Muskerry West
Encyclopedia
Muskerry West
is one of the baronies
of Ireland
, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Macroom
. It is one of 24 baronies in the county of Cork
. It may also be viewed as a half barony because some time before the 1821 census data, it was divided from its other half - Muskerry East
. Other neighbouring baronies include Duhallow
to the north (whose chief town is Newmarket
) and the Barony of Carbery East (West Division) to the south (whose chief town is Dunmanway
).
as subdivisions of counties
and were used for administration. Baronies continue to be regarded as officially defined units, but they are no longer used for many administrative purposes. While they have been administratively obsolete since 1898, they continue to be used in land registration and specification such as in planning permissions. In many cases, a barony corresponds to an earlier Gaelic
túath which had submitted to the Crown.
and Corcu Duibne
descend form Corc, a son of Cairbre Musc. While the Múscraige petty kingdom
s were scattered throughout the province
of Munster
, the largest were centred around the present baronies of Muskerry (West and East).
The tribes or septs were pre-Eóganachta
, that is before the 6th century. At this time, the territory did not extend south of the River Lee
(although the river bisects the current barony). A pedigree of the chieftains of the tribe may be found in the Book of Leinster
.
The main septs were:
Rivalry between the princely houses of the outer circle of the Eóganacht would eventually undo the kingdom of Múscraige Mittaine. The O'Donoghues, originally from Eóganacht Raithlind
, moved in to become the new princes of Eóganacht Locha Léin
. This forced the erstwhile rulers of Locha Léin - the O'Flynns - to migrate eastwards. Sometime after 1096, Múscraighe Mittaine fell to the O'Flynns . The local Ó Donnagáin dynasty persisted in their opposition to the usurpers, at least until 1115 when they killed the reigning O'Flynn king of Muskerry. Thereafter, both dynasties were united in obscurity.
From 1118 onwards, the kings of Desmond came from the leading family of Eóganacht Chaisil
- the MacCarthy dynasty
. The reigning king at the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland
was Dermod Mór na Cill Baghain MacCarthy, who, in 1171 submited to King Henry II of England
. In so doing, he hoped to secure the king's protection for his lands, particularly from Henry's own barons, as was the Gaelic way. Instead, Henry granted of Dermod's entire kingdom to two of his leading adventurer knights, Robert Fitz-Stephen
and Milo de Cogan in 1177. According to Giraldus, the grantees took possession of seven cantreds only; three to the east of Cork city were allocated to Fitz-Stephen and four to the west to de Cogan. The remaining twenty four cantreds they allowed to MacCarthy at rent.
An invasion into Múscraige Mittaine in 1201 in reported in the Annals of Inisfallen
as follows:http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100004/index.html
As neither Fitz-Stephen nor de Cogan left male heirs, the inheritance was confused. This suited the purposes of King John of England
who, when he came to the throne, was determined to weaken the power of the Irish barons. He sequestered the kingdom of Desmond to the English crown and from 1200 to 1207 he proceeded to parcel out the land among his loyal subjects. Richard de Cogan (son of Milo's brother, Richard) got Múscraige Mittaine which he was expected to win by the sword.
The de Cogans conquered most of this area, building castles at Mourne Abbey, Maglin (near Ballincollig), Dundrinan, (Castlemore near Cookstown), Dooniskey, Mahallagh, and Macroom. About 1242, John de Cogan (Richard's son) had the patronage of the churches of Clondrohid, Matehy, and Kilshannig. In 1254-5, "Muscryemychene" was one of the cantreds to pay a compotum of 40/- so that the county sessions might be held there.
The O'Leary
s (0 Laoghaire) were originally chiefs of the territory lying around Rosscarbery
, but removed from there about the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion. They became lords, under the MacCarthy dynasty, of the country between Macroom and Inchigeelagh. In 1642, sixteen leading men of the name were attainted (legally deprived of civil rights), including Connor O’Leary of Carrignacurra and Auliff O’Leary of Cunnowley.
Following the Battle of Callann
, the MacCarthies successfully repulsed the Cambo-Normans although their leader Fínghin Mac Carthaigh was slain. In 1280 the MacCarthy Reagh
sept of Carbery made peace with the main branch of the family, whose king was Domhnall Ruadh MacCarthy, the nephew of Fínghin Mac Carthaigh. They apportioned Desmond amongst themselves. The Cogans gradually lost their power and lands in Muskerry. Efforts by the viceroys Lionel and Rokeby to recover Cogan lands from the MacCarthys in east Muskerry failed. In 1398 the Mac Carthys were not alone free to plunder from Dingle to the territory of the Barretts, but could carry on their ancient feud against the Carbery MacCarthys at Carrigrohane.
es in the barony.
