This article concerns the

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, an ...

nobility of Ireland from ancient to modern times. It only partly overlaps with Chiefs of the Name because it excludes

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

and other discussion. It is one of three groups of Irish nobility, the others being those nobles descended from the

Hiberno-Normans From the 12th century onwards, a group of Normans invaded and settled in Gaelic Ireland. These settlers later became known as Norman Irish or Hiberno-Normans. They originated mainly among Cambro-Norman families in Wales and Anglo-Normans from ...

and those granted titles of nobility in the Peerage of Ireland.

Legal status

By the time of the Treaty of Limerick, almost all Gaelic nobles had lost any semblance of real power in their (former) domains. Today, such historical titles have no special legal status in the

Republic of Ireland Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island. ...

, unlike in

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is #Descriptions, variously described as ...

, which has remained a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland does not confer titles of nobility under its constitution. From 1943 until 2003 some of the modern representatives of the Gaelic nobility obtained a courtesy recognition as Chiefs of the Name from the Irish government. The practice ended in 2003 following certain scandals ( Terence Francis MacCarthy) and under concerns that it was unconstitutional. Disputed titles, as well as those for whom recognition is still pending, are not listed.

Nobles

Clann A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clans may claim descent from founding member or apical ancestor. Clans, in indigenous societies, tend to be endogamous, meani ...

territories were under the rule and control of a Chief, who was elected by a system called tanistry; voted by descendants (within three generations) of the preceding Chief. The designation as Chief was also referred to as a King (Ri), Lord (Tiarna), or Captain of his countries, all of which were roughly equivalent prior to the collapse of the Gaelic order. The concept of a hereditary "title" originated with the adoption of English law, the policy of surrender and regrant and the collapse of the Gaelic order during the period from approximately 1585–1610. Because the election of a new chief would almost always be from the same family (or families) within a tribal area, each family developed a long history of ruling within an area, which gave rise to the concept of Gaelic nobility. However, ruling titles did not pass by hereditary descent; rather it was by election and bloodshed, given the absence of criminal penalties for the death of an opponent. All below are flatha (princes) and also descendants in the male line, however distant in some cases, from at least one historical grade of Rí, a Rí túaithe (usually a local petty king), a Ruiri (overking or regional king), or a greater Rí ruirech (king of overkings, also called a provincial king or ''Rí cóicid''). A number of ''rí ruirech'' also became

Ard Rí High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and later sometimes assigned ana ...

and their surviving princely descendants remain claimants to the long vacant, so-called High Kingship. A modern Gaelic noble may be styled a self-proclaimed flaith (prince) or tiarna (lord, count/earl). See also

White Rod White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

. The ancient Gaelic families are divided by race and sept, and by geography. *

Uí Briúin The Uí Briúin were a royal dynasty of Connacht. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brión, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the U ...

** Uí Briúin Aí ( Síl Muiredaig) *** The O'Conor Don *** The MacDermot of Moylurg, Prince of Coolavin ** Uí Briúin Bréifne *** The O'Rourke of Breifne ** Uí Briúin Seóla *** The O'Flaherty *

Uí Néill The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: ; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into t ...

** Cenél nEógain *** The O'Neill Mor, Prince of Tír Eoghain and

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen regnant, queen, which title is also given to the queen consort, consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contempora ...

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...

**** The O'Neill of Clanaboy **** The O'Neill of the Fews *** The Seven Principal Septs Supporting The O'Neill Mor of Tír Eoghain **** The O'Hagan of Tulach Óg, Hereditary Seneschal and Brehon of Tír Eoghain **** The O'Quinn of An Chraobh, Hereditary Quartermaster of Tír Eoghain **** The O'Donnelly of Ballydonnelly, Hereditary Marshal of Tír Eoghain. **** The O'Gormley of Cenél Moen, Hereditary Steward of Horses and Chandler **** The O'Devlin of Muinterevlin, Hereditary Kern ('Ceithrenn') Sept **** The MacMurrough of Muinterbirn and Siol Aodha of Clann Birnn, Hereditary Kern ('Ceithrenn') Sept **** The MacCawell of

Cenél Fearadhaigh Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history *Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...

, Hereditary Kern ('Ceithrenn') Sept *** Other Septs of the Cenél nEógain: **** The Ó Faircheallaigh of

County Cavan County Cavan ( ; gle, Contae an Chabháin) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Ulster and is part of the Border Region. It is named after the town of Cavan and is based on the historic Gaelic territory of East Breffny (''Bréifn ...

