1 August 2024 

A chara,

I want to begin by announcing the winner of the 2024 Essay Competition.
 
This year, there was a strong list of competitive entries, which were adjudicated by a panel chaired by the renowned Dr Katharine Simms. In her adjudication report, Dr Simms wrote that they “found a final judgement particularly difficult this year as it came down to a choice between apples and oranges, so to speak”.
 
The winner of the 2024 Chiefs and Clans Essay Competition is an essay by Cora Crampton, a local historian whose entry, “Three women of the O’Byrnes: perspectives on Gaelic political marriage in the sixteenth century”, explores the position of sixteenth-century Gaelic aristocratic women with sympathy, referring not only to current scholarship on the wars in Leinster, but the conflict of brehon law and canon law.
 
Mr Tommy Graham, Editor of History Ireland, expressed his unreserved decision to publish the winning essay in the Nov/Dec ’24 issue of this most worthwhile magazine, adding that coincidentally, it dovetails with some articles that, I understand, explore the Brehon Laws/ Cáin Adomnáin difficulties dealing with carnal relations in Tudor Ireland, which are intended for publication in the Sept/Oct issue of the magazine. Luke McInerney, Clans of Ireland Director of Publications, declared that there were at least two entries deserving of publication in the next Anthology of Essays, expected to be published in 2026.
 
I would now like to thank both the subscribers of Linea Antiqua, as well as Luke McInerney and Rob O’Halloran, who have undertaken this massive and intensive editorial project on an unpaid and voluntary basis. I would also like to welcome Dr Russell Ó Riagáin, who has agreed to join the team and will begin work with Luke and Rob at the end ofthe Summer.  You will recall that Dr Russell Ó Riagáin presented a lecture to Clans of Ireland on “Contextualising Middle Irish Genealogy”, in June 2023, viewable, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CR_hSS7gVI&t=114s.
 
The priority is that the final publication will be of such significance for all students of Irish genealogy that it will set a standard for historical transcription for generations to come. I understand that some of us are eagerly anticipating the finished work, but it is worth repeating that the overarching priority is that the transcription will be the best and most accessible production possible for contemporary readers. I was recently reminded of how inaccessible the original Linea Antiqua is and how transformative our transcription will be. I want to thank all of those people who subscribed to this project, as without your involvement, it would not have been possible. A precise date cannot yet be anticipated, but Subscribers will be given as much notice as possible of the Launch, to which they will be invited.
 
The matter currently receiving considerable analysis by the Board is how the names of our member organisations reflect their individual origins. Most Ceannairi or clan leaders are aware of the importance of distinguishing their clan from unrelated kindred groups who may share the same surname.
 
I cannot stress forcefully enough how inadequate the use of a simple surname is in the world of Irish clans and historical families. It is quite unsatisfactory to record a member organisation’s name without either a precise geographic or kindred reference of origin, unless it does not wish to be considered as a clan and will simply be considered as a name association. The policy of Clans of Ireland to offer membership only to applicants that have provided proof of historical geographic or kindred origin is now strictly enforced by the Registration Committee.
 
Clear examples of best practice in the differentiation of origin is available by considering the various members who are all loosely anglicised as Fitzpatrick, all of whom have different origins and none of whom have a shared kindred or progenitor.
 
Mac Gilpatrick of the tribe of Cas – Mac Giolla Phádraig Dál gCais / Fitzpatrick
Mac Gilpatrick of Leinster – Mac GiollaPhádraig Laighean / Fitzpatrick
Mac Gilpatrick of Ulster – Mac Giolla Phádraig Ulaidh / Fitzpatrick
O’Mulpatrick of Bréifne – Ó Maol Phádraig Bréifne / Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick of Upper Ossory.
 
A point worth noting is that general descriptions, such as county references, are not references to hereditary territory(dúiche na fine). This is emphatically not what Clans of Ireland is trying to achieve, as county references, in particular,suggest a lack of accuracy as relevant historical references, given that counties did not come into being until the 16th century or close to the end of the Gaelic period. This applies to all member organisations, Gaelic, Anglo-Norman, Gallowglass or more recent historical families.
 
In summary, those member organisations whose names do not reflect an historically accurate origin as a clan or historical family are considered to be name associations. I suggest that should you wish to seek advice on this matter, you engage with Michael O’Crowley, the Clans of Ireland Registrar, who is always willing to share his knowledge and experience.
 
I will finish with a reminder that the festival of Lughnasadh, celebrated in Ireland since pre-historic times, is almost upon us. The festival was reputedly named after Lugh Lámhfhada, who took his name after the month of August, or Lúnasa in Irish.
 
The mythological story is that Lugh wanted to mourn his foster mother, the goddess Queen Tailtiu, following her death on the first of August, so he invited the people of Ireland to her funeral and buried her under a mound at Teltown in the ancient Ríocht na Midhe, (Kingdom of Meath), approximating to the contemporary counties of Meath, Louth, Westmeath and Longford and even encompassing parts of Dublin, Cavan and Kildare at its height. The date of this, the first Óenach Tailten, is often debated but may have been as early as the Neolithic period.
 
It was the responsibility of a clan chieftain to convene a regular assembly of the people of the túath, an Óenach, for political, social, and perhaps commercial purposes. In the case of an overking, the Óenach would have been attended by people from a number of túatha, such as at Óenach Tailten, under the auspices of the king of Tara.
 
Óenach festivities included feasts with the newly harvested crops, entertainment with music and dance, matchmaking, and sporting games, such as running, long and high jump, and horse racing. There were also contests of storytelling. The pre-Christian marriage ritual of hand-fasting would have taken place at these festivals where a couple would be bound
Together with ribbon, possibly the origin of the term tying the knot. Indeed, this ritual was used by my daughter, Dubheasa, during her recent marriage ceremony.
 
Such festivities are still celebrated in Ireland today, such as at Puck Fair in Killorglin, County Kerry, which dates back to the sixteenth century and has its roots in Lughnasadh.

Is mise le meas,

Gearóid Ó Ceallaigh
Cathaoirleach