II.   Sovereign

Truatha, also known as Trua - Tha, also deliberately misnamed as “tuatha”, is the ancient Gaelic name for clans and the etymological origin of the word “true” and “truth”.

The word Truatha is derived from two (2) ancient pre 6th millennium BCE Gaelic words Trua meaning “empathy, the same, kindred, kindness, heart” and Tha meaning “am, are and is”. Hence the literal meaning of Truatha is “am the same, am kindred”.

A Truatha was constructed of one (1) or several smaller family units known as “Fine” and the leader of a Truatha was called Tigarna Rà meaning “Lord King”.

A Truatha was constructed of one (1) or several smaller family units known as “Fine” and the leader of a Truatha was called Tigarna Rà meaning “Lord King”.

(i) cuí/ cuíl or Holly Priest appointed to each Truatha remained at all times the highest level of Celtic society; and

(ii) déarfáinn being the council of the Truatha from déan meaning “duty, service, destiny”, rí meaning “king” and fáinne meaning “ring”; and

(iii) bódéarí being the custodians of cows, lands and property of the Truatha from bó meaning “cow”, déan meaning “duty, service, destiny”, rí meaning “king”; and

(iv) féarann being the free men, skilled craftsmen and warriors of the lands of the Truatha from fear meaning “man” and ann short for ann-sá meaning is “free to give one’s oath, surety or vow”; and

(v) oíbrí (also listed as oíbrían) being bonded workers, debt slaves of the King of the Truatha from oíb meaning “bay, enclosure” and rí meaning “king”.

A common object upon which members of Celt society gave oaths is to pronounce upon the name of their truatha, therefore to literally “speak in the name of truth” equivalent to speaking honestly and with honor.