The Carrol Collection

The hero of the family was William Parker Carrol who was seconded by the British Army to lead the Hibernia Regiment of the Spanish Army during the Peninsular War. He distinguished himself, by participating in some 28 battles during this campaign. He was knighted by Charles III of Spain and George IV of England for these services and was made a Freeman of Dublin in 1812. The same year the Irish Bar Association presented him with a sword and the people of Tipperary presented him with a silver cup. In 1816 he was presented with an illuminated address by the Grand Jury of Tipperary.

The items displayed in this cabinet include his Spanish decorations and medals, his sword and his walking cane, three powder horns from the Peninsular War and a painting of William Parker being chaired into a Spanish City. An intriguing item in this cabinet is a small portrait of him which was returned by his broken hearted cousin after he shunned her advances when he was a widower.