The Declaration of Independence is a physically beautiful document and when I was a kid I had an image of it on my wall. There were Irish names, including "McKean" on that original parchment, and that gave me the story I needed to feel at home here like a native. My love of country, the United States, and my heritage (Irish) converge in that document because I acknowledge the … [Read more...] about The Irish Who Signed the Declaration of Independence
Charles Carroll
Carroll, O’Carroll, MacCarroll,
MacCarvill, MacCearbhaill
The O'Carrolls go back to the third century King Oilioll Olum of Munster. Their name derives from Cearbhaill, who was the Brian Boru in 1014 at the battle of Clontarf.
Cearbhaill means warlike champion and the O'Carrolls have lived up to the name. Carvill and MacCarvill are anglicized versions of Carroll and are mostly to be found in Ulster.
The O'Carrolls' senior septs were … [Read more...] about Carroll, O’Carroll, MacCarroll,
MacCarvill, MacCearbhaill
Irish Memories
Thomas Fleming writes of the struggles and triumphs of an Irish-American family.℘℘℘My County Mayo-born grandfather, David Fleming, could not read or write. He had a brogue so thick I couldn't understand a word he said. But I knew one thing. He was Irish and proud of it. He had a favorite poem that he made me memorize and recite when I was six. It was called "Why I Named You … [Read more...] about Irish Memories