**** The Ó Fearghuis of

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms ( Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and ...

** Cenél Conaill *** The O'Donnell, Prince of Tyrconnell *** The O'Dogherty of Inishowen *

Southern Uí Néill The Southern Uí Néill ( ga, Uí Néill an Deiscirt, IPA: �iːˈnʲeːl̪ʲˈanˠˈdʲɛʃcəɾˠtʲ were that branch of the Uí Néill dynasty that invaded and settled in the Kingdom of Mide and its associated kingdoms. In the initial decades t ...

** Clann Cholmáin Kings of Mide ** Síl nÁedo Sláine Kings of Brega ** Uí Maolmhuaidh *** Uí Maolmhuaidh Firceall **** The O'Molloy, Prince of Firceall *** Uí Maoil Aodha **** Ó Maoil Aodha Oirthir Connachta *** Uí Maolmhaodhóg **** Ó Maolmhaodhóg Tir Connall * Uí Maine ** The O'Kelly of Gallagh and Tycooly, Prince of Hy Many ** The Fox of Tethbae (O'Kearney) *

Laigin The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin (), were a Gaelic population group of early Ireland. They gave their name to the Kingdom of Leinster, which in the medieval era was known in Irish as ''Cóiced Laigen'', meaning "Fifth/province of the Leinsterm ...

** Uí Cheinnselaig *** The MacMorrough Kavanagh, Prince of Leinster *** The O'Morchoe *** The O'Toole of Fer Tire (in

abeyance Abeyance (from the Old French ''abeance'' meaning "gaping") is a state of expectancy in respect of property Property is a system of rights that gives people legal control of valuable things, and also refers to the valuable things themselves. ...

) *** Clan O’Dwyer * Osraige ** Dál Birn *** Kings of Osraige ***

Mac Giolla Phádraig Mac or MAC most commonly refers to: * Mac (computer), a family of personal computers made by Apple Inc. * Mackintosh, a raincoat made of rubberized cloth * A variant of the word macaroni, mostly used in the name of the dish mac and cheese * Mac ...

( Fitzpatrick) dynasty *

Dál gCais The Dalcassians ( ga, Dál gCais ) are a Gaelic Irish clan, generally accepted by contemporary scholarship as being a branch of the Déisi Muman, that became very powerful in Ireland during the 10th century. Their genealogies claimed descent f ...

** The O'Brien, Prince of Thomond ** The O'Grady of Killyballyowen **

O'Halloran O'Halloran is the surname of the ultimate and at least two distinct Gaelic-Irish families, one in County Galway and another in south-east County Clare linked to the Dál gCais. On occasions it is translated as ''"stranger" or "from across the ...

the O'Halloran's of County Clare ** O'Kennedy family ** McInerney family ** MacMahon family * Dál Fiatach ** MacDonlevy (dynasty) (MacNulty) ** The Ó Fearghail of

County Longford County Longford ( gle, Contae an Longfoirt) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford. Longford County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county was 46,634 ...

* Eóganachta ** O'Keeffe family ** Eóganacht Chaisil *** The O'Callaghan of Duhallow, Lord of Clonmeen *** The McGillycuddy of the Reeks, Lord of Doonebo *** The O'Donoghue of the Glens, Prince of Glenflesk ***

O'Connell O'Connell may refer to: People *O'Connell (name), people with O'Connell as a last name or given name Schools * Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School, a high school in Arlington, Virginia Places * Mount O'Connell National Park in Queensland ...

, hereditary castellans of Ballycarbery Castle. From this sept came

Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (I) ( ga, Dónall Ó Conaill; 6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847), hailed in his time as The Liberator, was the acknowledged political leader of Ireland's Roman Catholic majority in the first half of the 19th century. His mobilizat ...

of Derrynane, "The Liberator." **

Uí Fidgenti The Uí Fidgenti, Fidgeinti, Fidgheinte, Fidugeinte, Fidgente, or Fidgeinte ( or ;In the pronunciation, the -d- is silent, and the -g- becomes a glide, producing what might be anglicized ''Feeyenti'' or ''Feeyenta''. "descendants of, or of the ...

*** The O'Donovan of Clancahill * Corcu Duibne ** O'Shea of Iveragh (now represented by the descendants of Martin Archer Shee, the noted 19th-century portrait artist) * Norse Gaelic origins ** Clann Somhairle –

Crovan dynasty The Crovan dynasty, from the late 11th century to the mid 13th century, was the ruling family of an insular kingdom known variously in secondary sources as the Kingdom of Mann, the Kingdom of the Isles, and the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles. The e ...

