| Post: | King |
| Body: | Tory |
| Incumbent: | Vacant |
| Incumbentsince: | 19 October 2018 |
| Residence: | Tory Island |
The King of Tory (Irish: Rí Thoraí) was 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 (Irish: Patsaí Dan Mac Ruaidhrí), who died of cancer in Dublin in October 2018.[1]
The history of the kings dates to at least the 6th century,[2] and possibly significantly earlier.[3] It has been suggested that some of the pre-historical kings included Conand and Balor. During the 19th century, the Heggerty/Heraghty/Herrity family supplied the kings;[4] however, the role of king is no longer hereditary.[5] The role usually entails being a representative for the island to outsiders. In 1995, it was reported that the then king personally greeted every incoming ferry from the mainland.[6]
According to Tourism Ireland in 2012, Tory Island was the "only place in Ireland to have a [customary] King".[7]
Patsy Dan Rodgers became King of Tory in 1993,[8] and held the title and role until his death in October 2018.[1] Rodgers was an artist and musician and in his role as king welcomed visitors to the island,[9] entertained them with music and tales of island life.[1] He was born in Dublin in 1944 and only adopted into Tory when he was four, but the Rodgers family claims a historic connection to the island, and the holder of the title prior to Patsy Dan Rodgers was Padraig Óg Rodgers.[1]
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".[10] 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.[4]
As of 2022, no new king has been elected, but there is a Wixsite.com webpage that "supports the continuation of the ancient monarchy of Tory".[11]
. The Tory Islanders: A people of the Celtic fringe . Cambridge University Press . Fox, Robin . Robin Fox . registration . 1978 . 16, 55] . 0521292980.
. Robin Fox. Participant Observer: Memoir of a Transatlantic Life. Transaction Publishers. 2004. 266. 0765802384. 30 August 2012.