Nearby the Kilmore Cathedral was the the site of the wonderful Story homestead of Bingfield in County Cavan. It is a most impressive house built by Joseph
Story who settled there in 1758. I was so happy for Peter Story who travelled from Canada along with his daughter Patti, as they saw for the first time, the Bingfield house where Peter's grandfather was born. I understood fully how Peter and Patti felt
as they stood in front of the Bingfield house, for it was the same sense of awe that I had experienced only two days prior as I visited the Oldstone district of County Antrim where my Story ancestors had lived. It is impossible to describe to you in words, the deep
emotions that were stirred up within as we each stood on the ground where our Story ancestors had stood nearly 300 years earlier.
Day 3
On the final day of the Reunion, Peter and Patti Story (Canada), Bob Storey (Mexico), Jack Story (Indiana) and Jack Storey (Belfast) all went to the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) in Belfast. There we spent the morning researching our Irish roots. Peter and Patti
had good success in finding information on their Bingfield ancestors. I was able to find some good information about my "Oldstone" connection to the County Antrim Story's.
In the afternoon, the entire group took a break from the genealogy aspect of the reunion and did some shopping at the Ulster Weavers Factory Outlet in Belfast.
Following lunch, some visited Carrickfergus Castle where Dean George Story spent some time as the Chaplain to William III.
Later that evening, we all met at the Liserin House and discussed the events of the past three days. We all agreed that the first ever "Worldwide Storey Reunion" had been a success. All were in agreement that a second Storey reunion should be planned for 2003, perhaps to be held in the U.S.
Heartfelt goodbyes were said, and promises made to stay in touch with each other. We came to Belfast from different parts of the world, but we left as friends and family with a common heritage. We are Storey's and Story's.
I offer this tribute to my cousins who made the Belfast reunion such a special event for me and my wife Pat:
Peter and Patti Story (Canada), Bob and Marvel Storey (Mexico), Paul and Margaret Storey Smith (Seattle), Dennie Story and Mary Carol Bedel (Kentucky), Joe Story (Kentucky), Morely and Carol Storey Johnston (Canada), The wonderful Storey ladies who attended from county Cavan (Hilda, Mavis, Jane and Sylvia). Finally to Jack, Anne and
their family who were all such gracious hosts. Geoffrey Storey, (Lisburn), Robert and Larraine Storey (Belfast), Ruth Storey (Belfast), Anne Kerr and family (Dublin), Brinsley and Valerie Storey Sheridan (London), Martin and Dorothy Storey McClure.
And of course, the next generation of Storey's, James and Lianne.
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