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BOOK PROJECT
It is my plan to eventually use the content of the various articles in this “Research Articles” knowledge base to write an up-to-date Nolan history book as a tribute to the early founding members of Clan O Nolan, who, during the early years of the Clan starting in 1995, set the wheels in motion to revive the bonds of friendship and kinship of the ancient Clann O Nuallain (aka Nolan Clan and Clan O Nolan) , a clan steeped in history and with origins fading into the “Mists of time”, going back to the 4th century BC when Ugaine Mor, its “famous” ancestor, the “Nuallain”, was Ard Ri (protector and law giver) for most of the Celtic tribes in north-western Europe.
This new book tentatively entitled “The Nolans, a people from most ancient times to the present” will pick up on the quest for a better understanding of Nolan family history first undertaken by Father John Nolan of Kirkcubbin in the 1920s. Unfortunately, dying prematurely his manuscript notes lay dormant for nearly a century until they were finally rediscovered and, under the auspices of the newly-formed Nolan Clan family association (aka the Nolan Clan or Clan O Nolan) they were fashioned into a book by Art Kavanagh of Bunclody.
The earlier book entitled “O Nolan – the History of a People” by Fr. John Nolan and Art Kavanagh published in the year 2000 under the auspices of the modern-day Nolan Clan is still the chief source of information on Nolan family history, especially for Nolans with roots in Co. Carlow. However, despite its valuable contribution in promoting a better undertstanding of Nolan family history, it fails to enlighten the reader on several fronts.
In the new book, I hope to:
- shed greater light on the ancient origins of all known Nolan families (O Nuallain, O hUllachain, Nolan,Nowland, Noland, Nolins, Knollin, Naulin, …)
- provide an improved understanding of the forces and historical events which drove many Nolan families to emigrate
- provide an improved understanding of the forces and historical events which drove many Nolan families to emigrate
- document the story of many early Nolans who left Ireland and resettled in other parts of the world.
Since the turn of the new millenium, largely due to an exponential growth in the sharing of information over the Internet, Nolan family researchers have made many new discoveries and gained a better understanding of Nolan family history than the one which existed prior to the millenium year.
Since 2004, having written and published several articles on Nolan family history (Nolan Clan Newsletter, Ballon-Rathoe Chronicle, Carloviana) and collected many early Nolan family stories from around the world (see Family Stories Knowledge Base), for the benefit of the growing multitude of Nolan family historians, I feel up to the challenge of documenting for posterity the improved understanding of Nolan family history which has emerged since the year 2000 when the first Nolan history book was published.
It is my vision that, beyond my writing of an initial updated Nolan history book, the “Research Articles” knowledge base will serve to inform the writing of follow-on editions.
For now, in the absence of a new updated hard-copy Nolan family history book, the Nolan family researcher may consider this “Research Articles” knowledge base as a “living book” subject to be updated and refined as new information and insights come to light.
Roger Nowlan, webmaster and editor (Email Me )
222 avenue De La Colline, Gatineau, QC, J9J 1T8 CANADA
