Does Clan Cian-Carroll Represent the Ciannachta?
( clancian-carroll.com website )
In order to answer the question of representation; one must first define the term - Clan Cian [Race of Cian]
. Historically, a point widely documented is that the term Clan Cian or The Cianachta is defined as being descended from Cian; this would be inclusive of all
of the surnames within all the septs of the Cianachta.
The term; Cianachta does not extend to persons or families descended from other than Cian. Genealogies, and or ethnology do not change simply because a family
moves the location of residence to an area controlled by a different power. As we see in considering the Civil Survey(s) and has happened in similar tuatha
elsewhere, and the ruling family tended in time to push out those celte: [cele: clients or tenants] who were not of its immediate blood and to distribute the
land amongst their own. This point is supported by nearly every survey and regional study of the early history of Ireland. Having stated this; a point of historical reference.
The ClanCian-Carroll
website [on the surname connections page] clearly misrepresents those families in section (5) Dalcassian Families [DalgCais - The Tribe of Cas -
The descendants of Cas, son of Aillil Olumm (Oilill Olum) and in
section (6) which pertains to Eugenian Families [The descendants of Eoghan Mór, son of Aillil Olumm (Oilill Olum).
Even had any members of the surnames descended from anyone other than Cian sworn loyalty to the Cheifs, Lords, Princes or Kings of any given region under the control of a
Cainachta rule, it would make them members of a tuatha or the cele of the region. it would not change that surnamed family's descent. Therefore, adding those names can only
be seen as an embellishment of the claims made by the members of the clancain-carroll.com website.
Clan Cian: ( Ciannachta/Keenaghta/Cianachta ) descendants of Cian, third son of Ailill Olomm.
["Sliocht Cein Mic Oilealla Oluim" ~ Descendants of Cian son of Oilliol Olum] Septs included Ciannachta, Gailenga, Luigni, Eile. Each of these septs
consisted of seperate clanns. There are approximately 47 documented surnames; descended from Cian; yet there is very little information concerning the
surname connected families, their histories, lore or geneologies. Its almost as though this groups membership has little or no concern about their part in the
make up and or history of the Cianachta.
There are multiple reference source materials available to historical researchers. Many free and
accessible by means of the internet. It makes one wonder why a group with both membership and financial resources has not taken the time to share such
information.
It would seem that the membership of the Clan Cian at www.clancian-carroll.com has no intention of
representing the Cianatcha; but rather the interests of Carroll-O'Carroll issues.
"It [Clan Cian] is dedicated to the preservation of the Eile O'Carroll Territory or Carroll Kingdom of Eile O'Carroll's
History. Representing Carroll~O'Carrolls, inclusive of all the related, Family Septs, Dependent Family Septs of Eile O'Carroll and other Parts of Ireland, and Worldwide."
[from: http://www.clancian-carroll.com/whatis.shtml]
So, why do they call themselves the Clan Cian and not the Clan O'Carroll?
Does the simple mention of a surname, without representation or historical content constitute fair
representation?
Are the four septs explained?
Are they [the four septs] represented?
Are the clans or surnames named on that website broken down to identify which sept,
the surnames belonged?
Is there even an explaination of how or why the surnames listed on that site, not normally seen as Clan Cian surnames are connected to the
Carroll-O'Carrolls?
Various published histories (i.e. Annals), demonstrate that members of other clans from within the Cianachta ruled over various regions of Eile, North and South, and additional regioned
of territories under the rule of Cianatcha rule. (i.e. Elyogarty and Keenachta ) Which include, but is not limited to the O'Conors, O'Kanes, Fogerty, etc.
Is this information shared with the public by the Clan Cian-Carroll website?
The Fogertys are referred to in the Annals of Ulster of 1072, as the "Kings of Ely". The Fogartys gave their name to the Barony of Eliogarty, in Co. Tipperary, via the English
phonetic spelling of "Eile ui Fhogartaigh", and the chief of the sept lived here in Eliogarty Castle. The Fogertys / O'Fogertys have been cited as Dalcassian in origin.
O'Donovan's Notes: Cianachta, now the barony of Keenaght. This territory belonged to the O'Conors, of Gleann Geimhin, who were of the race of Cian,
son of Oilioll Olum, King of Munster, in the third century; but they were dispossessed by the O'Cathains or O'Kanes, of the race of Eoghan.
Published references such as:
A Short History of the Irish People From the Earliest Times to 1920 by Mary Teresa Hayden,
Mary Hayden, and George Aloysius Moonan; published 1922, Longmans, Green and Co.
Pgs.:30- The Seven States: Their "ruling" and "Subordinate" Clans [Early Political
Constitution;
Pg 31 The Seven States (5th & 10th Centuries) Map based upon"Book of Rights"
Pg. 90, The Clans and New Families.
Chapter IV Gaelic Feudalism (AD 1417-1530)
The History of County Mayo to the close of the Sixteenth Century, by Hubert Thomas Knox, published
1908 Judges, Figgis & Co. LTD; Pg. 14, From Cian also the Gailenga & Luighne of Meath and the Cianachta of Meath and Ulster are suppost to descend.
Appendices pg 335; 4. Identification of Tuatha De Danann with Luighne, Delbhna, and Cianacht.
IF, such learned scholars, as George Cunningham and C.Thomas Cairney are correct; and the Munster Genealogy was created; then its
more understandable that the Ely O'Carroll members would not offer a more indepth historical account of the other clans of the Cianachta; for lack of relevance to the Clan O'Carroll of Ely O'Carroll.
An Open Invitation To All Researchers?
( [email protected] )
If you have any historical information that pertains to the Cianachta and would like to share it; feel free to
forward it to this group. Please include the following information, if known. the Title, Author or Editor, Publisher and Publication Date, ISBN, or any other catalog reference
numbers, and include any associated references or bibliography.
We request that if anyone has information contrary to that posted , or has information that refutes
that posted to this site....Please, forward title, author, publisher(date) and ISBN if known; that the source materials might be compared, referenced and or cross
referenced to attempt to varify said information. ( [email protected] )
"They must find it difficult....
Those who have taken authority as the truth,
rather than truth as
the authority."
-Gerald Massey