Kings of Tory


The King of Tory is a customary title used by inhabitants of the island of Tory off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland. The title was last claimed by Dublin-born Patsy Dan Rodgers, who died in Dublin after a battle with cancer in October 2018.

History

The history of the kings goes back at least as far as the 6th century, if not as long as 5,000 years ago. It has been suggested that some of the pre-historical kings included Conand and Balor. During the 1800s the Heggerty/Heraghty/Herrity family supplied the kings; however, the role of king is no longer hereditary. The role usually entails being a representative for the island to outsiders. In 1995 it was reported that the current king personally greeted every incoming ferry from the mainland.
It is the only extant kingship in Ireland.

Current king

No king has been nominated since Patsy Dan Rodgers's death in October 2018.

Previous kings

Patsy Dan Rodgers became King of Tory in 1993, and held the title and role until his passing in October 2018. Rodgers was an artist and musician and in his role as king welcomed visitors to the island, entertained them with music and tales of island life.
Rodgers was born in Dublin in 1944 and only adopted into Tory when he was four, but the Rodgers family claims a connection to the island of over 3,400 years, and the holder of the title prior to Patsy Dan Rodgers was Padraig Óg Rodgers.
There is little documentation of earlier kings; a 1917 issue of The Literary Digest mentioned that "The shores are inhabited by septs which preserve a clannish allegiance to one another, but the islands are ruled by kings. There is a King of Tory and a King of Innismurray." A dwarf named Paddy Heggarty was another king prior to the Rodgers. Kings were required to be of the brehon class and to be literate.