Éile (; sga, Éle, ), commonly anglicised as Ely, was a medieval

petty kingdom A petty kingdom is a monarchy, kingdom described as minor or "petty" (from the French 'petit' meaning small) by contrast to an empire or unified kingdom that either preceded or succeeded it (e.g. the Heptarchy#List of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, numerou ...

in the southern part of the modern

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

Offaly County Offaly (; ga, Contae Uíbh Fhailí) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe. It was formerly known as King's County, in hono ...

and parts of

North Tipperary North Tipperary ( ga, Tiobraid Árann Thuaidh) was a county in Ireland. It was part of the Mid-West Region and was also located in the province of Munster. It was named after the town of Tipperary and consisted of 48% of the land area of the t ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. The historic

barony Barony may refer to: * Barony, the peerage, office of, or territory held by a baron * Barony, the title and land held in fealty by a feudal baron * Barony (county division), a type of administrative or geographical division in parts of the British ...

Eliogarty Eliogarty (Irish: ''Éile Uí Fhógarta'') is a barony in County Tipperary, Ireland. This geographical unit of land is one of 12 baronies in County Tipperary. Its chief town is Thurles. The barony lies between Ikerrin to the north (whose chief to ...

was once a significant portion of the kingdom.

Overview

The clan or people of Éile claimed descent from

Cian In Irish mythology, Cian or Cían (), nicknamed Scal Balb, was the son of Dian Cecht, the physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and best known as the father of Lugh Lamhfada. Cían's brothers were Cu, Cethen, and Miach. Cían was slain by the Son ...

, a younger son of

Ailill Aulom Ailill Ollamh (or Oilill Olum) in Irish traditional history was the son of Mug Nuadat and was a king of the southern half of Ireland, placed in the 3rd century by early modern Irish genealogy. Sadb ingen Chuinn, daughter of Conn of the Hundred Bat ...

and brother of

Eógan Mór or is an early Irish male name, which also has the hypocoristic and diminutive forms , , and . In more modern forms of Irish it is written as or (/'oːəun/). In Scottish Gaelic the name is Eòghann or Eòghan. All of the above are often ...

, and thus had kinship with the

Eóganachta The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta () were an Irish dynasty centred on Cashel which dominated southern Ireland (namely the Kingdom of Munster) from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, an ...

. It has been suggested that the Éile were actually of

Laigin The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin (), were a Gaelic population group of early Ireland. They gave their name to the Kingdom of Leinster, which in the medieval era was known in Irish as ''Cóiced Laigen'', meaning "Fifth/province of the Leinsterm ...

origin, and that they may in fact have been the rulers of the Cashel area before the rise of the Eóganachta, as suggested by their role in Eóganachta origin tales, such as the ''

Senchas Fagbála Caisil ''Senchas Fagbála Caisil'' "The Story of the Finding of Cashel" is an early medieval Irish text which relates, in two variants, the origin legend of the kingship of Cashel. Myles Dillon has dated the first variant (§§ 1-3) to the 8th century, ...

''. Their name is also associated with ''Cruachán Brí Éile'' the original name of

Croghan Hill Croghan Hill ( or ''Brí Éile'') is a hill with a height of in County Offaly, Ireland. The remains of an extinct volcano, it rises from the Bog of Allen and dominates the surrounding plains. Historically known as ''Brí Éile'', it is menti ...

. By the 12th-century it was much reduced in size, bounded to the north by the

Kingdom of Mide Meath (; Old Irish: ''Mide'' ; spelt ''Mí'' in Modern Irish) was a kingdom in Ireland from the 1st to the 12th century AD. Its name means "middle," denoting its location in the middle of the island. At its greatest extent, it included all of ...

, to the south by Cashel, to the east by the

Kingdom of Ossory Osraige (Old Irish) or Osraighe (Classical Irish), Osraí (Modern Irish), anglicized as Ossory, was a medieval Irish kingdom comprising what is now County Kilkenny and western County Laois, corresponding to the Diocese of Ossory. The home of t ...

and the Múscraige Tíre to the west in Ormond. It consisted of the

baronies Barony may refer to: * Barony, the peerage, office of, or territory held by a baron * Barony, the title and land held in fealty by a feudal baron * Barony (county division), a type of administrative or geographical division in parts of the British ...

Clonlisk Clonlisk () is a Barony (Ireland), barony in County Offaly (formerly King's County), Republic of Ireland. Etymology Clonlisk derives its name from Clonlisk Castle (near Dunkerrin) and the townland of Clonlisk (Irish ''Cluain Leisc'', "meadow of ...

