There
Irish history
And
The Fighting Irish
And
The Fighting Irish
( The Tribe )
were nearly two hundred tuaths or territories, in Ireland, each occupied by a tribe, under its
Chief, who was also often designated King of a tuath. The subdivisions of a tuath were ' ballybetaighs ' of which there were usually thirty to each tuath. The ballybetaigh was again subdivided into twelve ' seasreachs ', each of one ploughland or about one hundred and twenty acres. The ballybetaigh was supposed to be of extent to supply grazing for four herds of seventy-five cows each, " without one cow touching another.
In general, the whole of the lands of the territory belonged to all the tribes. But there was a limited circle, including the King, the nobles and a few of the leading professional men, each of whom had private rights in a certain portion of the land. The right to use those lands for the benefit of himself and family, but not to transfer them to any person outside the tribe. These privileged ones who had exclusive rights to the use of certain lands, usually rented large portion in parcels to the ceiles ( tenants ) who formed the ' feine ' or general body of the people. The privileged person usually usually also rented to the ceile cattle for stocking the land. The ceile who
owned owned his own stock, or who had to borrow but little, was of much higher standing than the ceile who had to borrow or rent all his stock. The former was called a free ceile, and the latter an unfree because he was bound to those above him by so many obligations.
The stock borrowed from a noble ( or from a certain class between the noble and the ceile called ' bo-aire ' who had stock to rent ) was returned, it or its equivalent, at the end of seven years. Below the ceiles, were the ' feine ' or general body of the people of the tribe - were two classes usually rated as non-free. One of them was the ' bothach' and 'sencleithe', who were labourers, horse-boys, herdsmen and hangers-on, supported by particular families to which they were attached, and who were considered members of the tribe, but had neither property rights nor any voice in the tribal council. The other the ' fuidir ' were strangers, fugitives, war captives, condemned criminals or people who had to give up their freedom in order to work out a debt or fine that they could not pay. These latter were not of the tribe, only belonged to it and were serfs, pure and simple. Only, they had the right of renting a little land and gradually aquiring property - till, in the course of a certain number of years, having accumulated some substance, and having proved to the tribe that they were people of character, they could, by general voice of the tribe, be received into the fold, and become of the feine. Of course the bothach and sencleithe were privileged to raise themselves even more easily than the fuidir. The very humblest might, by inherent worth, work his way up to be eventually among the noblest. So the class system in Ireland wwas not a caste system.
It was only the fuidir, the mere flotsam and jetsam of the nation, who were in the state of semi-servitude. The feudai system, the system of the lord and the serf, which was the rule almost all the countries of Europe then, was never known in Ireland, at least not until the English, after they had established fotting there, endeavoured to introduce from their own country a form of it. The system in Ireland was something more like the patriarchal system of the east. The tribe resolved itself into family groups called ' derb-fine ' centring around one leading family from whom the chief was always chosen.
In general, the whole of the lands of the territory belonged to all the tribes. But there was a limited circle, including the King, the nobles and a few of the leading professional men, each of whom had private rights in a certain portion of the land. The right to use those lands for the benefit of himself and family, but not to transfer them to any person outside the tribe. These privileged ones who had exclusive rights to the use of certain lands, usually rented large portion in parcels to the ceiles ( tenants ) who formed the ' feine ' or general body of the people. The privileged person usually usually also rented to the ceile cattle for stocking the land. The ceile who
owned owned his own stock, or who had to borrow but little, was of much higher standing than the ceile who had to borrow or rent all his stock. The former was called a free ceile, and the latter an unfree because he was bound to those above him by so many obligations.
The stock borrowed from a noble ( or from a certain class between the noble and the ceile called ' bo-aire ' who had stock to rent ) was returned, it or its equivalent, at the end of seven years. Below the ceiles, were the ' feine ' or general body of the people of the tribe - were two classes usually rated as non-free. One of them was the ' bothach' and 'sencleithe', who were labourers, horse-boys, herdsmen and hangers-on, supported by particular families to which they were attached, and who were considered members of the tribe, but had neither property rights nor any voice in the tribal council. The other the ' fuidir ' were strangers, fugitives, war captives, condemned criminals or people who had to give up their freedom in order to work out a debt or fine that they could not pay. These latter were not of the tribe, only belonged to it and were serfs, pure and simple. Only, they had the right of renting a little land and gradually aquiring property - till, in the course of a certain number of years, having accumulated some substance, and having proved to the tribe that they were people of character, they could, by general voice of the tribe, be received into the fold, and become of the feine. Of course the bothach and sencleithe were privileged to raise themselves even more easily than the fuidir. The very humblest might, by inherent worth, work his way up to be eventually among the noblest. So the class system in Ireland wwas not a caste system.
It was only the fuidir, the mere flotsam and jetsam of the nation, who were in the state of semi-servitude. The feudai system, the system of the lord and the serf, which was the rule almost all the countries of Europe then, was never known in Ireland, at least not until the English, after they had established fotting there, endeavoured to introduce from their own country a form of it. The system in Ireland was something more like the patriarchal system of the east. The tribe resolved itself into family groups called ' derb-fine ' centring around one leading family from whom the chief was always chosen.
