The O'Neills and Other Outlaws

We saw a kids' surfing lesson the other day at Erraroey (Back Strand) Beach near Falcarragh. Aren't they cute? (That's mythic Tory Island in the distance on the right.)




Is that an O'Neill tee shirt? How cool to see a familiar logo way out here.

Falcarragh / Back Strand / Erraroey Beach (nothing here has only one name) and Tory Island. 

Even people like me who don't surf know that O'Neill makes the best wetsuits. There really is nothing better. They are the king of the wetsuits. Local to Santa Cruz, internationally renowned. There's a shrine to Jack O'Neill at the Dream Inn, but you'd need to be a royal to afford to drink there. 

Coincidentally, you'll find Erraroey Beach—where I saw the O'Neill shirt—in the former kingdom of Tyrconnell, ruled by the O'Neill family for generations. 

The Ó Néill dynasty (anglicised O'Neill) is a lineage ultimately all of Irish Gaelic origin, that held prominent positions and titles in Ireland and elsewhere. As Kings of Cenél nEógain, they are historically the most prominent family of the Northern Uí Néill, along with the Ó Dónaill, Ó Dochartaigh and the Ó Donnghaile dynasties (the head of the Ó Donnghaile lineage being the hereditary Marshal of the O'Neill forces). The Ó Néills hold that their ancestors were Kings of Ailech during the Early Middle Ages, as descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages.Two of their progenitors High Kings of Ireland, Niall Glúndub (from whom they take their name) and Domnall ua Néill. From 1185 until 1616, the Ó Néills were sovereign Kings of Tír Eógain, holding territories in the north of Ireland; particularly around modern County Tyrone, County Londonderry and County Antrim. After their realm was merged with the Kingdom of Ireland and the land was caught up in the Plantation of Ulster, they were involved in a number of significant events, such as Tyrone's Rebellion, the Flight of the Earls, the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and the Irish Confederate Wars. (wikipedia)

One O'Neill gained his kingship in an act of surfside badassery:

The historical origins of the O'Neills is difficult to separate from myth. The red hand became the symbol of their dynasty and eventually the symbol of the province of Ulster. It is alleged that the first swimmer to touch the shores of Ireland would become the ruler of the island. An ancestor of the O'Neills was losing the swimming race when he cut off his hand and threw it on the shore thereby touching Ireland first. (The O'Neills of Ulster)

Erm... yuck. I have to say it: he broke the rules. Also, in the mural above, those are Viking longboats, which wouldn't arrive for a 1000 years. Anyway, as with everything in Ireland, if I don't understand it, perhaps it is because I don't know enough yet. 

I know little else about the O'Neills except that they had a peculiar approach to succession. The dynasty's progenitor, Neill of the Nine Hostages, had seven sons who quarrelled and divided the kingdom into northern and southern portions. Thereafter, each generation's king alternated between two branches of the family for hundreds of years. This seems an example of an "Irish solution to an Irish problem" that lasted until invasion by the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century disrupted the political landscape.

I mentioned seeing the O'Neill tee shirt to a friend who explained that in Ireland, "O'Neills" is a sports clothing company. Because of this and a trademark agreement, "O'Neill," (the wetsuit company) is not allowed to sell their sports clothing here. (They can sell wetsuits.) So that means the surf instructor at Erraroey wore a kind of contraband you can't buy in Ireland.

With this compromise, both companies prosper. This kind of trademark deal is not unheard of, and better than one company trying to crush the other, like when MacDonalds tried to outlaw a Galway fast food company from selling "Big Macs." An EU court ruled for Irish company. (Side note: the MacDonalds/MacDonnells were once a ruling family of Ulster.)

Because you may be wondering, Tory Island is related to "The Tories," the nickname of the British Conservative political party. The island's name in Irish is toiraidh, which means something like "men on the run" and it refers to bandits and outlaws, the sort of men who would end up on an isolated island in a remote corner of Europe.

The nickname arose in the British Civil war in the mid-1600s. Parliamentarians brought their war against the king to Ireland, fighting guerillas funded by the native Irish aristocracy—notably the O'Neills of Ulster—who supported Charles I. The revolutionary Parliamentarians derisively named their enemies "tories," or outlaws.

As often happens with language, a hundred years later "Tory" came to refer to the political party supporting monarchy and its authority over law and religion. The definition of the word in English drifted from "outlaw" to "law enforcement."

Today, a faction of British Tories are fighting the authority of the European Union, a legal and political association assuring free movement of goods, people, services, and capital across national borders. These Brexiteers seem to be real outlaws again, robbing present and future generations of peace and prosperity. If successful, the island of Britain will be an isolated island off the coast of Europe, ruled by thieves. 

What Great Britain needs right now is someone to represent the interests of people. They need a king like Patsy Dan Rogers, the King of Tory Island. The King of Tory is not born to it, but elected from leading families to represent their island to the national government, resolve disputes, and organize civic enterprises. 

Today, at the age of 73, Patsy Dan Rodgers is known as the Last King of Ireland. He’s ruled his remote North Atlantic fiefdom of Tory Island for almost a quarter of a century. His is not an hereditary title. He was elected by the people of Tory who can trace an unbroken lineage back to a saint Colmcille who granted the title to an Islander in the fifth century. 

Over the centuries led by their Kings – and in at least one case a Queen – the Islanders have beaten off Vikings, marauding pirates and invaders from the mainland which lies nine miles off the coast across some of the most treacherous waters off the Irish Coast. (Complete RTE radio documentary)

Sadly, Patsy Dan died last summer. 

Patsy Dan Rodgers, who has died after a long illness, was King of Tory, Ireland’s most remote island, nine miles north of the Donegal coast. 

Rodgers was an ambassador for and promoter of the island. In those roles, he developed a particular talent for befriending wealthy and influential individuals, and persuading them to take an interest in Tory.
He was the best-known of the current Tory school of primitive painters. This school developed since the 1950s. Rodgers exhibited in Ireland, but also in Scotland, England, the United States and France. 

He was also an accordion player. As a musician, he was a performer, who could build a rapport with an audience with a gift for setting them dancing.
He was a strong advocate of the Irish language’s key place in Tory society. Tory is probably the strongest Irish-speaking area in the country. Thuig sé go meallfadh an dúchas sin daoine isteach chun an oileáin, agus gur chuid de sprid na háite é.... 

His flair for publicity made him the best-known figure of the current generation of Tory painters. He also had an eye for commercial opportunity. He was one of those who drove the establishment of a gallery on Tory, where island artists sell their work. 

A generation ago, he became king of the island. When the former king died, his family agreed that Rodgers take the title. It was a ceremonial role, but he took it seriously. He used to greet ferries on arrival, shaking hands with visitors and saying “Welcome to my island.” It is fair to say some islanders were sceptical, but visitors appreciated the personal welcome. 

As King, Rodgers was also an able spokesman for the community. In the early 1980s, there was an exodus to the mainland of almost half the population. It was possible the island would be abandoned. Rodgers was one of those who stayed. Over the years, he became a media performer, drawing attention in interviews to official neglect of Tory and pointing out the need for facilities. That was reflected in those who travelled long distances to attend his funeral. (Irish Times)

And so the last king of Ireland is gone. British aristocrats have again brought their civil war to this island. Politicians seem incapable of resolving their conflict, yet they must. Perhaps the outcome will seem indeterminate, like the shared kingship of Ulster. Perhaps it will seem whimsical, like electing an artist and musician as island king. Perhaps it will assure prosperity for everyone, like O'Neill and O'Neills sharing a name. Whatever happens, I hope the solution is an Irish one. 

Tory Island by Peter McCabe