Somewhat Removed. There was death in Roscommon Town tonight. The street outside Smith's Funeral Home (which occupies a sad plot opposite the local livestock mart) was packed with cars. As I threaded my way through the crowd, I recognized a few neighbors who were going in. We waved, and I felt a twinge of shame for passing by on so frivolous an errand as buying cigarettes. But … [Read more...] about An American in Ireland
Tradition
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
Photo Album: All in the Family
1972: The Noone Family, Brooklyn. Little did Luke Noone and Mary Ellen Doherty dream when they left Ireland that they would leave a legacy of five children, 20 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren – a total of 55 good-looking, God-fearing Narrowbacks (as Luke often referred to his family). Luke emigrated from Curramaeigh, Kilkerrin, Co. Galway in 1922 at 20 years of … [Read more...] about Photo Album: All in the Family
The Origins of The Clan McNamara
The roots of the McNamara family are in the distant past of Thomond, the region of Ireland that today is known as County Clare. By the 11th century the sept (or clan) had become the Lords of Clancullen, the territory comprising most of East Clare. The Irish form of the surname, MacConmara, which means "son of the hound of the sea," eventually evolved into the two most common … [Read more...] about The Origins of The Clan McNamara
Coming Home
I always imagined my wedding as a beautiful and romantic event: My dad would walk me down the aisle, my brother would be a groomsman, and my very best friends would be there standing up for me. The "who" was easy. But when John and I got engaged in August of 1996, the "where" and "when" of our plans did not take shape so effortlessly. I hadn't lived in my hometown in … [Read more...] about Coming Home