There is some overlap between the first two groups (prior to the Treaty of Limerick), and a lesser degree of overlap between the last two groups (prior to independence from the United Kingdom).
Such overlaps may be personal (e.g. a Gaelic noble who was "regranted" his titles by King Henry VIII of England), or they may be geographical[clarification needed] (i.e. different noble traditions co-existing in neighbouring parts of the country, which were only distinguished by the date when they finally fell under the Dublin Castle administration).
[citation needed] In the Republic of Ireland, the Irish Constitution precludes the State from conferring titles of nobility, and prevents citizens from accepting titles of nobility or honour – except with the prior approval of the government.
[1] Existing holders of aristocratic titles continue to use them, but they are not recognised by the Irish government.
While some representatives of clans and families had obtained "courtesy recognition" as Chiefs of the Name from the Chief Herald of Ireland, this practice was discontinued by 2003 – with the Attorney General noting that such recognitions were unconstitutional and without basis in law.