Where then are we to recognise the _Flath Geilfiné_ among the _Aires_ of a _Tuath_ of the _Grad Flath_? The _Geilfiné_ chief, as we see, received his stock or subsidy direct from the _Ri Tuath_, but there were only two of the _Aires_ who were in this position, and in this respect the _Aires_ of a _Tuath_ fall into two divisions. The _Aire Desa_ and the _Aire Ard_ received their stock from a _Flath_, but the _Aire Tuise_ and the _Aire Forgaill_ from the _Ri Tuath_ direct, and it is in this latter division we have to look for the _Flath Geilfiné_. The _Aire Forgaill_ was the highest grade of the _Aires_, and is said to be so named ‘because it is he that testifies (_Fortgella_) to the grades in every case in which denial of a charge is sought, and because his quality is superior to that of his fellows;’ while the _Aire Tuise_ is said to be so called ‘because his race has precedence,’ or, as it may be more literally rendered, ‘because he is _Tuisech_ or leader from race’ (_Toisech a Ciniul_).[214] The former, as the superior of the two, may probably be viewed as the _Flath Geilfiné_ or _Geilfiné_ chief, and exercised the judicial functions of a chief; while the latter, as the oldest cadet, led the forces of the clan when called out either by the chief or by the king on a _Sluaged_ or hosting. [Sidenote: Law of Succession.] Although the position of _Flath_ or chief of a sept, as well as that of _Ri Tuath_ or head of the whole tribe, was hereditary in the family but elective in the person, there can be little doubt that the senior of the family, as representing the founder of it, was usually elected as entitled to the position, unless disqualified by some defect mental or physical, and this principle is recognised in the tract on Succession, where it is thus laid down:—‘The senior with the _Finé_ or sept, dignity with the _Flath_ or chief, wisdom with the _Eclais_ or church;’ and this rule is thus illustrated in the commentary: ‘Ignorance was set aside for wisdom in the orders of the church. An _Aitech_ or tenant of the _Grad Feiné_ was set aside for a _Flath_ or chief, a junior was set aside for the senior, that is, the person who is junior shall rise or walk out of the kingship or the abbacy or the _Geilfiné_ chiefship before the person who is senior.’ And again—‘Age is rewarded by the _Feiné_, for where there are two _Aires_ or lords of the same family who are of equal dignity and property, the senior shall take precedence.’ And again—‘The senior is entitled to noble election,’ but ‘if the kings be equally old and good, lots are to be cast between them respecting the kingship, but if one of them is older than the other he shall go into it.’ Finally, it is laid down that ‘the junior shares and the senior is elected,’ and that ‘it is according to desert they come into power, and it is according to the goodness of the branch itself and the goodness of the grade also, and the most worthy person of the branch shall go into it,