Noirin and Sean Ó Caiside at the 1998 Cassidy Clan Rally. Sean served as Chief of the Clan from 1991 to 2003. With Sean’s passing, Noirin became our Chief and served as Chief until 2005.
The first Cassidy Clan Chieftain Sean Ó Caiside and his wife Noirin at the 1998 Cassidy Clan Rally.
Sean and Noirin Ó Caiside singing at our 1999 Clan Rally.
Noirin and Sean O Caiside at their house outside Dublin in 2001.
Noirin Ó Caiside and sons and other family members performing at the 2005 Cassidy Clan Rally.
Dr. Sheila Cassidy at her inauguration as An Caisideach on Devenish Island at our 2005 rally. Born in 1937 in Lincolnshire, England, Sheila Cassidy is the daughter of Air Vice Marshall John Reginald Cassidy, who played a central role in Great Britain’s telecommunications industry during World War II. At the age of 10, the family moved to Australia and lived on a chicken farm during her teenage years. By 15, she realized she wanted to be a doctor and returned to England to pursue her studies at Somerville College, Oxford.
Dr. Cathal Cassidy of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, with Dr. Sheila Cassidy during the inauguration ceremony at the 2005 rally.
An O’ Caisideach Philip Patrick (Pat) Cassidy was from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, where all Cassidys originated. In this photo from the ceremony at Devenish Island during the 2011 rally, Pat is greeting Nuala Cassidy with Brent Cassidy in the rear.
Pat Cassidy, Chief of the Cassidy Clan, with his grandchildren.
Pat Cassidy and Nuala Cassidy at the 2014 rally.
Nuala Cassidy with her brother Noel at the 2017 Clan Rally where she was installed as Chieftain.
The Cassidy 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.
The first An O’ Caisideach was Sean Ó Casaide of the Republic of Ireland, who was designated honorary Chief of the Clan for life. Sean served in this position from 1991 to 2003. With Sean’s passing, his wife Noirin Casaide was designated Chief of the Clan and served as Chief until 2005.
Noirin and Sean Ó Caiside at the 1998 Cassidy Clan Rally.
Dr. Sheila Cassidy from Australia was inaugurated as An Caisideach inaugurated on Devenish Island at the 2005 Cassidy Clan Rally.
Three years later Philip Patrick Cassidy (known as Pat) from County Fermanagh was installed as An Caisideach, and served as our Chieftain through the 2014 rally.
Sadly, Pat died in August 2014 and as a mark of respect for his dedication and commitment to the Cassidy Clan organization since 1991, the office of An Caisideach was left vacant.
At our 2017 Gathering, Nuala Cassidy was elected as the new Chieftain.
Nuala Cassidy with her brother Noel at the 2017 Clan Rally where she was installed as Chieftain.
The Cassidy Clan is headed by the Chief of the Clan, who is given the title “An O’ Caisideach.” Sean Ó Casaide was our first An O’ Caisideach, and designated with honorary Chief of the Clan for life. Sean served in this position from 1991 until his death in 2003.
In an obituary reprinted below, The Irish Times wrote that Sean had “a passion for music, a love of the Irish language and a lifelong commitment to the education and well-being of children.” Born in 1907, Sean’s life spanned the 20th Century of Ireland.
In an interview conducted by Stephen Cassidy in 1999, Sean discusses his family, significant Irish and world events, his work in education, and love of Irish music and culture as well as notable Cassidys in Ireland.
The outbreak of World War I, the Easter Rising in Dublin, terror waged by the Black and Tans across Ireland are among the topics discussed by Sean Ó Caiside in the second part of the interview.
This clip concludes Sean’s interview.
Teacher committed to well-being of children
The Irish Times, September 13, 2003
Sean O Casaide, who has died aged 96, had a passion for music, a love of the Irish language and a lifelong commitment to the education and well-being of children.
He was born on March 16th, 1907, in Mullinroe, Co Longford, the fourth of the 13children of John Cassidy and his wife, Elizabeth (nee Coen), primary teachers in the nearby Cloneen school. Growing up in turbulent times, he witnessed the torching of Granard by the Black and Tans.
He won the King’s Scholarship to St Patrick’s Training College, Drumcondra, where the writer John D. Sheridan was a close friend and classmate. In his first teaching post in St John’s Lane in the Liberties, his class of 90 children came to school barefoot and hungry.
