Welcome to the Grand Ceilidh of the Seven Clans of Harold and of Margaret Bishop
Those descended from Harold include Paul (Sue), Chiprle (Dan), David (Christine), and Garth (Mary). Those descended from Margaret include Rick (Kathy) and Kent (Gail). I am Laird (Len), from them commonly descended.
Paul and Garth have passed, but in Sue and in Mary we have gained beloved sisters whom we cherish and entreat to stand in their places.
We are siblings fully in heart and the leaders of the seven clans. Of two came many, and of many shall come one clan, stronger together!
We do humbly invite those siblings and living relatives of Harold and of Margaret or their current clan leaders to join us as members of our honored Council of Elders and to gather in your own clans to join us in celebration on this joyous occasion.
Confused about pronunciation of ceilidh? Say-lee(dh) comes close.
As time has passed and the demands of life have imposed themselves the seven clans descended from Harold and Margaret have become dispersed and fragmented.
As a Laird in name if not a laird in role, I Laird Bishop of the North Country Bishops do hereby call my siblings and fellow clan leaders to join me in preparing for the Grand Ceilidh of the Seven Clans of Harold and of Margaret.
I call for the clan chiefs to gather together and bring with them all who are dear to their hearts and whom they consider the indispensable members of their clans whether by birth, union of families, or common purpose and affection.
The purpose of the Great Ceilidh of the Seven will be to in several ways entrust the flame to the next generation and empower them to carry on the unity of the clan in mutual support and success:
By occasioning the introduction of the descendants of the clan leaders to one another and by fostering the establishment lifelong bonds.
By collecting, organizing, archiving, and making accessible the disparate stores of family history in a secure and accessible location.
By compiling a highly secure repository of clan contact information easily accessible to clan members and nobody else.
By providing a safe family-only social space free from advertising and outside influence.
By celebrating the diverse cultures which have become a part of our clan as we enfold other families into our own.
By planning and executing a grand ceilidh two years hence, giving time for the extensive planning and logistics entailed.
Thereby passing our collected wisdom, culture and values to our descendants in sacred trust amid much merriment.
And, upon the conclusion thereof, to leave this site and the resources pertaining to it to continue to serve the needs of the unified clan.
Please continue reading below for more details.
Our clan does not have one laird but seven. The idea is not to place anyone in a position of authority, but rather to place everyone in a position of fulfilling Duthchas na Ceann toward one another so that all are well cared for and nobody needs to bear burdens alone.
In traditional Highland society, the laird had a number of important commitments and duties towards the members of his clan. The laird was seen as the head of the clan and was responsible for providing protection and support to his clansmen. This included settling disputes, providing food and shelter to those in need, and representing the clan in dealings with other clans and the government.
The laird was also responsible for maintaining the unity and well-being of the clan. This involved making decisions about the distribution of resources, such as land and livestock, and about the allocation of responsibilities among the clansmen. The laird would also use his influence to resolve conflicts and to promote cooperation among the members of the clan.
In addition to these practical responsibilities, the laird was also responsible for maintaining the cultural heritage of the clan. This included preserving traditional customs and traditions, such as the ceilidh, and supporting the continuation of important cultural practices, such as music, dance, and storytelling
Overall, the role of the laird in Highland society was complex and multi-faceted. He was responsible for providing practical and financial support to the members of his clan, but he was also expected to maintain the cultural heritage and to promote the unity and well-being of the clan as a whole.
Ceilidh
The ceilidh was a central part of Highland life, serving not only as a social gathering but also as an opportunity for the clansmen to pay homage to the laird and to reaffirm their loyalty to the clan. The event typically took place in the laird's home or in a central meeting place within the community.
The ceilidh was a lively and festive occasion, with food, drink, and music playing a central role. Traditional Scottish dishes, such as haggis, cullen skink, and shortbread, were served, along with locally produced whisky and ale. The music was typically provided by the members of the clan who played instruments, such as the bagpipes, fiddle, and harp. The clansmen would dance to the music, and the dancing would often involve traditional Scottish dances, such as the reel and the jig.
In addition to socializing and entertainment, the ceilidh was also a time for the laird to address important matters affecting the clan. This could include announcements about clan business, such as plans for expansion or battles, and decisions about the distribution of resources and responsibilities among the clansmen. The laird would also use the ceilidh as an opportunity to solicit feedback and ideas from his followers, demonstrating his commitment to the well-being of the entire clan.
Overall, the ceilidh was a time for the members of the clan to come together to celebrate their shared heritage and to strengthen the bonds that held the clan together. It was a key element of Highland culture, serving both practical and cultural purposes and reinforcing the importance of community and loyalty in Highland society.
