The Chief of the McGrath Clan of Thomond has died.

A note from Scott McGraw - Webmaster

"Let's sit on the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings..."
Shakespeare - Richard II, Act 3, Scene 2

It is with great sadness that I relay the news that Dan McGrath, the Chief of the McGrath Clan from who we are descended, passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2019, at his home in Ireland. Visitation will be December 24th and he will be laid to rest on December 26, 2019. Our sincere condolences go out to his wife Lijana, daughter Olivia and the rest of his family. Dan is the center of the below picture with Steve and Scott McGraw at the 2019 McGrath Clan Gathering in Dungarvan, Ireland.

Here's a link to Dan's Obituary. I have passed along our condolences on behalf of the USMFA.

https://rip.ie/death-notice/daniel-danny-mcgrath-dungarvan-waterford/408051

Family threads: Denton master quilter wins World Quilt Competition

Denton master quilter Barbara McCraw didn't travel to Springfield, Massachusetts, for the World Quilt Competition XXIII.

"I wasn't expecting to win anything," McCraw said at her home studio in Denton.

The quilt she'd submitted to the international competition, Family Reunion, ended up winning the Best of Show title and a cash prize of $2,000.

To read the full article: https://dentonrc.com/entertainment/visual_arts/family-threads-denton-master-quilter-wins-world-quilt-competition/article_d6d533f7-a702-595f-a517-c5fb1b03b5a7.html

Save the date for the USMFA 2020 Reunion

Hello USMFA Members and Friends!

I hope you have had a wonderful summer!

Our host for the 2020 USMFA Reunion is Phyllis Pittman and she has been working on arrangements for our reunion.  The dates for the reunion have been set.  We will meet in Fairhope, Alabama from Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, 2020.  Many people enjoy meeting for dinner on Thursday evening, so make plans to join us for that as well.  More information will be coming out in the next couple of months regarding specific plans. 

"There are lots of good reasons to visit Fairhope, Alabama," according to Sid Evans of Southern Living.  He goes on to say, "If you love the Gulf Coast, there are few places more scenic, with antebellum homes, streets lined with live oaks, and a charming, walkable downtown. With a population of about 17,000, Fairhope sits on bluffs that overlook Mobile Bay, so you're never far from a view of the water. It…has a laid-back vibe that lowers your blood pressure—and that may be the only reason you need to go." 

Why not make a vacation of attending the 2020 reunion and visit some local attractions before or after the reunion?  In addition to the attractions of Fairhope, Spanish Fort is about a 30-minute drive to the north where there are two state parks and 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center.   Just across the bridge from Spanish Fort is Mobile where you can tour the USS Alabama Battleship and Aircraft Pavilion.  To the south, lies Gulf Shores and the beautiful beaches of the Gulf. 

Be sure to save these dates for another fabulous USMFA reunion and stay tuned for details as plans are finalized.

Also, USMFA members can look for a newsletter to be published this fall.  In it, you will find more information about the reunion, an update from our DNA coordinator, articles about ongoing genealogy research and an article about a USMFA member who received the Medal of Etchtighern Award in Ireland this summer.  Be watching your inboxes for that later this fall.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of the summer!

 

Sincerely,

Janet Harvey

Secretary, USMFA