O'Driscolls of the world, unite and take over...

So, the O'Driscoll Clan Gathering is about to commence. Granted, the concept may be unfamiliar; it certainly was to me in my pre-Baltimore days, when every family name seemed to branch out from myriad roots, with competing seats and claims to chieftain-hood.

Not so the O'Driscolls. The theory goes that if you're an O'Driscoll, no matter where in the world, you're originally from Baltimore. (Although technically - and this clearly is not the time to labour the point - they used to live in other parts of the country.) Anyhoo, the O'Driscolls were driven here in the 13th century (by... ahem... the O'Sullivans), and Baltimore + Environs became their family seat, which they peppered with castles and forts and all kinds of stronghold-ey type dwellings. Short version: they thrived for centuries (thanks in part to some pirate-ey antics), were suppressed yet again, spread across the world, and now return to raise a glass to themselves once a year.

I'm guessing by Monday I'll know more. They arrive this evening.