The Irish Chieftain
Irish Chieftain's Irish genealogy goes back literally thousands of years. In early Irish history there were four classes of kings. One of these was the chieftain of the clan know in Irish as An Taoiseach. His deputy was An Tanaiste. Unlike the rest of Europe, the succession to the chieftain was by election rather than falling to the oldest son. Those eligible were the four generations of the former chief.
Due to the end of Gaelic order by the English in the early 1600s the Irish Clans (or Septs) were disenfranchised. Today there are fewer than 18 heads of the clans recognized by the office of the Chief Herald of Ireland.
In conjunction with this, it is important to note that there is no such thing as a family coat of arm. Arms were (and are) granted to individuals not families.
The recognized O'Crowley chief resided at Kilshallow near Dunmanway and was the military leader to MacCarthy of Blarney Castle fame. Most of the O'Crowley lands were forfeited in the 13th century, much falling into the hands of Richard Boyle, first Earl of Cork.
The ruins of the Crowley Castle dating from about 1600 are near Dunmanway today and preservation efforts continue by members of the Crowley Clan.
Today many of the clans in Ireland elect an honorary chief or Taoiseach. This position is in recognition of their pride in their ancient Celtic heritage. The author was honored in being selected as Taoiseach of the Crowley Clan in 2001, the first non-Irish born (though of Irish decent) Taoiseach in the history of the Crowleys. A gold chain of office today represents the office. A detailed history of the Crowley Clan is found in Michael-Patrick Crowley's book, The Origins of the Crowleys as an Irish Clan, Paris, France 2001.
A complete story of the Gaelic dynasties of Ireland is, Erin's Blood Royal by Peter Berresford Ellis, Constable, London, 1999.
This article first appeared in the April/May 2004 issue of The Family Tree published by the Ellen Payne Odom Genealogy Library in Moultrie, GA.
The Crowley Clan Newsletter is
compiled by Marian Crowley Chamberlain