Society of Descendants of Ireland
The Society of Descendants of Ireland is a dependency of The Augustan Society, Inc. Online data is here.
This society was founded in 1980 for the purpose of gathering together persons of Irish origin, and for preserving and cherishing the memories of our ancestors of Ireland, and to reflect with affection upon the Emerald Isle. This has, at times, involved sponsorship of Irish-American Genealogist. Today the scholarly and genealogical data gathered are submitted to The Augustan Omnibus and the Family of Augustans project.
The society is governed by the Dean of the SDI, appointed by and answerable to the President of the Augustan Society.
Membership in the society is open to those who meet the qualifications for one of the classes of membership; Augustan Society membership is not required.
Membership Classes
Membership in the society is available in two exclusive classes:
Royal Life Class is available to persons who can prove descent from any historic Irish High King, Provincial King, or Sub-King, residing in Ireland prior to 1170 (the date of the beginning of the Anglo-Norman invasion of Henry II).
Hereditary Life Class is available to persons who cannot qualify for Royal Life Membership, but who can prove descent from an Irish family who lived in Ireland a minimum of three generations.
The entry fee is $100; $50 for converting from Hereditary to Royal member at a later date; plus a genealogist's fee of $5/generation for each lineage submitted, including corrections and extensions. No fees need attach for lineages or portions of lineages already recognized by The Augustan Society, and a credit will be issued for any such duplication.
Insignia
 | The arms of the SDI is an inescutcheon Argent a shamrock Proper, upon the shield of The Augustan Society, as shown to the left. |
 | The insignia of the SDI is a lapel pin showing the inescutcheon above, as shown to the left. Informally, this may be worn on the left lapel. Augustan Society members may wear the pin on the ribbon of the Medal of Membership when appropriate. |
All members, in whichever category, must submit the entry fee, and will receive the certificate of membership and the insignia of the Society. Members may not belong to more than one class.
Induction Process
- Petitioners must submit to the SDI Administrator (usually one of the Consuls) a completed petition, payment of the Entry Fee, payment of Genealogist Fee, and such other evidence of qualification as may be needed. HQ Staff may complete the petition form if all data is supplied in another format.
- The Administrator will confirm that the lineage is in standard form and appears complete. Failing this, he will remand the lineage to the petitioner for additional information.
- The Administrator will forward the lineage to the Genealogy Committee for review. That Committee will convert the lineage into standard form and into a GED file, if needed.
- The Lineage being accepted by the Genealogy Committee, the Administrator will create a letter of welcome and a certificate of membership, these may be signed by the Dean either physically or electronically at his discretion. If there is no Dean or they are unresponsive, the SDI Administrator will sign. Consuls will apply the corporate seal to the certificate before it is sent.
- The Administrator will notify the Augustæum Editor of the induction if the petitioner is an Augustan Member.
- The Administrator will notify the Custodian of Insignia of the induction.
- The Custodian of Insignia will send the appropriate insignia with a cover letter.
Administration
The Society of Descendants of Ireland is lead by a Dean who is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the President. Once membership reaches five active members, the Dean may call for an election to said office; when membership reaches 24, he must call an election. Such elections will be subject to confirmation by the Board.
All funds received and disbursed will be handled by the Assistant Treasurer, and any balance placed in the SDI Fund, which will be used only for the purposes of the society as directed by the Dean or President, subject to Board approval of the annual budget.
