Frequently Asked Questions about the 2014 Clan Gathering

1.  When will the Clan Gathering be held?

The 9th International O’Dea Clan Gathering will be held on the weekend of 11-13 July 2014.

2.  Where will the Clan Gathering be held?

The 9th International O’Dea Clan Gathering will be held at the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis.  The address is:  Station Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland.

3.  Where can I find information about the programme for the Clan Gathering?

Here is the brochure about the Clan Gathering (including programme details): Brochure for 9th International O Dea Clan Gathering 2014

4.  How much does it cost to attend the Clan Gathering?

• €120 Euro per person for paid-up members of the O’Dea Clan Association.
• €140 Euro per person for non-members.
• If you register after June 1, 2014, we will have to ask you to pay at the non-member rate.
• Under 12s free and under 16s half price. (Prices for tours & medieval banquet for children are the same as that for adults).

NOTE: The registration fee covers: registration, receptions, banquet on Sunday night, lectures, entertainment and transport to our ancestral home of Dysert O’Dea.

5.  How much does it cost for the optional activities?

• €55 Euro for the exclusive O’Dea Clan Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle (includes transport).  Prior booking is essential as there are a limited number of places available.
• €20 Euro per person for an all-day Boat Trip to Inisheer, the Aran Islands. (Includes transport to and from the Old Ground Hotel and the boat harbour).  Prior booking is essential as there are a limited number of places available.
• €25 Euro per person for a Dolphin Watching Boat Trip which will be on the Shannon Estuary plus a visit to Loop Head peninsula.  There is a limit of 45 places for this trip so book early to avoid disappointment.

NOTE: The Boat Trip to Inisheer, the Aran Islands and the Dolphin Watching Boat Trip will take place at the same time, so if you are booking for both trips, please make sure that different people are attending each trip.

6.  How can I plan and organise my travel to and from Ennis?

We suggest that you contact your own travel agent or you can contact Cathie O’Dea, a Clan member who is a travel agent.  She can assist with travel and accommodation bookings.  Phone: +44 203 432 4740  Mobile/Cell +44 7912 889964 Facetime Email: Web Site: http://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/cathie.odea

7.  How can I find accommodation in and around Ennis?

For the benefit of those who are planning to attend the Clan Gathering in Ennis in July 2014, we have prepared a list of accommodation establishments in and around Ennis.

The list can be viewed here: Accommodation List for the 2014 Clan Gathering

Your travel agent may also assist.

8.  Where can I find out more about the Clan Gathering?

Details of the Clan Gathering can be found on the Clan web site here:  https://odeaclan.org/clan-gatherings/clan-gathering-ireland-2014/

9.  What if I have some more questions about the Clan Gathering to be held in July 2014?

If you have any further questions about the Clan Gathering, you can contact the Organising Committee here:  https://odeaclan.org/contact-us/contact-the-ireland-organising-committee/

10.  Do I have to be a member of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association in order to register for the Clan Gathering?

No.  Anyone can register for the Clan Gathering.  You do not have to be a member of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association to register for the Clan Gathering.

11.  Can I register for the Clan Gathering and pay later?

Unfortunately not.  The organisers only accept a booking if payment is made with the booking.

If you are booking online, the booking will only be completed once the online payment has been processed.

If you are planning to pay by Cheque/Check/Bank Draft/Postal Order, your payment must be submitted with your booking form.

12.  Can I reserve a place at the Clan Gathering and pay later?

Unfortunately not.  The organisers only accept a booking if payment is made with the booking.

13.  I am a current member of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association.  Can I renew my membership at the same time I submit my booking for the Clan Gathering?

Yes.  If you wish to register for the Clan Gathering to be held in July 2014, you will be able to renew your membership as part of your booking.  Your membership will be valid until 30 June 2017.  If you wish to register for the Clan Gathering, you can submit an online booking here:  (link no longer active)

14.  I am not a current member of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association.  Can I join the Clan Association when I submit my booking for the Clan Gathering?

Yes.  If you wish to register for the Clan Gathering to be held in July 2014, you will be able to pay for your membership as part of your booking.  Your new membership will take effect immediately and your membership will be valid until 30 June 2017.  If you wish to register for the Clan Gathering, you can submit an online booking here:  (link no longer active)

15.  I’m not planning to attend the Clan Gathering to be held in July 2014.  Can I renew my membership of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association?

Yes.  If you are not planning to attend the Clan Gathering, you can renew your membership on its own, i.e. without making a booking for the Clan Gathering.  Your membership will be valid until 30 June 2017.  You can renew your membership of the Clan Association online here:  https://odeaclan.org/membership/online-membership-form-membership-renewal/

16.  If I renew my membership of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association as part my booking for the Clan Gathering or if I renew my membership without making a booking, how long does my membership last?

If you renew your membership of the Clan Association as part of your booking for the Clan Gathering or if you renew membership without making a booking, your membership will be valid until 30 June 2017.

