MMy maternal H5a and paternal Haplogroup H-P96, is given as one of the first hunter-gatherer groups of settlers from Gaul, who gradually moved into the heart of Ireland. This weathered and tanned wandering tribe with related families were northern Celts of the Caucasian race – which included ancient and modern Europeans. Those who made their way to Ireland were part of the northern half of the race. This family, and other family groups, moved to where food and water found; they organized communities, which gave the group permanence. They had eventually grown tired of roaming, especially when they could see there was sufficient food available to them, deciding to stay, to build permanent dwellings - pole houses with animal skins, thatch and turf. Forming family groups; clothed in animal skins, used stone, antler horn, wood, flint and shells as implements, stored grain, seed and nuts.

As soon as any person around the world sets up home, they call that place their own becoming prepared to fight over it! Toolmakers of the Neolithic period were a people who began the Bronze Age, which in turn became the Iron Age as other smelting ores discovered and developed. Hammering iron hardens the metal, reheating allows shaping – that manipulation allowed special farming tools, weapons, and implements to be designed and re-designed as challenges demanded. The Iron Age, dated between c750 and AD 43, occurred about the same time as the Romans landed in Britain.

All groups of people seek leaders, to give them confidence, reliability and safety. Leadership is usually won by the most powerful; generally outspoken, confident, opinionated, and strong-minded who give hope to the many for a better future… leading to the occupation of better farming land, more cattle and a greater access to food. However, this improvement creates jealous unhappy neighbours who see the difference and want success for themselves. Future battles, thefts and homelessness create bad memories causing interfamily wars. There was, and always will be, a body of people who wish to assert themselves, show-off, and be leaders, those who seek status and position who pander to those in charge, to improve their position. The leader, king, lord or chief – demonstrates his competence by improving the status of the group achieving more growth, whether it be land, produce, buildings, cattle or slaves. This basic human instinct travelled up out of Africa and southern Europe becoming part of normal life in Ireland. To give security the leader had to be obeyed, be adaptable and wise holding those led in his hand ready to pass on to the next generation. Throughout history, leadership falters, fails and becomes corrupted. Even a system of elections is no guarantee of continuance, needing a limited time in office before re-election becomes necessary, to show competence, reliability, to demonstrate greater social advancement.

The river Suir, which runs into an attractive valley, forms, with the Knockmealdown Mountains, the southern border with Waterford. Celtic people from Gaul pushed into the land, taking over Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age cultures during the second half of the millennium BC. They built up and established many small kingdoms called ‘Tuatha’. This race of people – from the kingdom of Galatia, originating from the Upper Danube, Italy, and Spain - formed the northern branch, they ruled from their future capital, Dublin. Their land extended over all Ireland and Wales, western and southwestern Britain up England’s western coast and its islands, onwards into Scotland.

The bulk of the inhabitants were farmers and stockholders working small rectangular fields, operating a cross ploughing technique. They built dry-stone boundary walls and drainage ditches lived in timber roundhouses or pole-houses, and stored surplus grain in pits. Ireland’s people lived in a land of mountain and forest, bog and grassland never far away from well-stocked lake and grazed pasture. The people calculated their wealth by the size of their herd and the amount of land under cultivation. As with all human communities, other living things, natural climatic events, and the universe, all gave imagined and actual causes to fear, leading to belief and reliance in gods that needed subservience and payment. The human species needs hope, relying upon gods and spirits - to provide that support.

The Celtic Race

The Celtic race relied upon the bards – the High king’s soothsayers, who foretold the tribe’s destiny through poem or story – they were the purveyors of myth and legend, who passed on aspects of community, which drew the people together. They were members of the aristocracy and did not sit with the musicians, entertainers, and mercenaries who sat near the door, but alongside the raised dais – close to the lords table. These bardic singers and storytellers extolled tales of heroes and gallant deeds; they were honoured and feted. It was a form of entertainment, which included the broadcast of news, everyday events, and tales of the past. As an important side issue, they introduced hope and confidence. Bards educated listeners in the facility and use of language that brought people together - instilling common cause and continuity; it gave the people a sense of belonging that lasted for generations. The religion – a cult built upon nature and ruled by druids, priests and prophets, were later called ‘Brehons’; they maintained influence by occultism, and a knowledge of seasonal changes - of things affected by the calendar, sun, wind, and rain. Any matters the Brehons could not explain they put-down to something poorly performed, sought badly or untimely.

