In an attempt to add another level of similarity between Celtic Irish social structure and the structure of Clann Lochlan, a system of rank based on the Irish structure was created. The Irish system of rank and social status was based upon many factors ranging from birth status to economic prosperity to level of clientship contracts (fiefs) with lords of higher rank. In pre-Norman Ireland, there were three distinct classes of people: nobles, commoners and slaves. For the purposes of Clan Lochlan, we will not consider slaves, since such a classification does not fit in either SCA social structure or with modern sensibilities. We will also not include the distinctions of dóer (bound) and sóer (free) that were found in both the noble and common classes.
Here is provided a listing of the various rankings, presented with information about the requirements of rank within Clann Lochlan. The list begins with the lowest levels and rises to the highest.
Note: All pronunciations and translations are a best effort and not necessarily correct.
Féni (fay-nee)
Freemen / Commoners
Féni were the freemen farmers that made up the majority of the Irish population.
There were actually two levels of fer midboth rank in early Ireland. Fer midboth were young men just striking out on their own, but still mostly dependent upon their parents for economic viability. They also did not possess many of the rights of 'adults' and were also probably the largest segment of the populace that provided military service. (Some things never change.)
For Clann Lochlan, the rank of fer midboth is applied to persons wishing to join the clan, and is therefore a probationary ranking. Any Society member or newcomer may request to become a fer midboth. Candidates must be 18 years old, or may be 16 years old with a parental waiver. Candidates show willingness to help with clan functions and to support themselves financially in the Society. If these conditions are met, the Candidate may then become a fer midboth under the 'supervision' of a sponsoring Nemed.
An ócaire was a man who owned a small portion of land, had a few cattle, and owned one-quarter rights in a plow. The ócaire was also usually married with children, and held most of the basic rights of an adult within a corporate fine(extended family group). This was the basic level of freeman farmer. A fer midboth usually became ócaire when his bóaire grandfather died and other members of the family moved up in rank to fill a void.
The ócaire is the first level of full membership in Clann Lochlan. The requirement for being an ócaire is passing the requirements set out above for fer midboth. The sponsoring Nemed will decide whether the fer midboth is ready to advance or not. If the Great Officers then approve of the fer midboth, he becomes an ócaire. An ócaire should own at least one full set of garb of their own and not "lender garb". An ócaire is provided by the clan with a clan belt favor to show allegiance.
The aithech ranks above the ócaire through the virtue of time spent in the clan. An ócaire who has been active in the SCA and in clan functions for a period of 4 months may be raised to aithech status by decision of the Great Officers. In addition to the garb of an ócaire, an aithech should own a basic set of feast gear (plate, bowl, cup and silverware).
The bóaire, also known as a "strong farmer", was the typical high rank in a small family unit, and usually held by the grandfather. A bóaire possessed a specified amount of land and cattle, and owned a half-share in a plow.
The rank of bóaire is the level that most people working toward building an identity in the SCA will be at. A bóaire is made from an aithech who has been active for a further 4 months, owns 2 sets of garb (one normal and one for court), feast gear, and has an official Society membership. Bóaire is also the rank of established SCA members who decide to join Clann Lochlan after they pass their fer midboth stage. A bóaire is the first rank entitled to wear a surcoat or tabard of clan colors should he so choose.
A mruigfher was basically a very productive farmer. According to Nerys Patterson in "Cattle Lords and Clansmen" (Univ. of Notre Dame Press,1994), "The rank above bóaire exhibits most clearly the compiler's economic criterion for rank: productive self-sufficiency." (p. 197).
The rank of mruigfher represents, for Clann Lochlan, a person who is well equipped to act on his own within the SCA. A mruigfher should possess at least two sets of garb, enough feast gear for even a large feast, and have submitted a name and device to the College of Heralds. A mruigfher attends every SCA event with the clan and is capable and comfortable enough to go to events as a lone representative of the clan. This rank is on the cusp of becoming Nemed status, but a mruigfher may choose to remain at this rank as long as he wishes.
Fer fothlai is the highest rank of Féni in Clann Lochlan, and is a singular rank. In matters of clan policy decisions and voting, the fer fothlai represents the interests of the rest of the Féni, relating the opinion of the Féni to the Nemed. For such matters, the fer fothlai has a lóg enech of 1 (see below).
There will come a time when a mruigfher or fer fothlai may want to move up. In Celtic Ireland, the aire coisring was a transitional rank between the cattle-borrowing freeman farmers and the cattle-lending military élite. In Clann Lochlan, the aire coisring is also a transitional rank between Féni and Nemed status. Should a member of fer fothlai status who has at least one full year of active membership in the clan wish to become Nemed, and the current Nemed agree, then that person becomes aire coisring until the next festival gathering of the clan. At this time, the aire coisring will become aire déso.
Nemed (neh-med)
Noble / Sacred
The Nemed class of early Ireland was composed of the military élite, clergy, poets and some levels of craftsmen. These were the people who made laws, produced trade goods, waged war and, most of all, monopolized the economy, all while driving the structure of Irish society. For Clann Lochlan, the Nemed are the members with the responsibility of running the clan, providing aid to Féni , and dealing with the outside world of the SCA. Nemed class members all have a set value of lóg enech (honor or "face-saving"), which in the clan translates as the weight of their vote for deciding clan issues.
Among the nemed of the early Irish, the aire déso was the least of the true lords. Still, they were powerful and wealthy enough to enter into clientship contracts as cattle-lenders. For Clann Lochlan, this is the basic rank of Nemed class, comprising members who were once aire coisring. An aire déso has a lóg enech of 1.
The rank above aire déso is reserved for Nemed who have achieved recognition within the Society for Creative Anachronism. Any aire déso who receives an Award of Arms or higher rank in the SCA is granted the rank of aire ard within Clann Lochlan. An aire ardhas a lóg enech of 2.
From Patterson again: "(the aire échta) seems not to have been a lord in terms of normal clientship, but to have been a professional fighter supported by the tuath élite as a whole in order to prosecute feuds in other territories." This description seems tailor-made for the Clann Lochlan sub-offices of Curaidh/Champion and Ceann Fine. When coming into a term in office, any Curaidh or Ceann Fine is advanced to the rank of aire échta, regardless of what rank they may hold permanently in the clan. Upon relinquishing the office, the Curaidh reverts to his previous rank, while a Ceann Fine retains the aire échta rank Although the aire échtais traditionally below the aire ard in status, in Clann Lochlan it is one step higher. The aire échta is also the same status level in Clann Lochlan as the aire túiseo and has a lóg enech of 2.
On the same level as the aire échta in Clann Lochlan is the aire túiseo. This is a temporary rank for sub-officers "Annalist" and "Chatelaine". The aire túiseo also has a lóg enech of 2.
The highest rank for any normal member of Clann Lochlan is aire forgill. This is a permanent rank for Founding members, as well as a temporary rank for Great Officers "Brehon" and "Rechtaire" in the same way as the temporary ranks of aire échta and aire túiseo. An aire forgillhas a lóg enech of 3.
The highest rank in Clann Lochlan is reserved for the Great Officer "Taoiseach", and represents the level of rank of a petty king or chieftain in early Ireland. The rí túaithe has a lóg enech of 4.
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