The Standing Council of Irish Chiefs and Chieftains
Encyclopedia
The 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.
by the President of Ireland
, Dr. Mary Robinson
. This was the first time in modern history that the bloodline chieftains of Ireland had gathered to form a new Council of Irish Chiefs. Indeed, it is believed to have been the first ever meeting of all the Irish chiefs whose history stretches back to prehistory
. The only other meeting of this kind ever to have taken place was before the Battle of Kinsale which took place in 1601 when a large group of Irish Chiefs met.
Maguire of Fermanagh
, retired accountant Terence Maguire, was elected chairman of the Irish Chiefs Council for a three year period while The O'Conor Don
of Roscommon
, retired businessman Denis O'Conor Don, was elected deputy-chairman.
In 1999, following a scandal
the Chief Herald of Ireland decided on advice from the Attorney General’s Office that the Irish Government would no longer recognise Chiefs of the Name
and succession would no longer be published in Iris Oifigiúil. The latest amendment and reprint of the constitution of the Standing Council was published that same year.
Regardless of the non admission of new members the Standing Council continues to operate to fulfill the following objectives:
, the current head of the Clandeboye
O'Neill dynasty
, whose family has been in Portugal
since the 18th century. Further particulars of the activities of The Standing Council of Irish Chiefs and Chieftains may be obtained by writing to The O’Morchoe
[omor@esatclear.ie]
After the 2007 election in Ireland
, a new National Library Board, overseeing the Genealogical Office and the Office of the Chief Herald, Mr. Fergus Gillespie, was expected to consider the future relationships of the Chiefs and the Chief Herald.
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
to bring together the Chiefs of the Name
Chiefs of the Name
The Chief of the Name, or in older English usage Captain of his Nation, is the recognised head of a family or clan...
of the Gaelic nobility of Ireland as then recognised by the Chief Herald of Ireland.
History
On October 5, 1991 sixteen of the nineteen bloodline Chiefs, some of whom travelled from various parts of Europe, were received at Aras an UachtarainÁras an Uachtaráin
Áras an Uachtaráin , formerly the Viceregal Lodge, is the official residence of the President of Ireland. It is located in the Phoenix Park on the northside of Dublin.-Origins:...
by the President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
, Dr. Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
. This was the first time in modern history that the bloodline chieftains of Ireland had gathered to form a new Council of Irish Chiefs. Indeed, it is believed to have been the first ever meeting of all the Irish chiefs whose history stretches back to prehistory
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
. The only other meeting of this kind ever to have taken place was before the Battle of Kinsale which took place in 1601 when a large group of Irish Chiefs met.
Maguire of Fermanagh
Maguire of Fermanagh
List of the Macguires of Fermanagh ....
, retired accountant Terence Maguire, was elected chairman of the Irish Chiefs Council for a three year period while The O'Conor Don
O'Conor Don
The Ó Conchubhair Donn is the hereditary Prince and Chief of the Name of the Royal Family of Connacht, the Clan Ó Conchubhair.-Overview:...
of Roscommon
Roscommon
Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
, retired businessman Denis O'Conor Don, was elected deputy-chairman.
In 1999, following a scandal
Terence Francis MacCarthy
Terence Francis MacCarthy , formerly self-styled Tadhg V, The MacCarthy Mór, Prince of Desmond and Lord of Kerslawny, is a genealogist, historian, and writer. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, he is a resident of Morocco...
the Chief Herald of Ireland decided on advice from the Attorney General’s Office that the Irish Government would no longer recognise Chiefs of the Name
Chiefs of the Name
The Chief of the Name, or in older English usage Captain of his Nation, is the recognised head of a family or clan...
and succession would no longer be published in Iris Oifigiúil. The latest amendment and reprint of the constitution of the Standing Council was published that same year.
Membership and objectives
Previously any hereditary Chief or Chieftain of a Gaelic Irish Surname recognised as such by the Chief Herald of Ireland and registered in Clár na dTaoiseach could be admitted provided that proof of hereditary origin was vetted by the Chief Herald and that the Name is approved at an AGM of the Standing Council. However, in 2003 the Chief Herald of Ireland ceased providing courtesy recognition to Chiefs of the Name and consequently the Standing Council has temporarily postponed admitting new members until a new mechanism for recognition can be found.Regardless of the non admission of new members the Standing Council continues to operate to fulfill the following objectives:
- To consider matters affecting the Irish Chiefs, Chieftains and the clans they represent;
- To submit its view and interests to Government, to Departments of State, to local authorities, to Press and Public and to Associations connected with and Family in Ireland and overseas;
- To educate the general public in matters connected with the rights, functions and historical position of Irish Chiefs and Chieftains;
- To take such steps as may seem expedient to protect the titles, armorial bearings and other appurtenances of Chiefs and Chieftains from exploitation or misuse in trade or otherwise;
- To promote and preserve the Gaelic heritage of Ireland;
- Any other objects related to the above subjects.
Today
The current Chairman of The Standing Council of Irish Chiefs and Chieftains is Dr. Hugo Ricciardi O'NeillHugo Ricciardi O'Neill
Hugo Ricciardi O'Neill is the current head of the O'Neill dynasty of Clanaboy, whose family has been in Portugal since the 18th century.-Recognition:...
, the current head of the Clandeboye
Clandeboye
Clandeboye is in modern times an area of Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is named after the Clandeboye family, a branch of the O'Neill dynasty. They settled in the 1330s after the death of the Earl of Ulster in what is now south Antrim and north Down, giving their name to the territory...
O'Neill dynasty
O'Neill dynasty
The O'Neill dynasty is a group of families that have held prominent positions and titles throughout European history. The O'Neills take their name from Niall Glúndub, an early 10th century High King of Ireland from the Cenél nEógain...
, whose family has been in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
since the 18th century. Further particulars of the activities of The Standing Council of Irish Chiefs and Chieftains may be obtained by writing to The O’Morchoe
David O'Morchoe
Major General David Nial Creagh, The O'Morchoe , CB, CBE, KLJ, is the hereditary Chief and Prince of the Ó Murchadha Sept, a cadet line of the ancient Irish dynasty the Uí Cheinnselaig, who were Kings of Leinster...
[omor@esatclear.ie]
After the 2007 election in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, a new National Library Board, overseeing the Genealogical Office and the Office of the Chief Herald, Mr. Fergus Gillespie, was expected to consider the future relationships of the Chiefs and the Chief Herald.