kinship,
friendship and camaraderie among all Cassidys,
persons with variations of the Cassidy surname
and their descendants;
communications
among members by collecting, distributing and
publishing information about all aspects of the
clan;
develop
and maintain a library and data-base for the use
of clan members in tracing their ancestry and
family history; and
research
and maintain an archive of materials relating
to the clan and their ancestors for the use of
clan members, including conducting, promoting,
or helping research work into Clan History.
identify,
mark, and preserve the historical and archaeological
sites, treasures, and events relating to the clan,
including graves, castles, ancient sites, and
residences of ancestors.
bring
members together at periodic gatherings at the
Ancestral Homelands in Ireland.
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A
long history of talented Cassidy musicians
exists in Ireland and abroad. In particular,
we take great pride in The Cassidys,
pictured above, playing at one of our
rallies. They are are the sons
of Sean Ó Caiside, the first
Chief of the Cassidy Clan.
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Organization
The clan is headed
by the Chief of the Clan, who is referred to or
addressed by the title "An O' Caisideach,"
and the officers of the Executive Committee. The
"An O'Caisideach" is an honoree position
and ex-officio member of the Executive Committee.
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Sean
Ó Caiside with his wife Noirin. Sean
is also in the black and white photo wearing
a hat with his children at the top of this
page.
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The
first "An O' Caisideach" was Sean Ó
Caiside, who was designated honorary Chief of
the Clan for life. Sean served in this position
from 1991 to 2003. With Sean's passing, Noirin
has been designated Chief of the Clan.
Dr. Sheila
Cassidy is the current An Caisideach inaugurated
on Devenish Island at the 2005 Cassidy Clan Rally
and will serve until the next Rally in 2008.
The presiding officer of the Executive Committee
is the Chairperson, presently Nuala Cassidy-White
from County Armagh who is also the Clan Genealogist
and an organizer of the Clans of Fermanagh Rally.
As Clan Genealogist, Nuala maintains Cassidy records
and assists members in tracing their ancestry.
Dr. Cathal
Cassidy of County Tyrone is the Clan Treasurer,
responsible for the collection and accounting
of clan funds, and in charge of the Devenish Summer
School program for the Clans of Fermanagh Rally.
Brent Cassidy, who lives in Finland and originates
from North Carolina serves as Membership Secretary
and maintains the Clan database.
Other members of
the Executive Committee include Janet Cassidy-Stroh
of New York, who is the Eastern North America
clan representative. Stephen Cassidy of California
is the Western North America clan representative.
Additional
members of the Executive Committee include Leslie
Cassidy from New York City, Pete Cassidy, a Roslea
Cassidy now living in Exeter, England, Noel Cassidy
of County Leitrim, Ciarán Cassidy, son
of the Clan's former Honorary Head of Clan, Séan
Ó Caiside and a member of the Irish traditional
music group, Na Casaidigh, who now resides with
family in Austria, and Jason Cassidy of Canada.
The Cassidy Clan
is affiliated with the Clans of Ireland, an organization
that presently consists of over 80 clans. The
Cassidy Clan is also well represented in the executive
body of the Clans of Ireland. Nuala Cassidy-White
is the General Registrar and a Director, and Leslie
Cassidy is a frequent participant at meetings
of the Clans of Ireland.
History
The Cassidy Clan
was founded in 1991 under the leadership of Colm
Cassidy from County Clare, the Chairperson until
his death in 1997. With the assistance of Nuala
Cassidy-White and Oliver Cassidy, Colm Cassidy
organized the first clan rally in 1991. Colm Cassidy
worked enthusiastically for the success of the
clan, attending each rally thereafter.
In 1995, Nuala Cassidy-White
and Cathal Cassidy organized the clan rally that
included for the first time the Devenish Summer
School, a series of lectures and discussion on
genealogy and regional history. The Devenish Summer
School has been a feature of each subsequent rally
in or near Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern
Ireland.
In 2000, under the
leadership and initiative of Nuala Cassidy-White,
we lobbied local authorities and rasised money
for the restoration of an ancient Rath, an earthen
fort or enclosure, in the Townland of Cassidy,
which is in County Fermanagh, near Irvinestown.
The restored rath was dedicated at the 2000 clan
rally. This marked a special occasion for us to
return to site that a few hundred years ago was
likely occupied by Cassidys and other members
of the Clans of Fermanagh.
The clan has a genealogy
database that includes several thousand names
to assist clan members in tracing their family
history.
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Support
Your Clan!
The
Cassidy Clan is staffed entirely by
unpaid volunteers. All funds raised
are dedicated to clan activities, including
producing the clan newsletter, hosting
the web site, deposits for the Clans
of Fermanagh Rally and special projects.
Donations are greatly appreciated. We
also welcome your non-monetary support
by providing family histories and articles
on Cassidys for the web site and clan
newsletter.
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Image
from Devenish Island in County Fermanagh
where the Cassidys studied, prayed and
were leaders in their society for almost
a 1,000 years.
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