An Irish Chieftain, and some of his people
The law of inheritance in ancient Ireland was not that of primogeniture, but of gavel-kind, that is, instead of the eldest inheriting all the father's property, it was divided, cattle and land among all the sons. But the eldest son got, with his share, the house and offices and household effects. Special responsibilities fell to him as guardian of his sisters, and of his brothers under age, and as the representative of the family in all cases of stress and need.
The law protected every one, including the base fuidir. They were especially framed to protect the weak against the strong. " No person " says the law " shall be oppressed in his difficulty " And the law forbade the rent-payer to give service or rent to one who would exact unjustly. The greedy oppressor had to repent and pay a fine before his ceile should resume giving him either rent or service.
The ceile contributed to the head of the tribe a certain amount of labour, a portion of the household needs, and a certain amount of days military service, which was demanded when the need arose. But the Chief or King of the territory - as well as the provincial and the Ard-Righ, kept about him a number of paid permanent troops, his household troops composed of his own people, and a small standing army usually composed of mercenaries. The stongest most powerful man was chosen as the King's ' airechta ' champion or avenger.
The King of the tuath paid tribute to the provincial King, who in turn paid tribute to the Ard-Righ. And on the other hand, each of the higher Kings paid back to his tributary a small courtesy tribute called ' tuarastal ' The Book of Rights specifies in full, and curious detail, the ' cis ' or amounts of the tribute in cattle, in cloaks, in swords etc, due from each inferior King to his superior- and likewise the tuarastal from the superior to the inferior.
The headship ( whether Chief or King ) was hereditary only to the extent that the ruler was always chosen by the people from within one family. From the righ-damna ( King material ) that is, the royal uncles, brothers, sons, nephews, grand-sons and grand-nephews, the people chose whatever male member of the family would make the wisest, bravest, and best ruler. In later centuries, in order to avoid the evils of disputed succession, the King's successor was always chosen during the King's lifetime - and this King-elect was called ' tanaiste ' He had to be without physical blemish or deformity. When elected he had to swear to observe the law, and to govern in accordance with the law and the ancient customs. At the inauguration the ollam, in presence of the people, read to him the laws that he must swear to observe, and the ancient customs that he must swear to maintain. And for non-observance of these, he was liable to be, at any time,deposed.
The law protected every one, including the base fuidir. They were especially framed to protect the weak against the strong. " No person " says the law " shall be oppressed in his difficulty " And the law forbade the rent-payer to give service or rent to one who would exact unjustly. The greedy oppressor had to repent and pay a fine before his ceile should resume giving him either rent or service.
The ceile contributed to the head of the tribe a certain amount of labour, a portion of the household needs, and a certain amount of days military service, which was demanded when the need arose. But the Chief or King of the territory - as well as the provincial and the Ard-Righ, kept about him a number of paid permanent troops, his household troops composed of his own people, and a small standing army usually composed of mercenaries. The stongest most powerful man was chosen as the King's ' airechta ' champion or avenger.
The King of the tuath paid tribute to the provincial King, who in turn paid tribute to the Ard-Righ. And on the other hand, each of the higher Kings paid back to his tributary a small courtesy tribute called ' tuarastal ' The Book of Rights specifies in full, and curious detail, the ' cis ' or amounts of the tribute in cattle, in cloaks, in swords etc, due from each inferior King to his superior- and likewise the tuarastal from the superior to the inferior.
The headship ( whether Chief or King ) was hereditary only to the extent that the ruler was always chosen by the people from within one family. From the righ-damna ( King material ) that is, the royal uncles, brothers, sons, nephews, grand-sons and grand-nephews, the people chose whatever male member of the family would make the wisest, bravest, and best ruler. In later centuries, in order to avoid the evils of disputed succession, the King's successor was always chosen during the King's lifetime - and this King-elect was called ' tanaiste ' He had to be without physical blemish or deformity. When elected he had to swear to observe the law, and to govern in accordance with the law and the ancient customs. At the inauguration the ollam, in presence of the people, read to him the laws that he must swear to observe, and the ancient customs that he must swear to maintain. And for non-observance of these, he was liable to be, at any time,deposed.
" Seven mantles with wreaths of gold,
And seven cups for social drinking,
Seven steeds not accustomed to falter,
To the King of Kerry of the combats.
" The prosperos King of Rathlenn is entitled
To the stipend of a brave great man;
Ten swords, and ten drinking horns,
Ten red cloaks, ten blue cloaks.
" The King of Ara of beauty is entitled
From the King of Eire of the comely face,
To six swords, six praised shields,
And six mantles of deep crimson. "
And seven cups for social drinking,
Seven steeds not accustomed to falter,
To the King of Kerry of the combats.
" The prosperos King of Rathlenn is entitled
To the stipend of a brave great man;
Ten swords, and ten drinking horns,
Ten red cloaks, ten blue cloaks.
" The King of Ara of beauty is entitled
From the King of Eire of the comely face,
To six swords, six praised shields,
And six mantles of deep crimson. "