***

Clan Donald Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry ...

**** The MacDonnell of the Glens * The King of Dublin

O'Neill claimants

Other O'Neills did not apply for recognition. The most notable of these is the Prince of the Fews, Don Carlos O'Neill, 12th Marquis of Granja. There is currently a dispute between him and the Prince of Clanaboy (above) over who is the "senior," with the matter appearing unresolvable.Ellis, pp. 231 ff However most recently O'Neill of Clanaboy may have gotten the upper hand in the dispute. The O'Neills of the Fews are a 15th-century branch of the Tyrone or Ó Néill Mór line whereas the O'Neills of Clanaboy are a High Medieval line. Hence the matter is academic, both being somewhat distant from the last sovereigns of Tyrone in Ulster (to 1607), whose plentiful descendants eventually fell into comparative obscurity. Today they are known as the McShane-O'Neills, or the anglicized version- Johnson.

O'Donnell succession

The chosen and recognised heir apparent of the

Chief 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 (''fine'' in Irish and Scottish Gaelic). The term has sometimes been used as a title in Ireland and Scotland. In Ireland In Eliz ...

, Fr. Hugh O'Donel, O.F.M., is Don Hugo O'Donnell, 7th Duke of Tetuan. Other members of the family have disputed this, most notably Fr. Hugh's sister, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, who has even on television and radio disputed the exclusion from the succession process of potential female and female line claimants, but the head of the genealogically-senior line has been firm in his choice of his distant cousin the Duke of Tetuan.

Other Gaelic nobles

MacCarthys Mór

The most recent claimants to the royal title of MacCarthy Mór (Prince of Desmond) are two close relatives, Barry Trant MacCarthy (Mór), now elderly (born 1931), and the younger Liam Trant MacCarthy (Mór) (born 1957). They allege to be descendants of Cormac of Dunguil, younger son of Tadhg na Mainistreach Mac Carthaigh Mór, King of Desmond (died 1426), they claim to belong to the Srugrena sept, but "this is a debunked falsehood"; Sean J Murphy MA who has no proof to the contrary but insists anyway, that any claimant to a Gaelic Chiefship must first be vetted and accepted by him, and that not cooperating with Mr. Murphy means a claimant must be 'bogus'?. Mr. Murphy has also made several attacks on the Chief Herald of Ireland since that Office denied Mr. Murphy's wish to have unfettered access to their archives.

Remaining agnates

There remain other Gaelic nobles who are not of the "senior" lines, but whose descent is recognised in Europe and a number of whom also hold Continental titles. * The Count O'Donnell of Austria (O'Donell von Tyrconnell) * The Count O'Rourke of Russia * O'Nelly, The Count O'Nelly of Austria, Commander of the 72nd Bohemian Regiment

Additional

* O'Donovan family *

** Baron Lisle (Lysaght) *

O'Neill dynasty The O'Neill dynasty ( Irish: ''Ó Néill'') are a lineage of Irish Gaelic origin, that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As kings of Cenél nEógain, they were historically the most prominent family of the Northe ...

** MacShane-Johnson family *

O'Connell family The O'Connell family, principally of Derrynane, are a Gaelic Irish noble family of County Kerry in Munster. The principal seat of the senior line of the family was Derrynane House, now an Irish National Monument. Ancestry and extraction Accordin ...

* Healy **

Earl of Donoughmore Earl of Donoughmore is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It is associated with the Hely-Hutchinson family. Paternally of Gaelic Irish descent with the original name of ''Ó hÉalaighthe'', their ancestors had long lived in the County Cork area ...

Notes

References

* Burke, Bernard and Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, ''Burke's Irish Family Records''. London: Burke's Peerage Ltd. 5th edition, 1976. ** and Charles Mosley, ''

Burke's Peerage Burke's Peerage Limited is a British genealogical publisher founded in 1826, when the Irish genealogist John Burke began releasing books devoted to the ancestry and heraldry of the peerage, baronetage, knightage and landed gentry of Great ...

