreign lands.

I travelled briefly to many European countries, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Greece. I finally settled in the unlikely destination of Turkey for almost 18 months. I worked as an English teacher and tour guide on the Mediterranean coastline, to earn my stay.

When I returned back to Ireland, I worked in tourism until I finally discovered this was not where my heart lay.

I returned to college and trained as a sports therapist. I have been self-employed in this field since 1999. More recently I have trained as a life and stress management coach and added these to my services.

A number of years later I travelled to India, then Southern African countries. While travelling through Zimbabwe, I met up with a Farrell Clan member, Marilyn. Both she and her husband Clem where very welcoming and insisted I stay with them while I travelled to Harare.

Once the travel bug subsided to some degree, I became more involved with the Farrell Clan committee. In 2015 I became the co-treasurer. I did not realise at that point how hooked and involved I would become in Farrell Clan affairs.

These days I am living in Co. Longford, Ireland, with my 18 year old son Brian. He has just finished secondary school (high school) and is hoping to start college once he receives his final exam results.

It has been great living so close to where I grew up in Camlisk. This allowed me to help care for my father in his final years and I can visit my mother, Rose, who still lives there, regularly .

For leisure I have recently taken up horse-riding, something I did as a child. And I’ve being playing in a Samba band (Brazilian drums) since 2019. Both very different, but both have great energy.