Ballybritt Ballybritt () is a barony in County Offaly (formerly King's County), Republic of Ireland. Etymology Ballybritt derives its name from Ballybritt Castle (near Roscrea) and the townland of Ballybritt (Irish ''Baile an Bhriotaigh'', "settlement of ...

Ikerrin Ikerrin (Irish: ''Uí Chairín'') is a barony in County Tipperary, Ireland. This geographical unit of land is one of 12 baronies in County Tipperary. Its chief town is Roscrea. The barony lies between Eliogarty to the south (whose chief town is Th ...

and Eliogarty. The area ''then'' known as Éile was divided into two principal regions or lordships, the northern of which, called Éile Uí Chearbhaill (Ely O'Carroll), was ruled by the

O'Carroll O'Carroll ( ga, Ó Cearbhaill), also known as simply Carroll, Carrol or Carrell, is a Gaelic Irish clan which is the most prominent sept of the Ciannachta (also known as Clan Cian). Their genealogies claim that they are kindred with the Eógana ...

family. The southern lordship, called Éile Uí Fhogartaigh (Ely O'Fogarty), was ruled by the O'Fogarty family, who may have been of a different imposed lineage, possibly

Dalcassian The Dalcassians ( ga, Dál gCais ) are a Gaelic Irish clan, generally accepted by contemporary scholarship as being a branch of the Déisi Muman, that became very powerful in Ireland during the 10th century. Their genealogies claimed descent f ...

, from the O'Carrolls. Alternatively, they were actually kindred but regional politics influenced later genealogists to associate them with different provincial dynasties at different periods.

John O'Hart John O'Hart (1824–1902) was an Irish genealogist. He was born in Crossmolina, County Mayo, Ireland. A committed Roman Catholic and Irish nationalist, O'Hart had originally planned to become a priest but instead spent two years as a poli ...

finds an

Uí Néill The Uí Néill (Irish pronunciation: ; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who died c. 405. They are generally divided into the ...

descent from

Fogartach mac Néill Fogartach Mac'Artain (died 724), sometimes called Fogartach ua Cernaich, was an Irish king who is reckoned a High King of Ireland. He belonged to the Uí Chernaig sept of the Síl nÁedo Sláine branch of the southern Uí Néill. He was King of Br ...

for the O'Fogartys. Ely O'Fogarty included the baronies of

and

, now in

County Tipperary County Tipperary ( ga, Contae Thiobraid Árann) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. The county is named after the town of Tipperary, and was established in the early 13th century, shortly after th ...

, Munster. After the

Norman invasion of Ireland The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland took place during the late 12th century, when Anglo-Normans gradually conquered and acquired large swathes of land from the Irish, over which the kings of England then claimed sovereignty, all allegedly sanc ...

, these baronies were added to the Earl of Ormond's

county palatine In England, Wales and Ireland a county palatine or palatinate was an area ruled by a hereditary nobleman enjoying special authority and autonomy from the rest of a kingdom. The name derives from the Latin adjective ''palātīnus'', "relating to ...

. The native lords, O'Meagher and O'Fogarty, were left in possession of their lands, but were obliged to pay tribute to the Earl of Ormond. Ely O'Carroll and the baronies of Clonlisk and Ballybritt were part of Munster until the early 17th-century (1606) but are now located in

County Offaly County Offaly (; ga, Contae Uíbh Fhailí) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe. It was formerly known as King's County, in hono ...

and Leinster. This was done in the early Stuart period to remove the O'Carroll lands from the claim and control of the Earls of Ormond's County Palantine of

Tipperary Tipperary is the name of: Places *County Tipperary, a county in Ireland **North Tipperary, a former administrative county based in Nenagh **South Tipperary, a former administrative county based in Clonmel *Tipperary (town), County Tipperary's na ...

and from the Presidency of Munster. The former boundary between Ely O'Carroll and the ancient

is coterminous with the present boundary between the diocese of Killaloe and the

diocese of Meath The Diocese of Meath ( ga, Deoise na Mí) is an Irish diocese which took its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it still exists as a separate diocese, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other ...

. That portion of County Offaly which belongs to the diocese of Killaloe was Ely O'Carroll and originally belonged to Munster.

