By Breandán Ó Ciarraí
© 2007

What does it mean to be a Sinsearaí, one of the adherents to the Sinnsreachd way of life? Many times this question is asked, in various forms, in an attempt to discover what specifically sets us apart from other cultures or faiths. Answers vary from historical dissertations to exhortations on the virtues of tribalism, but there is another angle to this question that I wish to address, and that is the aspect of the overall results of our way of life.

Putting aside the cultural specifics of languages, customs, social structures, religious beliefs, etc., all of which are components of our way of life, we find ourselves left with an almost symptomatic view of our faith and culture- how it appears and affects others. We are a people of strong ethics and morals, strong family bonds and a belief in putting the tribe ahead of the self, a people who are, in theory at least, strong, proud, skilled, and focused. Rather than ponder the individual elements that comprise these parts of who we are- honour, courage, piety, dedication, personal responsibility and integrity, individualism balanced by familial obligation and duty, and so on- let us instead look at the overarching effect the many aspects of our way of life have in defining who we are in the eyes of others, or, finding ourselves often lacking these days, who we should be.

When someone sees a symbol that denotes someone as being a Sinsearaí, be it a torc properly worn, the tatúnna laoigh that warriors of various tuatha brand themselves with, or some other element- or when someone knows by reputation that a person is a follower of Sinnsreachd- they should automatically know this person can be relied upon to act in certain ways. A Sinsearaí should be honest, sometimes blunt, more often eloquent, but never lacking in a truthful opinion. A person only loosely familiar with our faith should know, by reputation, that a Sinsearaí will be fierce, honour their word when they give it, and be very miserly in doing so, only giving it when absolutely necessary and to those they trust, and a person of honour. They should know that to cross a Sinsearaí, especially when it brings their loved ones to harm, is to bring down a hell-born wrath unlike anything outside of the fires of the wars of the Gods themselves, and to earn one’s trust is to have a loyal friend forever.

A Sinsearaí should, to the outsider, seem to be a larger-than-life figure, from the mightiest laoch to the most average of farmers, an echo of an ancient time when legends walked freely throughout the world. By their very essence should a Sinsearaí inspire those around them to stand a bit taller, be a bit better, and strive for a greatness that the society at large would tell them they could not achieve. Proud, fierce, dignified, elegant, courageous, and so founded in integrity that they seem to be forged of the very essence of honour, this is what we should strive to be. We should follow the teachings of the kings of our ancestors- “Be not too wise, be not too foolish; be not too conceited, nor too diffident; be not too haughty, nor too humble; be not too talkative, nor too silent; be not too hard, nor too feeble; If you be too wise, one will expect too much of you; If you be foolish, you will be deceived; If you be too conceited, you will be thought vexatious; If you be too humble, you will be without honor; If you be too talkative, you will not be heeded; If you be too silent, you will not be regarded; If you be too hard, you will be broken; If you be too feeble, you will be crushed.” In these words, spoken by Árd Rí Cormac Mac Airt to his son Cairbre, we find a timeless wisdom that is a part of the core of who we are as a people.

Weaker and lesser men and women would tell you that this is arrogance, hubris, and that you should not see yourselves as better than others. Ignore these fools, for they will amount to naught in the end, ash in the dustbin of mediocrity. Each of us as Sinsearaithe have an obligation to better ourselves, not for our own egocentrism, but to honour our people, long dead, living, and yet unborn. You have duties to uphold, for you have ancestors to honour and descendants to inspire. Look to your children and ask yourself what kind of legend and memory you wish to create to inspire them to better themselves with.

When all is said and done, we will not be remembered at the end of the day, either by the deoraithe or by our own progeny, for what we thought or idealized, but for how we lived. It is thus incumbent upon each of us to strive to meet the standards set for us by the legends of our ancestors (as opposed to the often less-inspiring truths), and then set the bar a bit higher for ourselves and try to meet that as well. How we are seen by others is probably the best indicator of how well we are doing and how future generations will regard us. We live in a time of flux, a crossroads where our way of life will either rise to become strong, or fade into the dustbin of obscurity. We make that choice. Choose wisely.