The Romans never invaded Ireland although they did stop the encroachment of Celtic people in Britain… gradually the Roman influence inflicted a pressure that forced them back - a socio-political and economic force rather than a physical one. The Romans, assessing rightly that the Celts offered no real threat - continued their march northwards… leaving their expansion into metal bearing, western areas, until later. The army that made up the Roman force was Germanic… an altogether stronger, fitter, and more advanced people than the Celtic farmers and stockbreeders. They were a tried and tested body of people from a number of tribes, hardened by their transient life - fighting, building roads and bridges, organizing logistics… the Celts were no match for military formations and tactics.

Ptolemy listed, in the second century AD, the names of Irish people in the P Celtic form, which was the language of Britain and Gaul. This group of people recorded by him were the Cruithni linked to the Ciarraige (‘Ciar’) tribe of Conbnacht and north Kerry… in the land of the Mumu later called Munster, and in particular the northern half of Counties Limerick, Tipperary, and Offaly. These three counties bordered to their north by the River Shannon that bears two Lochs, Derg, and Ree. Inland, south of the river, the gentle rising land sweeps up to a range of mountains: Mullaghareirk, Galtee, Slieveardagh Hills, and Slieve Bloom, then down into the central plain of Carbury.

The early Christian church had as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland Saint Ciaran Saighir [the Elder]. He was the first bishop of Ossary - one of the four who preceded Saint Patrick. He foundered Seir-Kieran, County Offaly. Ciaran, with a C or K, is an Irish personal name meaning ‘Little Dark One’ thought to be related to Ciar, who was son of Fergus, King of Ulster. The name ‘Ciar’ is synonymous with Ciardha as being one of Ciar’s People of the Ciarraige tribe. I will refer to this Irish word repeatedly during my search for connections. The advent of Christianity not only promoted peace, settlement of quarrels and hope but also transferred power. It was this power that become weakened- could not give guidance nor assertiveness when firmness demanded.  Abbeys, Monesteries, Nunneries and Priories are in the main closed communities.

The Atlantic sweeps into the mouth of the Shannon until it reaches Limerick, under two bridges past the Salmon Weir onwards to the entrance of Lough Derg at Killaloe. South of the estuary of the river Shannon, its river and lochs lived a tribe recorded as the Medon Mairtine. Over time, weakened by war and by encroaching raiders and neighbours - the thrusting Eoghanachta… a southern tribe expanding northwards. These people flourished, and as all tribal grouping, made up of extended families, some closely related others not so, but all contributing to the main group.

The ruling suzerain – High king, held this land bearing a cashel: a term used to describe a stepped walled settlement, referred to as a stronghold. All leaders relied on a hierarchical system based on obligations owed – obligations to pay for protection, farm the land, take part in social gatherings, contribute to clan activities and share benefits. These obligations, once accepted never withdrawn in life or death, and continued through the succeeding generations. The leader, Muiredach 325-355, maintained his position by strength of arms proved in battle. His position was no sinecure. Extended families were large, particularly the chief’s, there was always those envying his position perhaps disputing his leadership, so he always had to be on guard!

Muiredach’s son Eochaid 356-365, married Mongfind of Munster. From this union, future kings of Connacht reigned. His second wife Cairrenn was daughter of a Saxon king and an ancestor of the Uí Néill, prince of the Connachta. She was also mother to Niall NoínGiallach of the Nine Hostages 379-405, so called because nine tributary tribes owed him homage, was High king of Erin, Ard ri, (The Gaelic form of High king, referred to as, ‘king of Tara.. Niall eventually becoming one of the supreme rulers of all Ireland founded this dynasty.

The marriage of Eochaid and Cairene brought together an alliance between the Saxons, Irish, and Picts... a royal line called Uí Néill (descendants of Niall). This continued for almost a thousand years, broken by Brian Boru, king of Cashel, who, although reigning as king - and others afterwards, never ousted the name and fact of Uí Néill - who represented true national identity. When Niall died, Connacht and the kingship of Ireland passed to his nephew. His sons, Eoghan, Connell, and Enda, took over smaller parts of the kingdom in northern and central-southern Ireland. It was Eoghan of Aileach, who now ruled as High king of Munster and from his eldest son was born Fiacha. It was in this fashion that the Eoghanacht line was born.

