Gaelic names of two ancient Irish families.
O’Coilean meaning Holly, in pre christian Celtic culture was regarded as sacred on account of its alleged mystic and herbal properties.
O’Coilean also had a Gaelic meaning of young warrior or hound. They settled in Cork around the end of the 12th century. In ancient Irish history this family had a famous and fearless reputation for their skill at battle.
In ancient Irish lore there were three waves of colonization , the Partholanians, the Nemedians, and the Firblogs. These were the Milesians, they reached Ireland from Spain but they were not Spaniards, they were eastern peoples looking for land promised to there ancestor, Gadelius. They carried a sacred banner containing a representation of a sea serpent and the rod of Moses. O’Collins was a sept of the Daire Cerbba dynasty around 300AD.
Daire Cerbba – Oilill Flann Beag – (son) Maine Munchaoin- Ui Fidenti – (sept ) O’Collins
From the book Lebor Gabala Erenn, they flourished from around 377 AD until 977 AD.
More about the Milesians in latter post.
Collins Families 