17.  I’m not planning to attend the Clan Gathering to be held in July 2014.  Can I join the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association as a new member?

Yes.  New members are welcome at any time.  If you are not planning to attend the Clan Gathering, you can apply to become a new member without making a booking.  Your membership will be valid until 30 June 2017.  You can submit your membership application online here:  https://odeaclan.org/membership/online-membership-form-membership-renewal/

18.  If I wish to become a new member of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association as part of my booking or if I wish to become a new member without making a booking, how long does my membership last?

If you wish to become a new member of the Clan Association and pay for it as part of your booking for the Clan Gathering or if you submit a membership application without making a booking, your new membership will take effect immediately and will be valid until 30 June 2017.

19.  I wish to register for Clan Gathering to be held in July 2014 but I do not want to renew my membership of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association or become a new member.  What should I do?

If you are submitting your booking online, you will notice that the membership renewal/application option has been selected as the default option on the booking form.  This means that the cost of your membership of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association will be included as part of the total cost of your booking unless you select the No option.

You need to select the No option if you do not want to renew your membership or apply to become a new member.

20.  I am a current member the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association.  Can I get a discount when I register for the Clan Gathering to be held in July 2014?

Yes.  If you are a current member the Clan Association you will receive a discount on your Clan Gathering registration fee as long as you submit your booking by 1 June 2014.

21.  I am not a current member the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association.  Can I get a discount when I register for the Clan Gathering to be held in July 2014?

If you choose to become a new member of the Clan Association and pay the membership fee as part of your booking, you will receive a discount on your Clan Gathering registration fee as long as you submit your booking by 1 June 2014.  If you choose not to become a new member of the Clan Association, you will be asked to pay the normal (non-discounted) registration fee.

22.  I’m not sure if I am a financial member of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association.  What should I do?

If you are not sure about whether you are a financial member of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association, please contact the organisers here:  https://odeaclan.org/contact-us/contact-the-ireland-organising-committee/

23.  How do I register for the Clan Gathering?

If you wish to attend the Clan Gathering in Ennis, you can submit your registration online and pay online via PayPal or you can complete a registration form and pay by Cheque/Check/Bank Draft/Postal Order.

If you wish to register online and pay online, you can do so here:  (link no longer active)

If you wish to pay by Cheque/Check/Bank Draft/Postal Order, you can downalod a Registration Form and an optional Membership Renewal/Application Form here:  Registration Form and Membership Form

24.  Do I need to logon to the Clan web site with a web site username and password to make a booking?

No.  There is no need to logon to the web site with your web site username and password to make a booking.

25.  How do I make an online booking?

You can book online and pay online here:  (link no longer active)

The online booking system consists of 2 pages:

1. An order entry page where you enter the details of your booking.
2. A payments page where you enter your payment details together with your name and address and other contact details.

On the order entry page, please select the options you wish to book for and enter the name(s) of those who will be attending.  You may also enter details of any special dietary requirements and/or any special requests.

Once you have made all your selections and entered the necessary information about your booking, you can press the Submit button to proceed to the payments page.

NOTE: There is no need to logon to the web site with your web site username and password to make a booking.

26.  What if I make a mistake with my online booking or I change my mind?

If you need to change your booking before you complete your payment, press the Back button on your browser to return to your order entry page.  You will then be able to make the necessary corrections before you press the Submit button.

If you need to change your booking after you have completed your payment, or if you have any questions about your booking, please contact the organisers here:  https://odeaclan.org/contact-us/contact-the-ireland-organising-committee/

27.  Can I book for any of the optional activities after I’ve submitted my booking?

Yes.  If you discover that you have omitted an optional activity from your booking or if you later decide that you want to participate in one or more of the optional activities which were not part of your original booking, you can submit another booking for just those optional activities.

Important: When you wish to book for an optional activity, you need to remember that the membership renewal/application option has been selected as the default option on the booking form.  This means that the cost of your membership of the Dysert O’Dea Clan Association will be included as part of the total cost of your booking unless you select the No option.

You need to select the No option if you do not want to renew your membership or apply to become a new member as part of your additional booking request.

28.  What if I encounter problems when trying to submit an online booking?

If you have any difficulties using the online system or if you have any questions about booking online or paying online, please contact the Webmaster:  Contact the Webmaster

29.  If I have to cancel my booking for any reason, can I get a refund?

Yes.  You can send a cancellation request by contacting the Organising Committee here:  https://odeaclan.org/contact-us/contact-the-ireland-organising-committee/

As long as your cancellation is received by 1 May 2014, you will receive a full refund.

30.  When I submit an online booking, what options do I have for paying for my booking?

Online payments are processed by PayPal.   This means that we can accept credit card and debit card payments without the need to become a credit card merchant.
When you submit your payment using PayPal, you have 4 payment options:

1. If you have a PayPal account, you can transfer funds from your PayPal account.
2. If you have a PayPal account and you have a bank account linked to your PayPal account, you can pay by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) from your bank account.
3. Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, etc. depending on your home country).
4. Debit Card (Visa, MasterCard, etc. depending on your home country).

