Clans of Ireland

Clans of Ireland
Finte na hÉireann
Formation 1989
Founder Rory O'Connor Kerry
Type Irish clans
Irish genealogy
Gaelic culture
Headquarters Ireland
Chair
 Gearóid Ó Ceallaigh
Website clansofireland.ie

Clans of Ireland (Irish: Finte na hÉireann) is an independent organisation established in 1989 with the purpose of creating and maintaining a Register of Irish Clans. The Patron of Clans of Ireland is Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland.

Background

The growing influence of the Gaelic League at the turn of the twentieth century rekindled an interest in Gaelic culture and prompted a cultural revival and interest in Irish Clans. In the 1940s Edward MacLysaght, the Chief Herald of Ireland, drew up a list of Irish clans (see MacLysaght, Irish Families) and began to publish a number of works on the history and background of Irish families. Irish "clans" were organised in the latter half of the twentieth century under the umbrella body, Clans of Ireland, or Finte na hÉireann. Membership is open to family groups with proven Irish history and genealogy.

Clan structure

Brehon Law, the ancient legal system of Ireland, defined the clan system in pre-Norman Ireland, which began to collapse following the Tudor Conquest. The Irish, when speaking of themselves, employed their term 'clan' which means "family" in Irish and generally refers to a large family grouping. The Gaelic word 'fine' (pron. fina) describes the smaller, more intimate family grouping. Related Irish 'fine' (sometimes known as 'septs') often belong to larger clan groups, sometimes referred to as tribes in English, such as the Dál gCais, Uí Néill, Uí Fiachrach, and Uí Maine. As the population of clans increased, the 'fine' became more significant and by the tenth century these sub-groups took the name of their own sub-chief, (Ceann Fine); such as the Mac Aodhagáin, the sons of Aodhagáin (anglicised to Egan), who were part of the extensive Uí Maine Clan, or Ó hUigin, grandsons of Uiginn (anglicised to Higgins), part of Cenél Fiachach founded by Fiachu Mac Neill, son of Niall of Tara. In this way many of the Irish surnames, in use today, were developed.

Foundation

In 1989 Rory O'Connor, the elected Chieftain of the O'Connor Kerry Clan, set out to bring about a revival in the organisation of the Irish Clans. It was his intention that there would be a branch of each Irish clan organised in every county in Ireland and in every continent around the world. It was also his ambition that once the individual clans had been organised there would be a mass gathering of all of the clans at the Hill of Tara, the symbolic seat of the Irish High King. To this end, he wrote to newspapers, cultural organisations and individuals across Ireland encouraging people to begin to organise themselves in clan associations. He obtained support from Mr. Martin Dully, then Chairman of Bórd Fáilte (Irish Tourist Board), and the Minister for Tourism at the time as well as the Chief Herald of Ireland. On 6 November 1989 a press conference was held in Dublin to announce the opening of the office of Clans of Ireland which was to be initially located at the Genealogical Office in Dublin. The purpose of Clans of Ireland was to support and co-ordinate the activities of the various clan organisations in Ireland and around the world and to create and maintain a Register of Clans. In 1990, Clans of Ireland obtained charitable status and also became a limited company.

Recent developments

Today, the board of directors of Clans of Ireland meets several times each year at the Chapter House in Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. The Chair, or Cathaoirleach, holds office for three years. The current Cathaoirleach is An tUas. Gearóid Ó Ceallaigh of the O'Kelly Sept of the Dál gCais Clan. Other office holders have included Nora Hickey Keohane of the Keohanes of West Cork – Ó Ceocháin and Dr Michael Egan of Mac Egan of Hy Many – Mac Aodhagáin Uí Maine. Once each year Clans of Ireland holds a conference, including general meeting, usually in Dublin. In 2010, the 21st anniversary of its foundation, Clans of Ireland instituted the Order of Clans of Ireland, an order of merit established to honour individuals who contributed to Irish culture and heritage or who have brought honour to their Clan. In 2012 Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland became Patron of Clans of Ireland, and the organisation also recognition from the United Nations as a civil society organisation. In 2015 President Higgins hosted the Ceannairí and Taoisigh (Chiefs) of the Clans of Ireland at his official residence, Áras an Uachtaráin.

In 2018, the Standing Council of Irish Chiefs and Chieftains entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Clans of Ireland, bringing the interests of the members of historic families and clans into alignment with hereditary Irish chiefs.

See also

References

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