Clan News

August marks the 230th anniversary of the birth of Bernardo O'Higgins who was an independence leader and first Head of State of Chile. He was descended from the O'Higgins family of Ballynary and later of Summerhill, Co.Meath. During his time as President, Bernardo succeeded in establishing the first Chilean constitution, a national navy, and continued his goal to free Latin America by invading Peru.

A ceremony will be held in Merrion Square Dublin on the 27th July at 3pm. Both Chief Thomas and Chilean Ambassador Cecilia McKenna will lay wreaths on behalf of the O'Higgins family and the People of Chile at the statue of Bernardo O'Higgins which is located in the heather garden. All are welcome.

The Árd-Rúnaí of the O'Higgins Clan, Dr. James O'Higgins-Norman, has been elected to the executive board of the Clans of Ireland, the co-ordinating body for all Irish Clans. Clans of Ireland was established by the Irish government in 1989 and is the official body for recognising and registering Irish clans. The election took place in Marsh Library in Dublin and was attended by representatives of many Irish clans and chieftains.

Congratualtions to Melissa O'Higgins-Norman and her partner Matt Derbyshire on the birth of their twin boys Callum and Breidín who were born on February 27th last at Blackburn Royal Hospital..

Melissa and Matt live in Lancashire where Matt is a striker for Blackburn Rovers FC. The identical twins received a warm welcome into the family and as they grow they will be under the watchful eye of their great uncle Clan Chief Thomas O'Higgins who lives in nearby Cheshire.

Uttoxeter Advertiser - Karl O’Higgins, Hoar Cross Downhill Race

Karl O'Higgins, steering his Driller Killers soapbox, was catapulted from his ride on the very first run during this years annual Hoar Cross Downhill Race. Karl who is the Clan Chief's second son was knocked out of the annual race in Staffordshire, England but refused to go to hospital until after the race had finished. The event broke its own records as it was attended by 7000 people and raised in excess of €75,000 for the Acorns Childrens Hospice. The race is organised by the MAD CLUB of which Karl is an organising member.

The annals of the four masters reunited for first time since 1636 in landmark exhibition

The Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of Ireland from prehistory to 1616 AD, compiled by the Irish Franciscans, will be reunited for the first time since 1636 at the Long Room, Trinity College Dublin from October 9, 2007. The exhibition is a unique collaborative exhibition between the Irish Franciscans, the Royal Irish Academy , Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin. It forms part of the Louvain 400 commemoration which celebrates the 400^th anniversary of the founding of the Irish Franciscan college of St Anthony ’s in Louvain in

Belgium

. More information.

On the 8th October 2007 Mr. Vincent Higgins and his wife Dr. Joan Brennan of Brielle, New Jersey began their tour of Ireland which is to include several locations associated with the history of the O'Higgins and O'Brennan families including Sligo and Cavan.

Vincent's great grandfather Michael Higgins was born in Ireland in 1834 and joined the Irish Brigade to defend the Union during the American Civil War. He later settled in New York State where he founded the local fire brigade service. Vincent and Joan also met with the Clan Árd Rúnaí Dr. James O'Higgins-Norman at the St. Stephen's Green Club in Dublin to discuss future developments for the O'Higgins Clan Society.

A new Clan pin badge has been commissioned by the Clan Árd Comhairle (Executive Council). It is intended that this badge will be worn by all Clan members and those of the name O'Higgins/Higgins around the world. It costs €20 plus postage and can be worn on a jacket lapel, hat, scarf etc. The badge is made in silver and black and represents the shield from the O'Higgins of Ballynary Coat of Arms. If you would like to order a pin please email the Cisteoir (Treasurer) at info@ohigginsclan.com . All proceeds from the sale of the pin go towards the running costs of the Clan Society.

It is with great sadness and deep sympathy for the Higgins family that we acknowledge the death of Pat Higgins Snr, founder and chief executive of Pat The Baker on the 26th of August. PAT Higgins, who has died in Granard, Co Longford, was a native of Culmore, Kilkelly. At the age of 30. He established his now famous bakery in Granard and, over the years, built it up into one of the best known in the country. He was a true institution in his adopted county of Longford where news of his passing has evoked widespread sadness and regret. Pat, who was predeceased by his wife, is survived by his three sons and a daughter, relatives, and many friends.

The O'Higgins Clan sends its condolences to Pat's family. May he rest in Peace.

