Clans of Ireland
Encyclopedia
Clans of Ireland is an independent organisation established in 1989 with the purpose of creating and maintaining a Register of 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. The first modern Irish “clans“ were established in the latter half of the twentieth century. Today such groups are organised in Ireland
, the USA, Australia and mainland Europe.
. 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 was successful in requesting and obtaining 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. The response from the general public in Ireland and oversees was quite positive and on the 6th of 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.
and its board of directors meets six times per year at the Chapter House in Christ Church Cathedral
in Dublin, a location chosen for its historical significance for Irish Clans
. Once each year Clans of Ireland holds a national general meeting, usually in Dublin, and otherwise continues to support and maintain the Register of Clans. In 2010, the 21st anniversary of its foundation, Clans of Ireland instituted the Order of the Clans of Ireland, an order of merit established to honour individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to Irish culture and heritage or who have brought conspicuous honour to their Clan.
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 ClansIrish clans
Irish clans are traditional kinship groups sharing a common surname and heritage and existing in a lineage based society prior to the 17th century.-History:...
. In the 1940s Edward MacLysaght
Edward MacLysaght
Edward MacLysaght was one of the foremost genealogists of twentieth century Ireland. His numerous books on Irish surnames built upon the work of Patrick Woulfe's Irish Names and Surnames and made him well known to all those researching their family past.-Early life:Edward was born in Flax Bourton...
, 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. The first modern Irish “clans“ were established in the latter half of the twentieth century. Today such groups are organised in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the USA, Australia and mainland Europe.
Sept or Clan
Scholars sometimes disagree about whether it is better to use the terms "sept" or "clan" when referring to traditional Irish family groups. Historically, the term 'sept' was not used in Ireland until the nineteenth century, long after any notion of clanship had been eradicated. It is often argued that the English word 'sept' is most accurate referring to a sub-group within a large clan; especially when that group has taken up residence outside of their clan's original territory. (O'Neill, MacSweeney, and O'Connor are examples.) Related Irish septs and clans often belong to larger groups, sometimes called tribes, such as the Dál gCais, Uí Néill, Uí Fiachrach, and Uí Maine. Recently, the late Edward MacLysaght suggested the English word 'sept' be used in place of the word 'clan' with regards to the historical social structure in Ireland, so as to differentiate it from the centralized Scottish clan system. This would imply that Ireland possessed no formalised clan system, which is not wholly accurate. Brehon Law, the ancient legal system of Ireland clearly defined the clan system in pre-Norman Ireland, which collapsed after the Tudor Conquest. The Irish, when speaking of themselves, employed their term 'clan' which means "family" in Irish.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 ClansIrish clans
Irish clans are traditional kinship groups sharing a common surname and heritage and existing in a lineage based society prior to the 17th century.-History:...
. 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
Hill of Tara
The Hill of Tara , located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland...
, the symbolic seat of the Irish High King
High king
A high king is a king who holds a position of seniority over a group of other kings, without the title of Emperor; compare King of Kings.Rulers who have been termed "high king" include:...
. To this end, he wrote to newspapers, cultural organisations and individuals across Ireland encouraging people to begin to organise themselves in clan associations. He was successful in requesting and obtaining 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. The response from the general public in Ireland and oversees was quite positive and on the 6th of 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, Clans of Ireland maintains a presence on the internetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
and its board of directors meets six times per year at the Chapter House in Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
in Dublin, a location chosen for its historical significance for Irish Clans
Irish clans
Irish clans are traditional kinship groups sharing a common surname and heritage and existing in a lineage based society prior to the 17th century.-History:...
. Once each year Clans of Ireland holds a national general meeting, usually in Dublin, and otherwise continues to support and maintain the Register of Clans. In 2010, the 21st anniversary of its foundation, Clans of Ireland instituted the Order of the Clans of Ireland, an order of merit established to honour individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to Irish culture and heritage or who have brought conspicuous honour to their Clan.
See also
- Irish clansIrish clansIrish clans are traditional kinship groups sharing a common surname and heritage and existing in a lineage based society prior to the 17th century.-History:...
- The Standing Council of Irish Chiefs and ChieftainsThe Standing Council of Irish Chiefs and ChieftainsThe Standing Council of Irish Chiefs and Chieftains is an organisation which was established by the then President of Ireland to bring together the Chiefs of the Name of the Gaelic nobility of Ireland as then recognised by the Chief Herald of Ireland....
- Chief Herald of Ireland