, Baronetage & Knightage''. 107th edition, 2003

* Anne Chambers (author), Chambers, Anne, ''At Arm's Length: Aristocrats in the Republic of Ireland''. New Island Books. 2nd revised edition, 2005. (selected families, Gaelic, Hiberno-Norman, and later) * Curley, Walter J.P., ''Vanishing Kingdoms: The Irish Chiefs and their Families''. Dublin: Lilliput Press. 2004. Foreword by Charles Lysaght. * '' Debrett's'

* Peter Berresford Ellis, Ellis, Peter Berresford, ''Erin's Blood Royal: The Gaelic Noble Dynasties of Ireland''. Palgrave. Revised edition, 2002. * MacLysaght, Edward, ''Irish Families: Their Names, Arms and Origins''. Irish Academic Press. 4th edition, 1998. * Murphy, Sean J., ''Twilight of the Chiefs: The Mac Carthy Mór Hoax''. Bethesda, Maryland:

Academica Press Academica Press is a scholarly and trade publisher of non-fiction, particularly research in the social sciences, humanities, education, law, public policy, international relations, and other disciplines. Founded by Robert Redfern-West and managed ...

. 2004. * Nash, Catherine, ''Of Irish Descent'', chapter 4. New York: Syracuse University Press. 2008.

Genealogical and historical

* Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh,
The O'Clery Book of Genealogies
''. early-mid 17th century. * Cotter, G. de P. (ed.), "The Cotter Family of Rockforest, Co. Cork", in ''Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society 43'' (1938): 21–31 * Cronnelly, Richard F.,
Irish Family History
''. Dublin. 1864. * D'Alton, John,
Illustrations, Historical and Genealogical, of King James's Irish Army List, 1689
' 2 vols. London: J.R. Smith. 2nd edition, 1861. * Keating, Geoffrey, with David Comyn and Patrick S. Dinneen (trans.),

''. 4 Vols. London: David Nutt for the Irish Texts Society. 1902–14. * Meyer, Kuno (ed.)

, in ''Zeitschrift für Celtische Philologie 8''. Halle/Saale, Max Niemeyer. 1912. Pages 291–338. * O'Connor, Roderic,
A Historical and Genealogical Memoir of the O'Connors, Kings of Connaught, and their Descendants
'. Dublin: McGlashan & Gill. 1861. * Ó Corráin, Donnchadh (ed.)

University College, Cork: Corpus of Electronic Texts. 1997. * O'Donoghue, John,
Historical Memoir of the O'Briens
'. Dublin: Hodges, Smith, & Co. 1860. * * O'Donovan, John and the Rt. Hon. Charles Owen O'Conor Don,
The O'Conors of Connaught: An Historical Memoir
''. Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, and Co. 1891. * O'Hart, John,
Irish Pedigrees
'. Dublin. 5th edition, 1892. * Todd, James Henthorn (ed. & tr.),
Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh: The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill
''. London: Longmans. 1867. * Maginn, Christopher,
The Gaelic Peers, the Tudor Sovereigns, and English Multiple Monarchy
', 2011.

Irish kingship and lordship

* Bhreathnach, Edel (ed.), ''The Kingship and Landscape of Tara''. Four Courts Press for

The Discovery Programme The Discovery Programme: Centre for Archaeology and Innovation Ireland is an all-Ireland centre for archaeology and heritage research. It was established by the Irish Government in 1991. It is a company limited by guarantee, funded mainly through ...

. 2005. * Byrne, Francis J., ''Irish Kings and High-Kings''. Four Courts Press. 2nd edition, 2001. * Charles-Edwards, T.M., ''Early Christian Ireland''. Cambridge. 2000. * Dillon, Myles, "The consecration of Irish kings", in '' Celtica 10'' (1973): 1–8. * Dillon, Myles, ''The Cycles of the Kings''. Oxford. 1946. * FitzPatrick, Elizabeth, ''Royal Inauguration in Gaelic Ireland c. 1100–1600: A Cultural Landscape Study''. Boydell Press. 2004. * Jaski, Bart, ''Early Irish Kingship and Succession''. Four Courts Press. 2000. * Nicholls, K. W., ''Gaelic and Gaelicized Ireland in the Middle Ages''. Dublin: Lilliput Press. 2nd edition, 2003. * O'Donovan, John (ed.), and Duald Mac Firbis,
The Genealogies, Tribes, and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach
''. Dublin: Irish Archaeological Society. 1844. pp. 425–452

Other

* Duffy, Seán (ed.), ''Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia''. Routledge. 2005. * Mac Niocaill, Gearóid, ''Ireland before the Vikings''. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan. 1972. * Ó Corráin, Donnchadh, ''Ireland before the Normans''. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan. 1972. * O'Rahilly, Thomas F., ''Early Irish History and Mythology''. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. 1946. {{DEFAULTSORT:Irish Nobility Lists of peerages of Britain and Ireland Lists of nobility Irish nobility Ancient Irish dynasties European royalty