Congratulations to our friend and colleague Cora Crampton, Honorary Secretary of West Wicklow History Society, on winning the prestigious Standing Council of the Irish Chiefs and Chieftain’s Essay Competition for 2024/25. This competition is run annually in association with the History Department of Trinity College, Dublin. Cora was honoured at the recent Clans of Ireland Cultural Summit held in Dublin on Saturday 5 April 2025, where she was presented with the Ó Ceallaigh dal gCais Perpetual Cup.
Cora’s study entitled ‘Three Women of the O’ Byrnes – Perspectives on Gaelic Political Marriage in the Sixteenth Century’ examines the historical imprint of three high-status women of the Gabhal Ragnaill O’Byrne clan in order to better understand the nature and impact of Gaelic political marriage in the patriarchal and increasingly violent world of sixteenth-century Leinster. Her essay was published in the November/December 2024 edition of History Ireland. Cora is the third member of the current committee of West Wicklow Historical Society to receive this award – Chris Lawlor and Declan Keenan have been previous recipients.
Photo (L to R): Cora Crampton accepting the Ó Ceallaigh dal gCais Perpetual Cup from Gearóid Ó Ceallaigh, Cathaoirleach, Clans of Ireland.