Day 22 Castledawson Northern Ireland Saturday 21st July 2012

One more day until our Grand Reunion takes place in Maghera - 160 years since the last time we were all together! Yesterday's weather was sensational for most of the day so I am doubling my prayers that tomorrow will be the same. It has been one of the worst summers on record for Ireland as it has rained almost every day since I arrived on 30th June. Can everyone reading this blog please say a quiet prayer for blue skies and sunshine for tomorrow - thank you!

Yesterday we had a lovely morning at our hotel settling in as we waited for the next Australian contingent to arrive. Peter and Loretta McGuigan from Melbourne got to the hotel around 11.30am and we were all very excited to see each other. We spent a couple of hours catching up then Mary came to take us to visit the McGuigan's at Slaughtneil - the original family home of our McGuigans since around 1750. The weather was fantastic and the 20 minute drive to the farm was stunning.

 All you Millbrook McGuigans- how appropriate a Black Hill sign! We all grew up in the shadow of Black Hill and this sign appears on the side of the road in our ancestral homeland.

We had a great time at Christopher and Ann's home and their hospitality was as usual, overwhelming.

McGuigan descendants in front of original stone wall at Slaughtneill.

Today will be spent completing last minute arrangements for the reunion ie: decorating the room at Walsh's Hotel Maghera, working on documentation, final touches to my speech etc. We have family members coming from all over Ireland for the gathering so it will be fantastic to meet those I haven't yet met and I am sure they are looking forward to meeting their Aussie cousins too.