Statutes of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit.
1. Authority
1.1 Clans of Ireland is an independent authority established in 1989, (incorporated as Clans of Ireland Ltd.,
1990) to authenticate Irish Clans and to promote education and knowledge of Irish heritage and culture.
1.2 Clans of Ireland is accredited by the United Nations as a Civil Society non-governmental organisation.
1.3 Clans of Ireland Order of Merit was established in 2010 by the authority of the Board of Clans of
Ireland.
1.4 The statutes of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit are authorised and issued by the Board of Clans of
Ireland in accordance with section 2 and section 3 of the Memorandum of Association for Clans of Ireland.
2. Patron
2.1 The President of Ireland shall be the sole Patron of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit. During any time
when the Patron is unavailable the Board of Clans of Ireland will act on behalf of the patron.
2.2 The Patron shall automatically be a member of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit and should receive the
insignia of the Order as soon as can be arranged after s/he has been inaugurated as President of Ireland.
2.3 The Patron shall act as an honorary head of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit.
2.4 The Patron shall present the insignia to the recipients.
2.5 Where the Patron is unavailable to present the insignia, another person will be nominated to do so by the
Board of Clans of Ireland.
3. Governance
3.1 The Board of Clans of Ireland will nominate individuals to a committee, under Article 62 of the
Company’s Articles of Association to be known as the Council of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit, for a
period of three years to adjudicate on the nominations to Clans of Ireland Order of Merit.
3.2 The Council, constituted in accordance with article 62, of the Articles of Association of Clans of Ireland
Limited and with clause 3. x. of the Memorandum of Association of Clans of Ireland Limited shall only
have responsibility for;
a) Considering the nominations submitted through the Correspondence Committee, by the
appointed date, and transmitted to the Council of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit.
b) Drawing up a shortlist of suitable individuals, for consideration of the Board of Clans of
Patron Michael D. Higgins, President of IrelandIreland for the awarding of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit, and advising the Board of those
nominations which have the most merit.
c) Advising the Board of Clans of Ireland on such matters that the Board of Clans of Ireland
may refer to the Council.
3.3 Membership of the Council is at the discretion of the Board of Clans of Ireland but the majority of
members of Council should be members of the Board of Clans of Ireland.
3.4 The Council shall endeavour to agree upon all awards by consensus. Where a vote is required a majority
of one vote will suffice.
3.5 The Council of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit will elect a Cathaoirleach in accordance with article 63
of the Articles of Association of Clans of Ireland Limited from among Clans of Ireland members of the
Council.
3.6 The Cathaoirleach of the Council will be responsible for liaising with the Board of Clans of Ireland,
coordinating the annual nomination process, convening meetings of the Council of Clans of Ireland Order of
Merit and arranging the annual investiture ceremony in conjunction with the Board of Clans of Ireland.
3.7 The Cathaoirleach of the Council will ensure that there is no outside interference in the selection process
and that all decisions of the Council are kept confidential until they are announced.
3.8 Where a vacancy arises on the Council of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit, the Cathaoirleach of the Council will formally notify the Board of Clans of Ireland and a replacement will be appointed by the Board.
4. Nomination of Awards
4.1 All citizens of Ireland and members of the Irish Diaspora who are 18 years of age or older are eligible
for appointment to Clans of Ireland Order of Merit regardless of whether they have registered with their clan
or not.
4.1.2
to:
Those chosen to receive Clans of Ireland Order of Merit must have made an outstanding contribution
4.1.2.1 His/her Clan organization and / or,
4.1.2.2 Irish culture and heritage and / or,
4.1.2.3 The honour of his / her clan name and /or,
4.1.2.4 The reputation of Ireland.
4.2 There will be a single grade of membership of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit to be known as a Companion of Clans of Ireland or Compánach Finte na hÉireann.
4.3 Members of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit are entitled to use the post-nominal CIOM.
4.4 The maximum number of awards is set at four per annum.
4.5 Nominations can be made by:
4.5.1 Any Clan that has maintained its registration with Clans of Ireland for three consecutive years up to the
date of nomination.
4.5.2 Any member of the Board of Clans of Ireland, who may nominate one person. A ballot on the Board
Member’s nominations will be held and a maximum of two nominations may be selected to go forward to
the adjudicating Committee for consideration.Patron Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland
4.6 No member of the board may be nominated to receive the Order of Merit.
4.7 Those nominated should not be informed that they are being considered so as to avoid disappointment if
the nomination is not successful.
4.8 The Council will not be obliged to provide individual feedback regarding unsuccessful nominations.
4.9 A certificate of appointment to the Order may be issued.
4.10 The Company Secretary will maintain a record of the names of those inducted into Clans of Ireland Order of Merit.
5. Wearing of Insignia
5.1 The insignia of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit will be a rendering of Clans of Ireland emblem (obverse)
and a stylised version of an Irish harp (reverse), held by a azure blue ribbon hanging from a single gold bar.
5.2 The insignia for males and females will be the same.
5.3 Companions of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit will wear the insignia on the left side of the breast except
for the Patron who will wear the insignia on an azure neck ribbon.
5.4 Companions of Clans of Ireland Order of Merit may wear the insignia on suitable occasions, in
acknowledgement of the honour that they have garnered as a result of their outstanding contributions to
Ireland, its clans, culture and heritage.
5.5 Miniatures of the insignia may be worn as appropriate.
Revised and Approved by the Board of Clans of Ireland at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin,
Saturday 27 th June 2015.
