Eoghan Mor, or Eugene the Great, commonly called Mogha Nuadhad in decent of Heber Fionn, first monarch of Ireland.

In the year 122 A.D. at a place called Maynooth he fought a battle with Conn Ceadcatha or Conn of the Hundred Battles, who was the 110th monarch. He was in decent of Heremon, the second monarch of Ireland, younger brother of Heber Fionn. Resulting from this battle, he forced Conn to divide Ireland with him into two equal parts by the boundry of Esker Riada, a long ridge of hills from Dublin to Galway, the south part he termed his and called it after his own name, Leath Mogha, or "Mogha's Half of Ireland". The northern part was called Leath Cuinn, or Conn's Half, further requiring Conn to give his daughter in marriage to Eugene's son, Olioll Olum. Beara, daughter of Heber, King of Castile, Spain was the wife of Eugene, and mother of Olioll Olum.

The marriage of Olioll Olum and Sabina produced three brothers. They were:

Cian - whose descent were known as Clan Cian, and consisted of the Kingdom of Ely O'Carroll and Oremonde.

Cormac Cas - whose descent was known as the Dalcassians which possessed the kingdom of Thomond, alternately the Kingdom of Munster.

Owen Mor II - whose descent became known as the Eugenians and possessed the Kingdom of Demond, alternately the Kingdom of Munster, The seat for the Kingdom of Munster was at Castle Caiseal (Cashel).

Corc, King of Munster, who was the great grandson of Olioll Olum through Owen Mor II went to Scotland and married Mong-Fionn, daughter of Feredach Fionn, called Fionn Cormac, king of the Picts (Scottish). His descent which remained in Scotland were to become the Stewards of Lennox, of whom the Stewart Kings of Scotland and England descend.

The Clan Cian of Ely O'Carroll, the Dalcassians of Thomond, and the Eugenians of Desmond were founding factors of the Hiberian Nobility, Gentry of Munster, and other parts of Ireland.

The leading family of Clan Cian were the O'Carrolls, Princes of Ely, and their kingdom was called the Territory of Ely O'Carroll. In 212 A.D. Teige, or Thaddy, son of Cian was king of Ely. Prior to 1200 A.D. the Ely Kings ruled over an extensive area. After the invasion of Ireland by Henry II of England, the kingdom of Ely continued until 1600 A.D. (official records date it as 1590 A.D.)

From about 370 A.D. to about 1101 A.D. it is found in the Book of Rights that the Kings of Caiseal (Cashel) paid tribute to the Kings of Eile (Ely). Fionn, King of Ely who died 1205 A.D. was succeeded by his son Teige, and that succession continued through his grandson Donal of Litterluna as Chiefs of Ely until the Chiefship transferred to the rival branch in descent of Fionn's other grandson Maolruanaidh ( Mulroona) of which this elected Chief's name was also Teige. He married Joan, daughter of James Butler, the Second Earl of Oremonde, who was the great grandson of English King Edward I. Teige later married Morew, daughter of Brian O'Brien, King of Thomond. It was this same Teige that went on a pilgrimage to Rome, and on his return, visited the courts of King Richard II, and the King of France. While at court with King Richard of England, he and Teige had a falling out and disagreed about certain political decisions. Teige returned back to southern Ireland to await King Richard's army which was threatening to invade the Kingdom of Ely O'Carroll.

In 1395 A.D. Teige O'Carroll and Clan Cian (race of Carroll) defeated the forces of King Richard II which had invaded Ely, under the command of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March. The Kingdom of Ely and the O'Carrolls had withstood the most powerful army in the world, and repelled them out of their territory.

O'Heerin, a 15th century bard described the race of Carroll in 1420 as:

" Lords to whom great men submit are the O'Carrolls of the Plains of Birr, Princes of Eile, as far as tall Slieve Bloom, the most hospitable land in Erin, eight districts and eight chiefs are ruled by the Prince of Ely of the land of herds, valiant in enforcing the tributes are the troops of the yellow ringletted hair."

From the Annals of Friar Clyn.......

"de Elycarwyl, vir potens locuplex et dives et demicosus procuipuus Anglicorum inimicus et persecutor....." Concerning the Ely O'Carroll men, they are powerfully rich in land and rich also in fighters distinguished amongst the English hostiles and persecutors"

Ferganainm, who became Chief of Ely was married to the daughter of Gerald, the 9th Earl of Kildare, the sister of "Silken Thomas". The Earl was recalled to England for an accounting which included his daughter's marriage. Henry VIII committed him to the Tower Of London. This act led to the revolt of "Silken Thomas" in Ireland, within the Territories of Ely against the English. The O'Carrolls were successful in their revolt and Henry VIII had to make a treaty with the O'Carroll.

The O'Carrolls lost their power after 1590, but remained in influential and powerful positions for many years to come.

Teige Caoc was created Lord Baron of Ely in 1552 A.D. upon surrendering his principality of Ely O'Carroll to King Edward IV of England. The title has not been assumed by the family since the reign of Queen Mary.

Sir Daniel O'Carroll, Knight of the Order of Aragon in Spain, Baronet of Great Britain, Lt. General of his Majesty's Forces in 1742.

Sir John Whitley O'Carroll, Baronet, Annual Register 1777 died in Frankfort in 1818.

Sir Jervoise O'Carroll, Baronet, died at Hamburg in 1831.

John Carroll, first Catholic Bishop of America, and cousin to Charles Carroll of Carrollton.

Charles Carroll, a signor of the Declaration of Independence and a descendent of the Litterluna branch of the Chiefs of Ely.

Major General Thomas Francis Meagher, of Clan Cian who first introduced the present day tri-color green, white, and yellow national flag of Ireland in 1848 in an attempt to create a lasting peace between Irish Protestants and Catholics. He commanded Meagher's Irish Brigade during the American Civil War 1861-1865.

Brigadier General Michael Corcoran, also of Clan Cian descent whom commanded the Irish Legion known as Corcoran's Irish Legion serving in the American Civil War 1862-1865.

press here to go to the clan cian site