United States

The O'Carroll princes are survived to this day by the prominent

Carroll family O'Carroll ( ga, Ó Cearbhaill), also known as simply Carroll, Carrol or Carrell, is a Gaelic Irish clan which is the most prominent sept of the Ciannachta (also known as Clan Cian). Their genealogies claim that they are kindred with the Eógana ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

.Hoffman and Mason

Charles Carroll of Carrollton Charles Carroll (September 19, 1737 – November 14, 1832), known as Charles Carroll of Carrollton or Charles Carroll III, was an Irish-American politician, planter, and signatory of the Declaration of Independence. He was the only Catholic sign ...

was a signatory of the

United States Declaration of Independence The United States Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen States of America, is the pronouncement and founding document adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting at Pennsylvania State House ...

. His branch of the family has been seated at

Doughoregan Manor Doughoregan Manor () is a plantation house and estate located on Manor Lane west of Ellicott City, Maryland, United States. Established in the early 18th century as the seat of Maryland's prominent Carroll family, it was home to Founding Fath ...

for over two centuries.

Charles Carroll the Barrister Charles Carroll (22 March 1723 – 23 March 1783) was an American statesman from Annapolis, Maryland. He was the builder of the Baltimore Colonial home Mount Clare (Maryland), Mount Clare (1760), and a delegate to the Second Continental Con ...

, a cousin, descended from among the very last lords of Éile. Mount Clare was his home in Maryland.

Annalistic references

AI=

Annals of Inisfallen Annals ( la, annāles, from , "year") are a concise historical record in which events are arranged chronologically, year by year, although the term is also used loosely for any historical record. Scope The nature of the distinction between ann ...

. LC=

Annals of Lough Ce Annals ( la, annāles, from , "year") are a concise historical record in which events are arranged chronologically, year by year, although the term is also used loosely for any historical record. Scope The nature of the distinction between anna ...

. M=

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' ( ga, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' (''Annála na gCeithre Máistrí'') are chronicles of medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Deluge, dated as 2,24 ...

. C=

Chronicon Scotorum ''Chronicon Scotorum'', also known as ''Chronicum Scotorum'', is a medieval Irish chronicle. Overview According to Nollaig Ó Muraíle, it is "a collection of annals belonging to the ' Clonmacnoise group', covering the period from prehistoric tim ...

