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Spring l964 was busier than usual for me. A group of us were endeavouring to acknowledge our local Clogher Valley author, William Carleton, by having a plaque erected on the cottage at Springtown, near Augher, where the author lived during his boyhood years around 1819. It was during the preparation of this event, as Secretary of the Carleton Society, that I was introduced to the tall young figure, Lord Hamilton, son of the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, of Baronscourt near Omagh. This young man was then our local M.P. I became known to him as Mary McKenna during the planning of this project.
It was around that time that the parents of young Lord Hamilton were on holidays in England. One of their outdoor events was a visit to Aintree Races. By sheer coincidence the spectators beside them were Senor Santa Cruz and his wife, Adriana Santa Cruz from Chile. Senor Santa Cruz was at that time the Chilean Ambassador to London, an office he held for four years. They immediately became interested in each other’s countries, especially when Senor Santa Cruz introduced his wife as a descendant of General Don Juan McKenna, who was born at Willville on the outskirts of Monaghan town in 1771. Their new acquaintances explained that they were from County Tyrone, the neighbouring county.
On reflecting, the Duke remembered that he had heard his son remark that he had met a Mary McKenna at the ceremony of the plaque in the Clogher Valley. It proved very exciting, and a really worthwhile conversation began. The Duke and Duchess very kindly invited the Santa Cruzs over to their home at Baronscourt for a weekend. Not having been in Ireland before, they were overjoyed. Their new host immediately got in touch with me, and arranged a visit to my home at Kilrudden. The Duke and Duchess accompanied them on their trip.
After introductions, we made our way to Co. Monaghan. Our first stop was the ancient graveyard in Errigal Truagh, where lots of pictures were taken, most of them bearing inscriptions and ancient Coats of Arms relating to the MacKenna family. We then made our way to Willville House, on the outskirts of Monaghan town, where Adriana Santa Cruz’s ancestor, General Don Juan McKenna, was born in 1771. His parents were William McKenna and Eleanor O’Reilly of Ballymorris. General McKenna was fourth in lineal descent from Shane McToole, Major McKenna, the last Chief of the clann.
We were received very graciously by the Mullans of Willville House. After a tour of the house and lots of photographs we said our goodbyes and made our way back to Kilrudden, where my daughter, Carmel, presented our guests with pieces of Irish lace made in my family. These were very much appreciated. Our friendship did not end here; it opened up a new Chilean acquaintance with McKennas in the home country.