The O'Higgins Clan was delighted to welcome home to Ireland members of the Summerhill Higgins family who visited Ireland in August. Coleen Higgins and her children Tara and Dillon are direct descendents of Laurence Higgins who left Clondoogan, Summerhill in 1866 to live in New York. Coleen, Tara and Dillon were accompanied on the trip by their friends Hilary, Lucas and Lilly who joined them for a tour of a number of locations associated with the family. The Higgins of New York were welcomed by their cousins in Summerhill and at a reception on Friday 24th August at the Clan Headquarters in Dublin.

Locating Jane

Higginsbrook House near Trim in Co. Meath was built about 1720 and originally belonged to a couple of brothers of the name Higgins who's origins are unclear. Recently the house was chosen by Manus Hingerty as the location for the film Becoming Jane about the life of Jane Austen. When he read the script for Becoming Jane Manus realised that Higginsbrook would be ideal; a four bedroomed house with a large garden and the right amount of Eighteenth Century grandeur. 'It's a remarkably small house,' manus notes. 'It's smaller on the inside. Proportionately the house is big, but the reality of the house is what appealed to the designer straight away, and the fact that everything could be contained within one area.'

The Government of Chile has announced it is to honour Desmond O'Conor Don of Sussex by investing him as a Knight (Commandor) of the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins. This is the highest order the Chilean Government can give to a foreign citizen. The Order was established in memory of Bernardo O'Higgins, first President of Chile, and is awarded for significant achievements in the arts, business, education, law or other fields.

Desmond O'Conor Don is a former banker who worked for some time in Chile. He is also a direct descendent of Rory O'Conor, who became King of Connacht in 1156 and High King of Ireland in 1166. The O'Higgins were closely associated with this family in Gaelic times as poets and bards as well as through marriage. Sheán Duff O'Higgins, Lord of Ballynary in the early 1600s was married to a daughter of the Royal O'Conors of Ballintober Castle.

The investiture will take place in London on the 5th December next. The Chief of the O'Higgins, Thomas O'Higgins NSC, was invited to attend the ceremony and has written to O'Conor Don to congratualte him on him on receiving this honour.

Insignia of the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins

Ceremony honours Irish who died in past wars

The annual National Day of Commemoration for all those Irish men and women who have died in past wars or on service with the United Nations took place on Sunday July 9th 2006 at the Royal Hospital Kilmainaham. The O'Higgins were represented at the ceremony by our Chairperson Dr. James O'Higgins-Norman. The ceremony was also attended by The O'Morchoe who was accompanied by his wife Madam O'Morchoe. The event was led by the President, Mrs. McAleese who laid a wreath on behalf of the Republic.

The O'Higgins, Lord of Ballynary will visit a number of locations associated with the history of his family in southern Co. Sligo on the 17th and 18th of July next. His party will be based in nearby Carrick-on-Shannon but will visit Ballynary where the O'Higgins were displaced by Cromwell in 1654 before moving to Summerhill in Co. Meath. Other locations on the itinerary include Dooghorne, Kilmacteige and Achonry all of which contain lands that originally belonged to the O'Higgins family before the arrival of Cromwell into Ireland.Chief Thomas will be accompanied by his wife Oonagh, Madam O'Higgins and several other members of his immediate family. For more information about the tour please email info@ohigginsclan.com

Taoiseach Sends 1916 Greetings to The O'Higgins, Lord of Ballynary - April 2006

An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, T.D.

An Taoiseach, . Bertie Ahern, T.D.

A special message has been sent by An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., to The O'Higgins, Lord of Ballynary in conjunction with the celebrations to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising.

On the 24th of April 1916 Pádraig Pearse, Commander in Chief of the Army of the Irish Republic led about 150 soldiers to the General Post Office (GPO) in Dublin where he formally proclaimed the Republic of Ireland and launched the Irish War of Independence.

Like many others The O'Higgins of Ballynary can claim a link to the 1916 Rising in that his grandmother, Mary Madam O'Higgins (1879-1946) was a supporter of Cuman na mBán (Women's Army) and his father Patrick J. O'Higgins (1907-1974), only a boy at the time, acted as a "runner" for the Irish forces during the War of Independence.

The dental Charity Bridge 2 Aid were delighted to welcome Karl O'Higgins (A-dec UK General Manager) and his wife Jo to Mwanza, Tanzania in early March. As well as donating a chair from A-dec's UK showroom, Karl also travelled to Mwanza to ensure that it was installed and fully functioning! While there, they made good use of his time - servicing many other items of equipment in the clinic. He and Jo also gave their valuable perspectives on ergonomics and organisation - he even moved a few plugs around too!

