The Ó Súilleabháin Clann of Munster

Mission:

• To preserve and promote the tribal identity of the Ó Súilleabháin clan.

• To preserve and promote the Gaelic identity of the Ó Súilleabháin clan, including the language, music, art, history, literature, theology, philosophy, myths, and legends of the Milesian Celts.

• To support any historical research that reveals the manners and customs of our ancestors.

• To identify, recognize, and honor our ancestors.

• To support yDNA research that supports the Milesian tradition and the noble pedigrees of the Ó Súilleabháin clan and to counter any proposals that contradict the beliefs of our ancestors. Specifically, to support yDNA research that will enable clan members to determine to which sub-branch of the clan they belong.

• To preserve and promote the tribal identity of the Ó Súilleabháin MhicRaith sept (Sliocht MhicRaith), including its birthright to the title, ‘The Ó Súilleabháin Mór, Hereditary Chief of the Name’, upon the extinction of the Ó Súilleabháin MhicRuairi line.

• To establish and maintain a fully functional gelfhine, derbhfine, íarfine, and indfhine to administer the affairs of the Ó Súilleabháin Clan of Munster.

• To identify the legitimate righ-damhna MhicRaith of the clan and to duly elect ‘The Ó Súilleabháin Mór, Hereditary Chief of the Name’ from the body of the said recognized righ-damhna MhicRaith.

• To follow the Laws of Tanistry in the conduct of the clan as interpreted and determined by the gelfhine.

• To commission the derbhfine to identify and officially recognize the legitimate standing Irish clan chiefs and to seek and establish formal relations between the clans.

• To seek and establish formal relations between the clans and other royal houses of the world, particularly the noble courts of Europe.

• To promote the world-wide recognition of the Gaelic Chief, and his derbhfine, as a non-regnant monarch and his ‘privy council’ of dynastic ‘princes du sang’ (princes of the blood).

• To embrace and defend the sacred relationship between the Irish clans and their ancestral lands.

• To aggressively counter any and all anti-clan rhetoric and propaganda.

The Gelfhine:

The gelfhine is comprised of all male descendants of the paternal grandfather of the present Chief, between the ages of 16 years and 88 years. The gelfhine serves as ‘privy council’ to the Chief and shall be consulted by the Chief on all important matters concerning the clan’s affairs.

The active members of the gelfhine will also be recognized as active members in the Bond of Blood of the Order of the Oak and Serpent and as righ-damhna MhicRaith. Recognized members of the Bond of Blood of the Order of the Oak and Serpent have the right to wear the gold regalia of the Order at appropriate affairs.

The active members of the gelfhine are encouraged to commission and maintain arms and register these arms with the Chief Herald of the clan and the Chronicler of Arms for the Autonomous Community of Castille & Leon.

If an active member of the gelfhine becomes incapacitated or commits a crime or offense that warrants the loss of his position, the gelfhine must meet, discuss the issue, and conduct a fair vote. An active member of the gelfhine can only be removed from his position with a unanimous vote of the gelfhine, not counting the individual being considered for expulsion.

The gelfhine must meet at least once a year, in the presence of the Chief. A post meeting bonfire is strongly recommended.

The Derbhfine:

The derbhfine is comprised of all male descendants of the paternal great-grandfather of the present Chief, between the ages of 16 years and 88 years.

Active members of the derbfhine will serve as advisors to the Chief and the gelfhine and will have the right to vote in the election of the Chief.

Active members of the derbhfine will be eligible to be members of the Bond of Honor of the Order of the Oak and Serpent and be recognized as righ-damhna MhicRaith. Recognized members of the Bond of Honor of the Order of the Oak and Serpent have the right to wear the silver regalia of the Order at appropriate affairs.

In the event the gelfhine dwindles in number, below which it remains functional, members of the derbhfine can be admitted into the gelfhine with the consent of the Chief and a unanimous vote of approval by the standing members of the gelfhine. Once admitted to the gelfhine, this individual shall enjoy all rights, responsibilities, and privileges of the gelfhine. Remarkable and unusually accomplished members of the derbhfine, who may contribute greatly to the reputation, functioning, and survival of the gelfhine, may be admitted to the gelfhine with the consent of the Chief and a unanimous vote of approval by the standing members of the gelfhine.

If a member of the derbhfine becomes incapacitated or commits a crime or offense that warrants the loss of his position, the gelfhine must meet, discuss the issue, and conduct a fair vote. A member of the derbhfine can only be removed from office with a unanimous vote of the gelfhine, not counting the individual being considered for expulsion.

The Íarfine:

The íarfine is comprised of all male descendants of the paternal great-great-grandfather of the present Chief, between the ages of 16 years and 88 years.

Active members of the íarfine will be recognized and recorded by the Chief and the derbhfine but will not have the right to vote in sept or clan matters.

In the event the derbhfine dwindles in number, below which it remains functional, members of the íarfine can be admitted into the derbfhine with the consent of the Chief and a unanimous vote of approval by the standing members of the gelfhine. Once admitted to the derbhfine this individual shall enjoy all rights, responsibilities, and privileges of the derbhfine Remarkable and unusually accomplished members of the Íarfine, who may contribute greatly to the reputation, functioning, and survival of the derbhfine, may be admitted to the derbhfine with the consent of the Chief and a unanimous vote of approval by the standing members of the gelfhine.