. * ''571 - The battle of Tola, by Fiachna, son of Baedan, son of Cairell, against the people of Osraighe and Eile; and they were defeated. Tola is the name of a plain situated between Cluain Fearta Molua and Saighir.'' * ''AI669 - Death of Forchellach, king of Éile.'' * ''707, The battle of Dola, in Magh Ele, where Leathlobhar, son of Eochaidh, Cu Allaidh, and Cu Dinaisc, were slain.'' * ''AI744, Death of Ardgal, king of Éile.'' * ''M757/T762, Fogartach, son of Eochaidh, lord of Eile died.'' * ''M847, Tuathal, son of Ceallach, lord of Eile, died.'' * ''874 Donnchadh, son of Maelseachlainn, was mortally wounded by the Eili.'' * ''888, A battle was gained over the Eili by Maelguala and the men of Munster, at Caiseal, in which many noble youths were slain.'' * ''900 - A battle was gained by Ceallach, son of Cearbhall, and by the Osraighi, over the Eili and the Muscraighi, in which fell one hundred and ten persons, among whom was Techtegan, son of Uamnachan, lord of Eili, and many others of distinction.'' * ''M903, Cnáimheini, mac Maenaigh, tighearna Ele, d'ég.'' * ''M975 - Seachnasach mac h-Iruaidh tigherna Eile do mharbhadh.'' * ''c. 1000 - Cearball mac Dublaidhe Duind appears king of Éile in MacLiacc poem '' * ''AI1022 - Death of Gilla Pátraic son of Cerball, king of Éile.'' * * ''AI1028 - Death of Ua Dubchróin, king of Éile.'' * ''LC1033 - Aimhergin Ua Cerbhaill, king of Eile, died.'' * ''LC1033 - A victory was gained by the Eile, in which Braen Ua Clerigh, and Muiredhach, son of Mac Gillapatraic, et alii multi, were slain.'' * ''U1033 - A rout was inflicted among the Éile in which Braen ua Cléirig and Muiredach grandson of Gilla Pátraic and many others fell.'' * ''AI1033 - Braen Ua Cléirig, king of Éile, was killed.'' * ''M1050 - Maelruanaidh, son of Cucoirne, lord of Eile, was killed by his own people.'' * ''LC1050 - Maelruanaidh, grandson of Cucoirne, king of Eile, died.'' * ''U1050 - Mael Ruanaid son of Cú Choirne, king of Éile, was killed (by his own people).'' * ''LC1058 - Ribhardan, son of Cucoirne, king of Eile, fell.'' * ''M1071 - The son of Righbhardan, son of Cucoirne, lord of Eile, was slain in a battle.'' * ''M1072 - Ua Fogarta, lord of Eile, was killed by Ua Briain.'' * ''AI1071 - Rígbardán's son, king of Éile, was slain.'' * ''M1121 - Ríghbhardán, mac Con Choirne, tighearna Ele do écc.'' * ''M1145 - Finn Ua Cearbhaill, Tanist of Eile, was killed.'' * ''M1152 - Domhnall, son of Righbhardan, lord of Eile, was slain by the son of the Long-legged (An Chos Fhada) Ua Cearbhaill.'' * ''AI1058.4 Tairdelbach Ua Briain brought the son of Mael na mBó, and the Laigin, Osraige, and foreigners with him to attack Brian's son, and they burned the greater part of In Machaire as far as Luimnech. And the Munstermen themselves burned Luunnech lest the other party should burn it, and they were engaged as they were turning out of it, and a few of the others and a good many of the Munstermen were slain, including Ua Lígda, erenagh of Imlech Ibuir, the son of Cú Choirne, king of Éile, and Ua Gébennaig, king of In Déis Bec.'' * ''M1163 - The son of Finn Ua Cearbhaill, lord of North Eile, was slain by Domhnall, son of Toirdhealbhach.'' * ''M1174, Ruaidri h-Úa Cerbaill ory O'Carroll Lord of Ely, was slain in the middle of the island of Inish-cloghran.'' * ''AI1174 - A hosting by the grey foreigners, and they came into Éile. Domnall Ua Briain and the Tuadmumu assembled gainst themat Durlas Ua Fócarta, and a battle was fought between them, in which the grey foreigners were defeated, seven hundred or somewhat more being slain.'' * ''M1205 - The son of Guill-bhealach O'Carroll, Lord of Ely, was slain by the English.'' * ''C1318 - A great victory was gained over the English in Ely, by O'Carroll; and Adam Mares and many other Englishmen were slain.'' * ''C1399 - Tadc O Cerbaill, king of Ely, was captured by the Earl of Ormond this year.'' * ''M1432 - A great war broke out between O'Carroll, Lord of Ely, and the Earl of Ormond; and the Earl marched at the head of a great army into Ely, ravaged the country, and demolished O'Carroll's two castles.'' * ''M1443 - Maelruanaid O Cerbaill, king of Ely, died this year.

Notes

References

Francis John Byrne Francis John Byrne (1934 – 30 December 2017) was an Irish historian. Born in Shanghai where his father, a Dundalk man, captained a ship on the Yellow River, Byrne was evacuated with his mother to Australia on the outbreak of World War II. Af ...

. ''Irish Kings and High-Kings''.

Four Courts Press Four Courts Press is an independent Irish academic publishing house, with its office at Malpas Street, Dublin 8, Ireland. Founded in 1970 by Michael Adams, who died in February 2009, its early publications were primarily theological, notably t ...

. 2nd revised edition, 2001. *

Thomas Charles-Edwards Thomas Mowbray Charles-Edwards (born 11 November 1943) is an emeritus academic at the University of Oxford. He formerly held the post of Jesus Professor of Celtic and is a Professorial Fellow at Jesus College. Biography He was educated at A ...

. ''Early Christian Ireland''. Cambridge. 2000. * Ronald Hoffman and Sally D. Mason. ''Princes of Ireland, Planters of Maryland: A Carroll Saga, 1500–1782''. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. 2000. * John Gleeson. ''History of the Ely O'Carroll Territory of Ancient Ormond''. Dublin. 1915. * Paul MacCotter. ''Medieval Ireland: Territorial, Political and Economic Divisions''. Four Courts Press. 2008. *

Donnchadh Ó Corráin Donnchadh Ó Corráin (28 February 1942 – 25 October 2017) was an Irish historian and Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at University College Cork. He earned his BA in history and Irish from that institution, graduating in 1964. He was a ...

(ed.).
Genealogies from Rawlinson B 502
'. University College, Cork: Corpus of Electronic Texts. 1997. *

.
Irish Pedigrees
'. Dublin: James Duffy and Co. 5th edition, 1892. {{DEFAULTSORT:Eile Kingdoms of medieval Ireland Carroll family

Overview

United States

Annalistic references

See also

Notes

References