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Clanaboy derives from the Gaelic ‘Clann Aedh Buidhe’ which became anglicised to ‘Clan of Fair Hugh’ a sept of the O’Neills of Ireland, descended from the Princes of Ireland.

Lyndsay is a fifth generation Kiwi, whose paternal great-great-grandfather Dr James O’Neill arrived at the Bay of Islands in 1839 with his wife, Catherine. Shortly thereafter they moved to the new settlement of Auckland, where James set up the first Pharmacy in Queen Street. Their ten hectare property at Freemans Bay was named ‘Clanaboy’, subsequently purchased in 1852 by Bishop Pompallier as the Catholic Bishopric and then, as St Annes, for the Sisters of Mercy as a Convent and School.

James played a prominent part in the early history of Auckland and New Zealand. He was elected to the first Auckland Borough Council in 1851; Auckland Provincial Council in 1853-57; represented the City in the House of Representatives (1853-55). He was then called to the Legislative Council in 1869 before retiring in 1872 to Southsea, England – apparently so as to find suitable spouses for his five daughters! The family tree shows they all duly married Royal Navy Captains.

Allan is a first generation Kiwi by choice, having emigrated from England in 1963. His family tree roots are located on the southern side of the England/Scotland border as a descendant of the infamous Reivers.

They have hosted for many years now and thoroughly enjoy greeting and sharing their own experiences of travel and all that the Bay has to offer.