The Tribe of Cas

Heraldry has been described as "The Art of arranging and explaining in prpper terms all that relates or appertains to the bearing of arms, crests, badges, quarterings, and other marks of honour"; but this definition would apply more properly to Norman than to Celtic Irish heraldry, which was of a much simpler type.

In the earliest conception the idea of a standard was not a flag, but a figure, or device, elevated on a pole, like the eagles of the Roman legions, and the raven of the Scandinavian sea rovers (commonly referred to as Vikings). There is reason to believe that the Scandinavians first use of their standard was a tamed raven carried into battle.

In Ireland banners bearing various colors seem to have been associated with the badges, or devices, of the various tribes and clans at an early period. It was during the time of Felim Rachtmar, High King of Ireland (A.D. 110), in a "great triennial assembly at Tara, a law was ordained, that every tribal chief, clan head, nobleman and great officer should by the learned Priests, have a particular device or color assigned to him according to his merit and his quality, whereby he should be distinguished from others of the same rank, and be known wherever he appeared." In a historical tale called the "Battle of Magh Rath", found in the ancient manuscripts forming the Book of Lienster, which was compiled in the first half of the twelth century by Fenn MacGorman, Bishop of Kildare (died 1160), we have a list of banners used by the Irish to distinguish one tribe or clan from another:

1. "A yellow lion and green cloth. The insignia of the Craebh Ruadh as carried into battle by the noble Congal.

2. "A red colored standard with ends like fire goes in front of the sons of Eóchaidh.

3. "Over the will-shaped spear-handlers of Crumthann the standard of Conan Rod, a royal soldier of Britain, streaked blue and white in folds displayed.

4. "The very great standard of the king of Saxonland, yellow and red, richly displayed.

5. "The standard of the majestic Dairbhre son of Dorn Moe King of Feabhail; black and red streaked.

6. "The standard of Suibhne the renouned king of the Dal Araidhe: Yellow satin, over that mild man of hosts.

7. "The red-weaponed king of the Ards of Ulster: Ferdoman of Banquets his white-fingered banner, to the sun and wind displayed over that mighty man without blemish."

Here we have several standars but only one symbol or sign, the yellow lion of the Craebh Ruath. We are told that some of the most favored badges born by the ancient Irish were "a dead serpent, the rod of Moses, and a hand holding an ancient sword".

There are also the following clan and tribal badges or devices: the eagle, ancient badge of Leinster (See illustration A); the red bird of the Dál Riata of Northern Ulster (found in the arms of O'Garmley); the fighting dog (illustration J); the chicken; the wild bull; the calf (illustration B); the wild boar of the Na Morna (and found in arms of O'Sullivan and MacSweeney) (illustration C); the fighting cock; the dog and rabbit; the stag (the red stage of the Eoghanacht of Munster, and found today in MacCarthy and O'Cullinan arms) (illustration D); the salamander; the horse (the white horse of the Fearghaile can be found as part of the arms of O'Halloran) (illustration E); the mermaid; the lion of the Dál Cais (and found in MacMahon and O'Brian arms) (illustration I).

Also, the red hand which has been for some centuries the badge of the O'Neills, was originally used by the descendants of Magennis, the senioer, and of Conall Cernach, the most distinguished of the red branch heroes (illustration F). We may also mention the cat and salmon of the O'Cathain or O'Kanes.

Again found in the Book of Leinster was a brief account of the "Battle of Moyragh" where the standard of the chief of the clan O'Doherty was listed as "with the O'doherty to lead in battle; his battle-sword with golden cross over this great chief, his standrd; a lion dun and bloody eagle attack each other on a white sheet." (Illustration G.)

Also, there were three ancient Irish families listed who took part in the Battle of Caisglinn:

1. "The standard of the race of noble Finghin, I see advancing on the plain, his spear with venomous adder entwined laying on the white banner without blemish and the wild boar upon his shield." (The ancient symbol of the O'Sullivan clan.)

2. "In O'Loughlin's camp was visible a fair satin sheet, to be defended at each battle-field: An ancient fruit-bearing oak, defended by the chieftain justly." (The ancient symbol of the O'Loughlin Burrenn clan.)

3. "A hand holding an ancient Irish sword with a serpent entwined laying on a white sheet." (The ancient arms of the O'Donovan's, and still born by them today.) (Illustration H)

That the Celtic speaking tribes were distinguished by particular colors can be seen today in the tartans of the Highland tribes, and so particular were the ancient Irish about distinguishing colors, that the number of colors each class of Irish society were allowed to wear in the dress were set down by law.

One color of clothing to be allowed in thedress of a serf or slave. Two colors could be worn either as mixed clothing or as a single colored garment with a colored band or design about the cuffs, hem and neck, by the rent-paying farmers. Three colors could be worn either as mixed clothing or as a single colored garment, with two colored bands or designs, by the war commanders of tribes and clans. Four colors worn in the above manner would be used by Irish lords or clan chiefs. Five colors were worn by tribal chiefs or kings. Six colors were worn by the Druids, musicians, and poets. Seven colors were only worn by the high kings and queens of Tara.

As to the clan and tribal colors, we have to look back at the standards described in the Book of Leinster. Of the ten banners described, only four have a symbol or badge displayed on them. It therefore appears that these plain banners or standards were clan or tribal colors. The following are some of the known ancient Irish clan and tribal colors:

1. Dál Cais: brown, purple, red and gold.

2. Dál Raide of Alba (Scots): brown, blue and green.

3. Fiana Fail: dun colored or clay brown.

4. Craebh Ruadh: gold and green.

5. Feabhail: black and red.

6. Namorna: gold, blue and white.

7. Na Badscni: red, gold and brown.

8. Ulidia: green, gold and red.

9. Ossary: purple and green.

10. Tir Eoghain: brown, gold and blue.

11. Dál Ards of Ulster: white.

12. Dál Araidhe: yellow.

We now come to the period of the Norman invasion where we find the old, simple badges and colors of the various tribes superseded by the complicated system of hereditary heraldry. The old Irish chieftains, satisfied with their old, simple tribal symbols and colors were slow in adopting the complicated system of the Normans.

By the reign of Henry VIII the ancient Irish and tribval system of heraldry was completely gone, replace by the system that had its birth during the Crusades in the Holy Land, and attained it maturity during the chivalrous age of feudalism. By this time it was necessary to have some means of distinguishing fighting men in combat and to have heralds who were skilled in the art of blazoning, assigning, and marshalling coats of arms in order to identify the banner or shield of a kight who rode into combat or tournament with his visor down.

Note on additional illustrations: The full figures illustrated on plateI and plate II and the book cover illustration are representative drawings of ancient Irish warriors. The marginal illustrations are as described in the text of the articla (illustrations A through J). Drawn by Sir Lee MacMahon, Kt, OAE, KCR.

*As taken from a paper read to the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland by the Rev. Canon Ffrench, M.R.I.A., February 1903, and published in the Journal of that Society.

Some Celtic Tribal Heraldry and Ancient Arms of Ireland* Sir Lee MacMahon (Illustrated by Sir Lee MacMahon)

Some Celtic Tribal Heraldry and
Ancient Arms of Ireland*
Sir Lee MacMahon
(Illustrated by Sir Lee MacMahon)