Professor James Flannery of Emory University, Atlanta, meeting his cousin, Ann Flannery, in her Athlone pub.

US lecturer discovers he's related to Athlone publican

A lecturer from an American University who was in Athlone for the town's annual Literary Festival last weekend made a surprise discovery during the visit.

Professor James Flannery of Emory University in Atlanta dropped into Flannery's pub on Sean Costello Street last Sunday, where he discovered that he is related to its well-known publican, Ann Flannery.

Earlier in the evening, Prof Flannery took part in the festival's concluding talk: a unique and wonderful event discussing the role of culture in the Irish diaspora communities.

The talk, which was chaired by Dr Marian Fitzgibbon of Athlone IT, also involved Grammy award winning composer Bill Whelan, and Ballinasloe-based writer Nuala Ní Chonchúir.

It opened with a reading by Ms Ní Chonchúir from her book 'Mother America'.

Bill Whelan spoke about the need for society to continue to have what he described as intimate cultural experiments, and he said this was increasingly important in the virtually-driven world in which we live.

Prof Flannery spoke movingly about how his father had left Clonmacnois after the War of Independence and how, in many ways, his clock had stopped when he left Ireland. The event concluded with wonderful music from James Donohoe.

In a local twist, James Flannery visited Flannery's pub that evening only to discover he and its proprietor Ann are related. It was a fitting conclusion to a day that had placed so much emphasis on making and keeping connections.

Jackie Gorman of the Athlone Literary Festival commented: 'The final event of this year's festival was a wonderful and fitting conclusion to this year's event and we were delighted to have Jim Flannery and Bill Whelan have such an animated and engaged discussion on culture. It was also great to have such engagement from the audience.'

More information is available on www.athloneliteraryfestival.com