On June 17, 2003 we flew to Shannon airport on a trip back to Sligo, Ireland to visit our family's roots. My sister Carol and her husband Bob Petersen, my sister Peggy Titus and I traveled together for 7 nights in Ireland and 5 nights in Scotland. One of our first stops was to Tobercurry, Co. Sligo Ireland. This is a small town near Banada, the village where my great-great-grandfather, Brian McVan, lived. In Tobercurry we stayed at the Cruckawn House, a bed and breakfast owned by Maeve and Joe Walsh. We ate at the local pub, "Killoran's", and were fortunate to be there on a night when they were having a special good-by party for the Benin team of the Special Olympics. They had some traditional dancers and music and it was an exceptional experience, especially when the Benin team reciprocated by demonstrating the Amazon dance.

We spoke to some people in the pub about our search for McVans and were given some names to visit. The first one, Peggy McVan Owens, lived near the Banada bridge and was the daughter of James McVan, son of Patrick McVan. We drove around the next day, visiting all the places I've heard about but never seen.

We all agreed the area around Banada resembles Bucks County, PA where Martin and Hugh McVan immigrated

A view of the Banada bridge

The River Moy

Signposts near the Banada bridge

Another view of the River Moy

We stopped at the Owens house but no one was home. Later that night we called and I spoke to Peggy on the phone but she did not think that the various McVan families were related. When I told her we were related to Hughie Clark, she said that we were from the McVans from Curry, not her family.

The next morning we visited Hughie Clark and his wife. They were extremely hospitable to some strangers arriving unannounced at their door. I explained that we were related and they had us in for a cup of tea. Hughie remembered the visit of our cousin, Frances Holland, in 1983. Most of his children now live in the USA. However, one son lives near the original McVan homestead and just last year renovated it. Hughie gave us directions on how to find it. The next morning we stopped on the way to Sligo to visit but there was no one home at his son's house. However I took pictures of the small house behind it, which I believe is the homestead that Hughie had told us about.

Hugh Clark and Charlotte

Peggy Titus, Hugh Clark, Carol Petersen, Mrs. Clark, Charlotte Brown

The McVan Homestead