In order to pay using a credit card or debit card, you don’t have to have a PayPal account before you make the payment but PayPal will invite you to create a PayPal account after you enter your credit card/debit card details.

31.  Why has PayPal been chosen to handle the online payments?

PayPal has been chosen because it best meets our key requirements:

1. Safety and security.
2. Cost-effective way of handling a small volume of transactions.
3. Inexpensive way of handling small amounts.
4. Provides the customer with a choice of payment methods (funds transfer, credit card, debit card).
5. Enables the Clan to accept credit card and debit card payments without the need to become a credit card merchant thus avoiding the high costs that this entails.
6. Easy to integrate with our own web site to make it easier for the user.
7. Simple to use.
8. Ability to handle multiple currencies.

In addition, the Clan Association has been using PayPal for several years now to enable members to pay their membership subscriptions online and we’ve successfully used PayPal to handle the payments for online bookings for the 2nd Australian Clan Reunion held in Adelaide in 2010 as well as the 3rd Clan Reunion held in Adelaide in 2013.

32.  Do I have to pay any extra fees for making an online payment via PayPal?

No.  There are no extra fees charged by PayPal to you, the consumer, for making an online payment.  You may find that there are certain fees charged by your bank or your credit card provider but these would the same fees that apply to any transaction of that type.

The only fees charged by PayPal are transaction fees which are charged to the merchant, not the consumer.  These fees are paid by the organisers of the Clan Gathering.

33.  How is this different from the Clan Association operating as a credit card merchant?

If the Clan Association was to become a credit card merchant, there would be many other fees in addition to a transaction fee for each transaction such as establishment fees, joining fees, annual administration fees, monthly access fees, minimum merchant service fees, and credit card authorisation fees.

34.  Do I need to have a PayPal account to use PayPal?

If you are using your credit card or debit card you don’t need to have a PayPal account to use PayPal.  If you wish to make payment by transferring funds from your PayPal account or your bank account, you will need to open a PayPal account.

35.  Is it safe to use PayPal?

Yes, it’s very safe.  The likelihood of fraud occurring when you submit an online payment via PayPal is very small.  This is because of the high level of security that is employed.  For example, sensitive data transmitted over the Internet is protected by the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol with an encryption key length of 168 bits (the highest level commercially available).

In any event, PayPal provides a 100% protection against unauthorised payments sent from your account.  As a fraud-prevention measure, PayPal sends an email confirmation for every online PayPal payment that you make.  If you receive an email confirmation for a transaction that you didn’t approve, you can contact PayPal to report the issue — you won’t be responsible for any unauthorised charges.

36.  What happens once my payment has been submitted?

Your payment will be processed by PayPal.  Once your payment has been processed you will receive a receipt by e-mail.  This e-mail is sent automatically by PayPal.  This will contain details of your booking and your payment.  This is your booking confirmation.

37.  What if I don’t receive an e-mail from PayPal?

It normally takes a few minutes for the e-mail receipt from PayPal to arrive.  If you don’t receive an e-mail within an hour after you have submitted your payment, you should first check your Junk E-mail folder to see if it has been flagged as suspicious.  If you can’t find it anywhere, please contact the Organising Committee here:  https://odeaclan.org/contact-us/contact-the-ireland-organising-committee/

38.  I’m not comfortable about booking online or paying online.  Are there any other options open to me?

Yes.  If, for any reason you do not wish to book online and pay online, you can download and print a registration form and pay by Cheque/Check/Bank Draft/Postal Order.

A Registration Form and an optional Membership Renewal/Application Form can be downloaded here:  Registration Form and Membership Form

39.  If I decide to download the Registration Form and the Membership Renewal/Application Form, what should I do next?

Each of the two forms (the Registration Form and the Membership Renewal/Application Form) you download from the web site is an interactive PDF (Portable Document Format) form.  Each form can be used as a “fill-and-print” form or a “print-and-fill” form.  A “fill-and-print” form means that you can enter your information in the form and then print it.  A “print-and-fill” form means that you can print a blank form and complete the form by hand.

In either case, once the form or forms have been completed, you will need a Cheque/Check/Bank Draft/Postal Order in Euro for the total amount owing made payable to O’Dea Clan Gathering.  Please mail your form or forms together with your remittance to the address shown at the bottom of the form.

40.  If I download the PDF file containing the Registration Form and the Membership Renewal/Application Form and I fill in the form or forms by typing the required information into the file, will my booking be accepted if I send the file to the organisers by email?

Unfortunately not.  The organisers can only accept a booking if payment is made with the booking.

41.  If I wish to pay by Cheque/Check/Bank Draft/Postal Order, can I choose a currency other than Euro?

Unfortunately not.  Past experience has shown that currency exchange rate volatility can have an adverse impact on the budget for the Clan Gathering so we need all payments to be made in Euro.  No other currencies will be accepted.