Clans of Ireland


Clans of Ireland is an Irish charity established to represent and co-ordinate the activities of member Irish clans.
It is a voluntary non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting clans through research, promoting clan rallies, and advancing DNA studies.

Background and foundation

Clans of Ireland was founded in 1989. The organisation, which is registered as a charity in Ireland, had income of approximately €8,000 EUR, and expenditure of approximately €9,000, in 2023.

Order of Clans of Ireland

In 2010, Clans of Ireland instituted the "Order of Clans of Ireland", an award to honour individuals who contributed to Irish culture and heritage or who have brought honour to their clan.

Structure and appointment

An invitation for nominations is sent each September to all clans which have "maintained their registration with Clans of Ireland for three consecutive years or more". As of 2024, the Clans of Ireland website indicated that "no more than four individuals can the award each year". The names of the successful nominations are published on 17 March,. A number of past recipients have been inducted at a ceremony in Dublin, during April, when they received their insignia. Inductees are designated as Companions of the Order of Clans of Ireland, or in Irish Compánach Fhinte na hÉireann.
The order's insignia consists of a gold medal under an azure blue ribbon on a gold bar.

Companions of the Order (Members)

From 2011 to 2024, between one and seven appointments were made to the order annually. There were no appointments in 2015, 2021, 2022 or 2023. In 2013, a number of conferrings were presented by the then Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht at the Irish Embassy in Italy.
Notable past inductees have included: