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Carroll of Oriel: Carrulus Ergaliae
A Family History

by Vincent Carroll

50 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #04-1179; ISBN 1-4120-3352-7; US$11.50, C$13.00, EUR9.50, £6.50

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About the Book The Carroll of Oriel family is an ancient Gaelic noble family of Milesian descent, whose ancestors arrived in Ireland with the first wave of Celtic invaders, about one thousand six hundred years before the birth of Christ. Oral Bardic tradition and the ancient manuscripts, which depict the earliest history of the island of Ireland, indicate that the family settled in what are now the counties of Tyrone and Fermanagh and migrated eastwards so that King Cu Caisil O'Carroll was King of Farney, a territory in County Monaghan in the early twelfth century. His son, Donough O'Carroll, became King of Farney in 1123 A.D. and rapidly became King of Oriel. He transformed Oriel into a centre of peace and learning as he developed monasteries and schools. His son, Murrough, continued and developed his father's achievements, but by then the Normans had invaded and, by force of arms, captured large areas of Oriel, forcing the native population into feudal slavery. Under Irish Brehon Law the land was held in common by the entire clan, and the King ruled and implemented the law as long as he was considered worthy to do so, because an Irish King was always subject to the legal code. In Feudal Law the King actually owned all of the land, portions of which he would grant to his knights in return for service and loyalty, and a feudal king was above the law, as law derived from the monarch. An English law of 1587 abolished all Gaelic titles and Ireland became part of King Henrys VIII "Kingdom of Ireland". This was followed by the Nine Year War against the English invaders and various plantation/land grants to English families after the removal of the native population. The Cromwellian period followed leading to a law, which made it a capital offence for any Irish person to be found east of the River Shannon after May 1st 1654. The Williamite Wars followed and by then about one third of the native Irish population had died either by warfare, disease or famine. Eventually in 1702 the remaining Carroll of Oriel lands were confiscated and given to a family of Williamite supporters. However, as a family we have never lost our unique sense of identity or a knowledge of our heritage. We slowly recovered our position throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century and today the family, although they have no material connection with the former Kingdom of Oriel; take an active interest in all matters relating to Oriel. The head of the family, Dr. Vincent Carroll, recently made a donation of antiquities from the family's collection to the Louth County Museum in Dundalk and the Companionate of the Royal House of Oriel, of which Dr. Carroll is President, has agreed to co-fund with Louth County Council a research bursary to study local history. This book, "A Family History" is of relevance to all Carroll's world-wide, especially Carroll's whose origins are from the former Kingdom of Oriel. It shows how an ancient family struggled for survival for eight hundred years and how they ultimately succeeded in preserving their unique history and traditions. It will give hope and encouragement to others whose way of life is under threat and show that regardless of adversity, if a knowledge of history and connected genealogy is retained, survival is always possible.

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