The Ancient Clans programme is part of the PEACEPLUS Cross Border Heritage Project, which brings communities together across Mid Ulster, Donegal and Monaghan to explore, share and celebrate our connected heritage. The project recognises that our shared history is not only found in historic buildings and archaeological sites, but also in family stories, traditions, local knowledge and the connections between the people and clans who shaped our communities.
Next Visit: Monaghan – 23–24 October 2026
The next Ancient Clans visit will take place in Monaghan on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October 2026, bringing participants together for two days of learning, heritage exploration and discussion.
The visit begins on Friday evening at the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan, with a practical workshop on using podcasts to share your heritage. Delivered as part of the DS3 (Digital Skills, Spaces and Services) Project, the session will explore how digital storytelling and podcasts can be used to capture and share local history, family memories and community heritage with a wider audience. The workshop will be followed by dinner, providing an opportunity for participants from across the three areas to meet and connect.
On Saturday, participants will travel by minibus to Castle Leslie and the Old Donagh Graveyard to explore the stories and connections associated with the Leslie and McKenna families. George Watson will share the story of Castle Leslie and the Leslie family, including a visit to San Salvadore Church, while Paddy McQuaid of Glaslough Historical Society will explore Castle Leslie’s links to the original strongholds and estates of the McKenna chieftains. The group will then visit Old Donagh Graveyard, an ancient ecclesiastical site with burial places linked to the McKenna clan and the wider clans of Monaghan.
After lunch back at the Hillgrove Hotel, Dr Peter Smith, Reader in Irish at Ulster University, will explore The Origin Legend: The Interrelationship Between the Clans. His talk will provide an opportunity to look beyond individual family histories and consider the relationships, traditions and stories that connect the clans across the region.
The Monaghan visit will bring together heritage, storytelling, digital skills and community connections, continuing the Ancient Clans project’s aim of helping participants discover and share the rich and often interconnected heritage of the communities on both sides of the border.