From this experience stemmed his conviction that education is the key to the alleviation of poverty. This and a clear understanding of the enormous challenges that face the educator in deprived areas were central to his life’s work in education. He had little interest in material comforts and sent his salary home to provide an education for his younger siblings, after the untimelydeath of his father.
Tugadh cuireadh do i 1931 a bheith mar mhuinteoir i Scoil Naomh Phadraig, bunscoil a bhi ceangailte le Colaiste Phadraig i nDroim Conrach: sa bhealach sinbhi pairt aige in oiliuint mhuinteoiri. Mar mhuinteoir og, rinne se ceimeanna H.Dip agus M.A. san oiche i gColaiste na hOllscoile, Baile Atha Cliath. Lena dheirfiur Daisy scriobh se an chead sraith leabhair I nGaeilge do phaisti bun scoile. Ceapadh ina Chigire Ceoil e i 1937, agus bhi se lonnaithe i nGaillimh agus i gCorcaigh. Mar Chigire Bunscoile, d’oibir se in Iarthair na hEireann (1941-’55).
Chaith se 10 mbliana ansin mar Chigire Ceantair agus ma Roinnchigire i dTir Chonaill, cupla bliain ar an Chlochan Liath, agus seacht mbliana i nGaoth Dobhair. Chuaigh se go Bhaile Atha Cliath i 1965 agus ceapadh mar Phriomhchigire Cunta e i 1969.Â
Nuair a d’eirigh se as an chigireacht i 1972, chaith se 10 mbliana mar Eagarthoir Ceoil sa Ghum. Ba mhinic a deireadh Sean gurbh e ceann de na laethanta a ba shona dena shaol, an la gur thosaigh se fein agus a athair le cheile a fhoghlaim Gaeilge, agus e mar dheagoir sa bhaile tar eis bunu an tSaorstait. Chuaigh Dubhglas de hIde i bhfeidhm go mor air, agus e ina mhac leinn aige in Ollscoil na hEireann.
He had a lifelong involvement with choirs, bands and the teaching of Irish and classical music. Under his guidance the Scoil Naomh Phadraig tin-whistle band frequently performed on 2RN Radio. In 1935 he founded the choir of Craobh an Cheitinnigh, Conradh na Gaeilge, in which three of his brothers sang.
He supported the work of Irish composers, convincing the minister of education in 1936 to assist the impoverished Carl Hardebeck with a yearly stipend of 150.
He introduced many children to music, most famously his niece, Geraldine O’Grady. He was enormously proud and supportive of his musical relatives, including the O’Grady family, Frank Patterson and Patrick Cassidy, all of whom consulted him on Irish music. In his later years he enjoyed his role as honorary taoiseach of the reconstituted Cassidy Clan.
Bhailiodh Sean seanamhrain sa Ghaeltacht, o dhaoine mar Roise na nAmhran i nArainn Mhor. Bhi se mar mholtoir sean-nois san Oireachtas ar feadh blianta fada, mar a raibh teagmhail aige le ceoltoiri mora na linne, cosuil le Sean O Riada agus Seosamh O hEanai. Ar theacht go Baile Atha Cliath do sna seascaidi, ba mhor an chuis misnigh do an “mion ghaeltacht” i Ranallach, mar a raibh moran teaglaigh le Gaeilge.
Nuair a bunaiodh an dara Gaelscoil i Ranallach i 1995, ba e Sean abhaist Lios na nOg uirthi.
His songs for children such as Teidi Beag Alainn, are a fitting testimony to hisgreat fondness for the young. His talents for composition and harmonisation wereparticularly valued by his own family, the group Na Casaidigh. Imbued by a deep faith, he composed an Irish Mass for the church choir which he conducted in Ranelagh for 36 years.
Cuis mhor broin a bhas da bhean cheile, a chompanach ionuin, Noirin, da thriur inion Fionnula, Ailbhe agus Caitriona, da sheachtar mac Ruairi, Ciaran, Feargus,Fionntan, Aongus, Odhran agus Seathrun. Cailliuint mhor fosta da thriur dearthara mhaireann, Kevin, Martin agus Brendan.
Sean O Casaide: born March 16th, 1907; died September 3rd, 2003