Order of the Cross of Mellifont

The Order of the Cross of Mellifont is a dynastic Order of knighthood instituted to perform charitable acts and to reward personal services rendered to the Carroll of Oriel family. The Order was founded on 1st February 1938 as an apolitical not for profit Order by Richard A. Carroll after consultation with his father James. Richard became hereditary Grand Commander in 1964 upon the death of James and in 1997 Dr. Vincent Carroll succeeded to the same office upon the death of his father and therefore as fons honourum of the former Kingdom of Oriel by virtue of genealogical decent enjoys the exclusive right of conferring legitimate honours by the order of the Cross of Mellifont, motu proprio. This is the ius collationis which is passed on by ius sanguinis.

The Order remains the exclusive property of the Head of the Carroll of Oriel Family who alone can bestow it. Dr. Vincent Carroll and his legitimate successor will continue to enjoy the ius collationis or right to confer honours. As the Order of Cross of Mellifont is a lawful personal property passed on by ius sanguinis or right of blood, no government or change in political structure can abolish that right or interfere with its bestowal or transmission to successors in any way whatsoever. Lawful governments can of course change legal frameworks by Acts of Parliament and therefore can forbid the public use of titles and insignias associated with Orders but not their private use as the Order is a private personal property. In fact, the Irish Constitution guarantees property rights and no Act of Parliament guides on the public use of Orders. That is not the situation in either France or Italy where public use is forbidden but not of course private use.

However, to provide a legal framework for the order to exist so that it can not be falsely misused or falsely claimed by those upon whom it has not been bestowed, Dr. Carroll, after consultation with the family and upon obtaining legal advice has registered the order as a registered business name at the Companies Registration Office in Dublin, Registration Number 319749.

The Hereditary Grand Commander of the Order of the Cross of Mellifont must always be the Head of the Carroll of Oriel Family, the Prince of Oriel as the direct descendent of a formerly reigning monarch is correctly styled. The Order has four grades. The Order has two classes for gentlemen and two classes for ladies.

Gentlemen may become a Knight of the Order of the Cross of Mellifont, Gold Cross or a Knight of the Order of the Cross of Mellifont, Silver Cross.

Ladies may become a Dame of the Order of the Cross of Mellifont, Gold Cross or a Dame of the Order of the Cross of Mellifont, Silver Cross.

Knights and Dames may use the postnominals O.C.M., which postnominals stand for the Order of the Cross of Mellifont.

The Order of Mellifont, although a recent Order, takes its name from the original Mellifont Abbey which was founded by Donough O’Carroll, King of Oriel, in 1142 A.D. Dr. Carroll is the 25th direct descendent of Donough O’Carroll, King of Oriel.