Tenth Bellew Reunion and Bellingham Gathering
Our Gathering takes place on place on Wednesday 24th June 2026 at Bellingham Castle, Castlebellingham, Co Louth. A91 RP44 during the afternoon.
To celebrate our 10th Bellew Reunion, we have teamed up with Bellingham relatives in the area. Through Bryan's grandmother there is a relationship via the Jameson, Cairnes and Woolsey families. We are grateful to Patrick and the team at Bellingham Castle.
2006: Bellewstown - Bryan & Henry
2019: Rokeby - Rosemary and Shirley
Castlebellingham
A YouTube video about half an hour details aspects of the village including the outside of the hotel, the inside of both churches in the village.
An article details some of the hsitory of the Bellingham families and their heraldry
Bellingham - Bellew Connections
Click on the image for more detail
Bellingham Cairnes
Woolsey Bellew
Plunkett Connections 2025
The village is strategically located near the coast and at the fork in the road leading to Annagassan and along the coast to Clogherhead and Termonfechin or alternatively along the coach road to Dunleer(Pierces Inn), Drogheda and Dublin. As there was no easy way to avoid the village, we can say with reasonable certainty that St. Oliver would have known Castlebellingham very well and must have passed through the village scores of times. There would be a strong likelihood that he stayed overnight in the village and quite possibly arranged to meet up with priests at this important junction point.
Bryan and Rosemary with Plunkett cousins and of St Oliver at Loughcrew 2025, On the left is Seoirse Plunkett and Stephen Plunkett with Nell, beside Rosemary & Bryan is David Bland and on the right is Randal and Laura Plunkett and Constance.
Killeen castle 2028
Romantic castles of Ireland hope to reopen Killeen Castle in 2028. The Plunkett family of Killeen were closely related to St Oliver, so much so, that St Oliver born in 1625 received his early education from his cousin, Fr Patrick Plunkett at Killeen. Patrick Plunkett later became bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise and then of Meath (1669-79).
2017 Barmeath
2013: Castletown, Dundalk
2015: Dardistown
2023: Skeaghmore - St Borchill's Church, built on the Barmeath Estate prior to 1766.
Previous Times ...
https://irishheraldry.blogspot.com/2023/05/ninth-bellew-reunion-at-barmeath-2023.html