Ailill the king is vanished

Vanished Croghan’s fort:

Kings to Clonmacnoise now

Come to play their court.

Aileach ruled from a great stone castle built on a 600-foot hill at one time the stronghold of Bronze Age kings. A treaty was drawn-up between all the clans, to divided Ireland into two parts – the dividing line passed between Dublin and Galway, partway, following the river Shannon. The king of the southern part is the High king of Cashel situated in a fertile plain. His seat, as King of Munster, was perched on a rock holding a stone fort built in the 400s. St Patrick 432-459, preached there converting Aengus, the then King. In 1101, it passed into the hands of the church that bestowed it to Murtough O’Brien.

Osraighe or Ossory covered the present county of Kilkenny and the southern portion of Leix - populated by the Ciarraige tribe. Ciar refers to a nondescript colour it could be black, grey, brown, or tan. This could describe the people’s clothes, hair, or skin. It is also a family name… becoming part of Ciar’s People. They became vassal people owed allegiance to the Eoghanachta who were the successors of the holy Cathach tribal lands, including all those affiliated clans with similar names and family connections. The clan was under royal protection of Ui Neill, descended from the Connachta, when Ciar Culdub killed.

The hierarchy of kings was adapted to the older structure of provinces - Ulster, Munster, Connacht, and Leinster, within these there were two kings vying for supremacy. They were competing for the revenues and title - provincial kings claiming over lordship over lesser kings, one of which was the forebears of the O’Ciardha. Often these kings had to fight to enforce their claim, although each admitted the supremacy of the High King of Ireland.

It is, from a heraldic point of view, ‘Grant of Arms’ makes reference to the generally accepted origin of the name Kearey or Ceary to the Irish word ‘Ciar’ (dark or sable), combining this with heraldic devices that tell a story of the Kearey family starting with Thomas 1791-1860), who was born in Ireland. It is important to relate that whenever family trees are involved proof by certification: birth, death, marriage, and census is essential In that way the Kearey, family arms and motto ‘Truth be told’ can be included in the wider context of the name. However, that does not dismiss, disregard nor belittle the existence of many other Ciardha/Keary/Ceary families throughout Irish history nor does it dismiss previous generations going further back still to the first millennium.

It is almost impossible either to work out the dominance of a particular tribe over another or to form a linearity of leading clans, especially if you try to put a date to each. It has to be pure conjecture for there are no compatible pieces of evidence to back them up. All one can do is assess the likelihood that this was so, ‘at the time of!’ Britain’s fifth century history revolves around the return of the Roman Army to Italy and the disintegration of almost five-hundred years of Roman influence. The roads remained, the buildings suffered from lack of maintenance but the language and social mores remained, to be adapted. Irishmen were to some degree unaffected by the turbulence, which followed the Romans retreat back to Rome. Christianity spread from the monasteries of Gaul reaching Ireland at about the same time. It was then that there were great changes to the Irish Celtic language, church scribes began to record the life and times, to record opinions and facts.

By about 540, the monks had begun to take over some of the power of the Brehons. Bishop Finian of the Ulaid of Dal Fiatach died of the plague 12th December 549 according to the Annals of Ulster, after the foundation of Cluain-Eraird in 520 ‘Clonard in Meath’. By then, both St. Ciaran of Seir-Kieran, St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise, and Columba of Tir-da-glasi, were in their twenties. St Ciaran of Clonmacnoise from Connaught was the founder of an Abbey near Loch Ree, and Columba, the greatest of the later generation monks, who founded over twenty religious houses, looked to him as their chief and ruler. St Ciaran was another of The Twelve Apostles of Erin. He died on the 9th September 546 at the age of 32, buried in his little church attached to the Abbey. Queen Devorgilla helped found the monastery on land gifted by Diatmid Mac Cerbhaill. Previously Queen Devorgilla had been given as tribute to the Fomorians (a term used to describe seaborne raiders, probably Viking) but rescued by CuChulainn who offered her to Lugaid of Munster, High King of Ireland in about 500… he refused to accept her. Clonmacnoise was such an important centre for learning and religious teaching - having its individual stone cells, its chapel, and graveyard, enclosed behind a circular stonewalled stronghold. (Cashel). These descriptions, are handed down to us from stanza, scriptures, hymns, and the “Annals of Ulster.” The rural society at this time was not one based upon towns or villages but ring-forts, lake dwellings, and later, monastery-settlements.