If a member of the íarfine becomes incapacitated or commits a crime or offense that warrants the loss of his position, the gelfhine must meet, discuss the issue, and conduct a fair vote. A member of the íarfine can only be removed from office with a unanimous vote of the gelfhine, not counting the individual being considered for expulsion.

The Indfhine:

The indfhine is comprised of all male descendants of the paternal great-great-great-grandfather of the present Chief, between the ages of 16 years and 88 years.

Active members of the indfhine will be recognized and recorded by the Chief and the derbhfine but will not have the right to vote in sept or clan matters.

In the event the íarfine dwindles in number, below which it remains functional, members of the indfhine can be admitted into the íarfine with the consent of the Chief and a unanimous vote of approval by the standing members of the gelfhine. Once admitted to the íarfine, this individual shall enjoy all rights, responsibilities, and privileges of the íarfine. Remarkable and unusually accomplished members of the indhfine, who may contribute greatly to the reputation, functioning, and survival of the íarfine, may be admitted to the íarfine with the consent of the Chief and a unanimous vote of approval by the standing members of the gelfhine.

If a member of the indfhine becomes incapacitated or commits a crime or offense that warrants the loss of his position, the gelfhine must meet, discuss the issue, and conduct a fair vote. A member of

the indfhine can only be removed from office with a unanimous vote of the gelfhine, not counting the individual being considered for expulsion.

The Chief:

The official title of the chief will be ‘The Ó Súilleabháin Mór, Hereditary Chief of the Name’.

The Chief will be elected by the derbhfine with a simple majority vote. The Chief, once duly elected by the derbhfine, will serve until he dies, voluntarily abdicates, reaches the age of 88 years, or is deposed. The Chief will have the final say in all clan matters, albeit with the council of the derbhfine. The Chief will be the steward of all properties owned by the clan, including the title, ‘The Ó Súilleabháin Mór, Hereditary Chief of the Name’. The Chief will name a Tánaiste, who must be an active member of the derbhfine and who will serve as deputy Chief during the lifetime of the Chief and will be the preferred candidate for the title of Chief, upon the Chief’s death, abdication, his reaching the age of 88 years, or his demise.

If the Chief becomes incapacitated or commits a crime or offense that warrants the loss of his title, the derbhfine must meet, discuss the issue, and conduct a fair vote. The Chief can only be removed from office with a unanimous vote of the derbhfine, not counting the Chief himself.

The Chief will be charged with maintaining the clan website, maintaining access to the Oak and Serpent, maintaining clan membership in Clans of Ireland, maintaining cordial relations with the other registered clans, seeking and maintaining cordial relations with the royal houses of the world, promoting a recognition of Irish nobility by other international noble communities, promoting the welfare of the members of the derbhfine and the clan at large, promoting and maintaining cordial relations within the derbhfine and the clan at large, ensuring that the clan affairs are conducted fairly, competently, and within the bounds of the laws of tanistry, when possible, appointing an eligible and capable successor, promoting and preserving the Gaelic culture including its language, art, music, literature, customs, and history. The Chief will also be charged with maintaining arms and registering his arms with the Chief Herald of the clan and the Chronicler of Arms for the Autonomous Community of Castille & Leon.

The criteria to be Chief include:

• Must be a member of the derbhfine and be recognized as righ-damhna MhicRaith.

• Must be between the ages of 16 and 88.

• Must have the mental, physical, emotional, and financial wherewithal to perform the

              duties of Chief.

• The duties of the Chief include:

• Stay faithful to the Mission Statement of the Ó Súilleabháin Clan of Munster.

• Conduct himself properly as a ‘prince du sang’ of the Kingdom of Munster.

• Maintain and promote cordial relations with the other Irish clans.

• Maintain and promote cordial relations with the other royal houses of the world.

• Represent the clan at the Annual General Meeting of the Clans of Munster.

• Preside over any and all official meetings of the gelfhine and derbhfine.

• Define the gelfhine of the clan as the descendants of the Chief’s paternal grandfather.

• Appoint a Tánaiste.

• Make all final decisions concerning the administration of the clan after consulting the  

              derbhfine and carefully considering their opinions on the matter.

• Be responsible for the financial needs of the clan.

• Be the arbitrator of justice in matters concerning the clan.

• Must call and preside over an annual meeting of the gelfhine.

• Must call and preside over an annual meeting of the derbhfine.

• May call and preside over a meeting of the clan at large, at will.

The Tánaiste:

The Tánaiste will be appointed by the Chief and serve at his liege as his assistant in clan affairs, his representative to the clan in the event of the Chief’s absence, and the favored successor of the Chief upon his demise.

As the Chief’s favored choice to succeed, the Tánaiste’s vote will count as four votes in his mandatory election to succeed as Chief. If the Tánaiste fails to win his election by simple majority, then an open election must occur, in which any active member of the derbhfine may be elected Chief with a simple majority.

The criteria to be Tánaiste include:

• Must be a member of the derbhfine and be recognized as Righ-damhna MhicRaith.

• Must be between the ages of 16 and 88.

• Must have the mental, physical, emotional, and financial wherewithal to perform the

              duties of Chief.

References:

Celtic Ireland, Eoin MacNeill, Dublin, 1921.

From Gelfhine to Indfhine, The Organisation of Kin in Early Irish Law, Kristine Kvam, Masters Thesis in Medioeval Studies, Celtic Language and Literature, Department of Liguistics and Scandinavian Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oslo, 08.11