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IMBOLC 2026

MESSAGE FROM CATHAOIRLEACH MICHAEL O’CROWLEY

Dear Members of Clans of Ireland,
 
The 1st February was the feast of Imbolc, marking the end of winter. This Celtic festival originally celebrates the goddess Brigid, the daughter of the chief of the gods, the Great Dagda. Brigid was known as a the triple goddess, she is associated with blacksmithing, poetry, healing, fertility and prophecy. Imbolc is also the feast of light with spring days arriving. As a result, it was a tradition to light candles on Imbolc. That tradition continues on the continent with the feast of “chandeleur” or the “hour of the candles” on February 2nd replacing Imbolc. It is the day when crepes are made for the feast. In Celtic Britanny at night the tradition was to throw a crepe over the cottage, meeting symbolically with the full moon. It is not said if the crepe was caught back and eaten…
The feast of the chandeleur or of the lights is also the day celebrating Jesus being presented to the Temple, and candles are lit.
 
Indeed this feast, as the three others we celebrate in Ireland, finds its roots in the neolithic people. It is worth mentioning that in many stone circles the time of Imbolc is marked by a stone in alignment with the sun rise.
 
For this year AGM and Cultural Summit the Board of Clans of Ireland is proposing to have each clan bring its banner. We will post the banners in the club, and if on parade we will carry them, more to come on this.
Bring you banner which ever format it is, it would be appropriate to display it on a pole. In case you do not have a banner here are the proposed dimensions and guidance;

dimensions : 1 m x 1 m or 1 m x 1.5 m: the field should be a replicate of a coat arms without the shield such as the illustration pictured. There are many ways to have a banner made, it can be printed, it can be sewed which is considerably more expensive, or it can be painted. The most cost effective way is the printing.

You will find below a few addresses with reasonably priced printing services:
 
I will be happy to answer any questions and assist you.
 
Some more news; 
The work on Linea Antica is making considerable progress. The script will be finalised by the end of February, including the genealogical tables. Altogether the work will represent 700 to 750 pages in A4 format. We will now engage editors to work on the printing options.
 
Please note our video conference on the 7th February focusing on Clan Gatherings Best Practices is via ZOOM and member clans will have received an invitation and link. I will send a gentle reminder this week. I hope to see all joining this video conference, in the meantime I wish you a great week !
 
Is mise le meas,
Michael
Michael O’Crowley
An Chathaoirleach,
Clans of Ireland / Finte na hÉireann
 

CLAN GATHERINGS BEST PRACTICE – CONFERENCE 

Saturday 7th February – 17:00 GMT

Registered clans of Clans of Ireland are invited to our first conference of 2026. With expert knowledges of organising and delivering successful clan gatherings, we will have four eminent speakers who have been leaders in their respective clan organisations, sharing innovative approaches:

Kieran O’Dowd of Clan O’Dowd

Shane O’Dea of Clan O’Dea

Dr. Joe Mannion of Clan Mannion

Amb. Frank O’Donnell of Clan O’Donnell

Join and hear a range of approaches including accessing heritage funding, incorporating parades and other ceremonial elements,  preservation of monuments, partnerships with local bodies and authorities.

Please note that IRISH ROOTS magazine, winter addition includes an article produced by Clans of Ireland with the contribution of our four speakers.

The Zoom link to the conference has been circulated via email to all our registered clans. We look forward to welcoming you to the conference.

NEW YEAR 2026

MESSAGE FROM CATHAOIRLEACH MICHAEL O’CROWLEY

An Cathaoirleach, Michael O’Crowley reflects on the successes of the past year including the engagement of Clans of Ireland ~ Finte na hÉireann with key partners to launch “Memorialising Emigré Dignity, The Cultural
Heritage of St. Anthony’s College, Leuven”, which took place on the 7th September 2025 at the Royal Irish Academy., Dublin.

Michael also looks forward to upcoming events in the 2026 calendar, including a a hybrid event on ‘Clan Gatherings Best Practices’ and an upcoming EGM to clarify the process for the nomination of Board Directors. 

Lastly, Michael looks forward to our AGM and Cultural Summit 2026. Our theme “Law and Legend. Discovering Ireland’s ancient system of laws”. You can read the full text of Michael’s new year message by clicking the link here: Cathaoirleach New Year Message to the Members of Clans of Ireland