As if that wasnt enough, Karl and Jo also handed over a cheque for £3,500, representing funds raised by them within both A-dec UK and BT Leicester, where Jo is a manager.

Congratualtions to Emily Williams, daughter of Patty O'Higgins and James Williams, on her marriage to John Sweeney of Glasnevin at the Church of St. Philomena in Palmerstown, Dublin on Thursday the 16th March last.

Congratulations to Alan Norman, son of Florence O'Higgins and James Norman, and his partner Gillian Dunne on the birth of their new baby girl Sarah Mary Ellen Brigid Norman who was born on the 14th of March last in Dublin.

Paul Kelly

Congratulations to Dr. Paul Kelly, son of Mary O'Higgins and Vincent Kelly, and his wife Fiona Lang on the birth of their new baby girl Emma Louise Kelly who was born on 10th December last in Dublin.

		The President of Ireland Mary McAleese has sent a special letter of congratulations to the Clan Chieftain, The Hon. Thomas O'Higgins, NSC, Lord of Ballynary on the occasion of his birthday. In her greetings the President congratulated the Chief of the O'Higgins and sent him her warmest good wishes on the joyful occasion of his birthday. Chief Thomas was delighted and honoured to receive the message from President McAleese.
President McAleese, Uachatarán na hÉireann	The O'Higgins, Lord-Ballynary

The first results from our DNA project are now available and show that two lines of O'Higgins share a common ancesor. The samples which were tested at the University of Arizona confirmed that Mr. Thomas Higgins of New York, a descendent of Laurence Higgins who emigrated from Summerhill, Co. Meath in the mid 19th century shares a common ancestor with The Clan Chief, The Hon. Thomas O'Higgins NSC, Lord of Ballynary whose grandparents also lived in Summerhill, Co. Meath. The tests can not tell us when this common ancestor lived but due to the fact that both of the men tested share the same surname and can trace their ancestors back to the same townland in Ireland there is a strong probability that the common ancestor lived within the last 300 years. Further details on the O'Higgins DNA project are available here: DNA Project.

The grave of the Hon. Patrick O'Higgins, Lord of Ballynary and his wife Mary Madam O'Higgins, Lady of Ballynary has been located at Mount Jerome Cemetery and restoration has begun. Plans are under way to erect a new headstone to commemorate the 60th anniversary of their death in 2006.

There was a visit to the grave of Sr.Margaret Higgins OFM who left Ireland in 1909 to join the Sisters of St. Francis in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday 5th November last. Sr. Margaret who died in 1951 was an aunt of the Clan Chief and the visit by Dr. James O'Higgins-Norman was the first ever by any member of the family. Sr. Margaret worked in several posts in Baltimore between 1913-1951 including the famous St. Peter Claver Parish and School for African American Children. She only returned to Ireland once, in 1932 for the Eucharistic Congress.

The Clan Chief, the Hon. Thomas O'Higgins, NSC, Lord of Ballynary has been accepted as a hereditary member of the Noble Society of Celts. The Noble Society of Celts is an hereditary society of persons with Celtic roots and interests, who are of noble title and gentle birth, and who have come together in a search for, and celebration of, things Celtic. The Clan is delighted that the Chief has been recognised and honoured in this way. www.noblesocietyofcelts.org

The O'Higgins were delighted to celebrate on the 30th September last the wedding of Siobhán (Higgins) O'Reilly, daughter of Carmel O'Higgins and Terry O'Reilly to Andrew Jackson at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Ashbourne, Co. Meath. The wedding was attended by many of the Clan and we wish Sláinte agus Beannachtaí to the happy couple.

The O'Higgins Clan looks forward to the celebration of the marriage of Emily (O'Higgins)Williams, daughter of Patty O'Higgins and Shay Williams to Mr. John Sweeney of Glasnevin, Dublin. The wedding will take place in St.Philomena's Church, Palmerstown, Dublin in March 2006.

Mr. Ian (O'Higgins) Norman, owner of KUBE Hairdressing in Dublin and Alicante, son of Florence O'Higgins and nephew of the Chief and recently represented Ireland with his staff at the Organisation Mondiale Coiffure World Championships in Paris. Congratulations to Ian and his staff on being chosen to participate in the competition. http://www.omchairworld.com/

If you have any items of news that would be of interest to the O'Higgins Clan you can have them included on this website by sending them to info@ohigginsclan.com

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