Duthchas na Ceann
Duthchas na Ceann, meaning "duty of the chief" in Gaelic, is a long-standing tradition in Scottish Highland society that defines the obligations and responsibilities of the laird to the members of his clan. It was based on the belief that the laird was the protector and provider for his followers and was responsible for ensuring the well-being and prosperity of the entire clan.
The duty of the chief was seen as a sacred obligation that was passed down from one generation of laird to the next. It was the responsibility of the laird to act as the leader of the clan, settling disputes and providing support and protection to the members of the clan. The laird was also responsible for maintaining the unity and well-being of the clan, making decisions about the distribution of resources and ensuring the continued cultural heritage of the clan.
The concept of duthchas na ceann was based on a reciprocal relationship between the laird and the members of the clan. The laird was expected to fulfill his responsibilities with honor and dignity, while the members of the clan were expected to show loyalty and support to the laird. In this way, duthchas na ceann reinforced the importance of community and loyalty in Highland culture.
The duty of the chief was an integral part of Highland society for centuries and had a profound impact on the culture and history of the Scottish Highlands. Despite the decline of the traditional clan system in the 18th and 19th centuries, the concept of duthchas na ceann remains an important part of Highland heritage and continues to shape the identity of the Scottish Highlands today.
A new approach
While we draw inspiration and pay homage to the traditions of our ancestors, we have no desire to engage in cultural appropriation.
What we are doing here, while themed after a traditional ceilidh, has several key differences which will be explored in more depth over the course of the project. If successful, we will establish an American clan, bind our fragmenting families in unity, and inspire and equip the next generation to carry on our legacy.
The plan is a three phased approach:
1. The lead-up - starting now. This phase involves building out the infrastructure and planning the event. We can have a lot of fun with this phase alongside a lot of hard work. We can have contests, virtual events, planning sessions - as well as beginning to use the resources which will progressively come online. As a testament to the potential of this first phase, look how many people will potentially come together just on the first call!
2. The actual event. What I envision is bigger than a "family reunion" in both scope and purpose as will be detailed elsewhere. I envision an event which will make an impression of everyone and form bonds which last.
3. The legacy. Once the event has concluded, the resources we have put together can continue to serve the family as long as we have a shared commitment to maintaining them.
Why a ceilidh instead of a family reunion?
The short answer is that we are talking about a clan and not a family. While we certainly are family, the fact remains that we have ramified in many directions and embraced others into our fold. What would the name of the family be, the "Bishop-Kaulfuss-Fenlon-Mecklenburg-Roys-Butlin-Warboy... (I'm exhausted) family?
The concept of clanship lends itself well to our situation and allows us to embrace unity and common purpose without raising artificial boundaries to those we have accepted as our own. It feels to me like it creates more of a sense of inclusion.
A festival of cultures
As our individual families have grown our clan has been become inclusive of many cultures. The diversity of perspectives, cultures, cuisine and other influences have enriched our perspectives and experiences.
I have in the past loved attending places such as Epcot Center and the Festival of Nation in Minneapolis / St. Paul. I suggest that each clan branch be given the opportunity to showcase the particular cultures which have become part of their families through food, music, history or in any other way they choose. While the Seven all have some Scottish blood, we want to make sure we honor the diversity of cultures which we represent.
Site security
The security of this site is paramount. This is the one area in which compromises cannot be made. We will protect our clan's data assiduously. There will never be data sold or divulged to anyone outside of the clan, period. Even within the secure bounds of the environment, permission to view another clan member's information will be set up in an approval workflow so that everyone has control over who sees their data. Minors will require a parent's approval as well.
This site is built on an M365 tenant backed by Azure Active Directory and exposed through a secure Azure B2C tenant. Microsoft Defender products will be applied and configured on all cloud tenants. This portal is exposed through Microsoft Power Pages and the B2C tenant. Utilizing modern zero-trust principles, all data will be secured at rest and in motion.
Security reports will be run regulary and posted.
Do you want to help unite the clan?
We need volunteers to help us get things underway. Here are a few skill sets which could help us lay a good foundation:
Treasury and accounting
Fundraising
Content creation
Legal (Shall we spin up a non-profit?)
Social media section administrator
Event planning
Family recipe section administrator
Volunteer management
Family outreach coordinator
Intranet site developer (SharePoint and Viva)
Cybersecurity SME
Just to name a few!
Volunteers will receive an M65 Standard license which will enable them to work in the back end infrastructure and experience Ceilidh7.org as an enterprise domain. This will grant you a secure email address at ceilid7.org and license to download and use M365 products on up to 5 computers.
As the clan grows, we may be able to scale our enterprise licensing to include other technology benefits, procure volume discounting, etc.