Note 1: The parish of Macroom consists of the core around the town as well as two exclaves mainly enclosed by the parish of Clondrohid as well as a third exclave between Clondrohid and the parish of Aghabulloge in the neighbouring barony of Muskerry East.
Note 2: Parishes shared with the neighbouring barony of Muskerry East to the east.
Note 3: Parishes shared with the neighbouring barony of Duhallow to the north.
Note 4: Parishes shared with the neighbouring barony of Carbery East to the south.
is one of the baronies
Barony (Ireland)
In Ireland, a barony is a historical subdivision of a county. They were created, like the counties, in the centuries after the Norman invasion, and were analogous to the hundreds into which the counties of England were divided. In early use they were also called cantreds...
of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Macroom
Macroom
Macroom is a market town in Ireland located in a valley on the River Sullane, a tributary of the River Lee, between Cork and Killarney. It is one of the key gateways to the tourist region of West Cork. The town recorded a population on 3,553 in the 2006 national census...
. It is one of 24 baronies in the county of Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. It may also be viewed as a half barony because some time before the 1821 census data, it was divided from its other half - Muskerry East
Muskerry East
Muskerry East is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Ballincollig. It is one of 24 baronies in the county of Cork. It may also be viewed as a half barony because some time before the 1821 census data, it was divided from its other half -...
. Other neighbouring baronies include Duhallow
Duhallow
Duhallow is a barony located in the north-western part of County Cork, Ireland.- Legal context :Baronies were created after the Norman invasion as subdivisions of counties and were used for administration. Baronies continue to be regarded as officially defined units, but they are no longer used...
to the north (whose chief town is Newmarket
Newmarket, County Cork
Newmarket, historically known as Aghatrasna , is a town in the Barony of Duhallow, County Cork, Ireland.-Sport:*Glenlara GAA and Newmarket GAA are the local Gaelic Athletic Association clubs.-People:...
) and the Barony of Carbery East (West Division) to the south (whose chief town is Dunmanway
Dunmanway
Dunmanway is a town in County Cork, in the southwest of Ireland. It is the geographical centre of the region known as West Cork. It is probably best known as the birthplace of Sam Maguire, an Irish Protestant republican, for whom the trophy of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is...
).
Legal context
Baronies were created after the Norman invasionNorman Invasion of Ireland
The Norman invasion of Ireland was a two-stage process, which began on 1 May 1169 when a force of loosely associated Norman knights landed near Bannow, County Wexford...
as subdivisions of counties
Counties of Ireland
The counties of Ireland are sub-national divisions used for the purposes of geographic demarcation and local government. Closely related to the county is the County corporate which covered towns or cities which were deemed to be important enough to be independent from their counties. A county...
and were used for administration. Baronies continue to be regarded as officially defined units, but they are no longer used for many administrative purposes. While they have been administratively obsolete since 1898, they continue to be used in land registration and specification such as in planning permissions. In many cases, a barony corresponds to an earlier Gaelic
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
túath which had submitted to the Crown.
History
The MúscraigeMúscraige
The Múscraighe were an important Érainn people of Munster, descending from Cairpre Músc, son of Conaire Cóem, a High King of Ireland. Closely related were the Corcu Duibne, Corcu Baiscind, both of Munster, and also the Dál Riata of Ulster and Scotland, all being referred to as the Síl Conairi in...
and Corcu Duibne
Corcu Duibne
The Corcu Duibne was a notable kingdom in prehistoric and medieval County Kerry, Ireland which included the Dingle Peninsula, the Iveragh Peninsula and connecting lands...
descend form Corc, a son of Cairbre Musc. While the Múscraige petty kingdom
Petty kingdom
A petty kingdom is one of a number of small kingdoms, described as minor or "petty" by contrast to an empire or unified kingdom that either preceded or succeeded it...
s were scattered throughout the province
Provinces of Ireland
Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, literally meaning "fifth part", indicates that there were once five; the fifth province, Meath, was incorporated into Leinster, with parts going to...
of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, the largest were centred around the present baronies of Muskerry (West and East).
The tribes or septs were pre-Eóganachta
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
, that is before the 6th century. At this time, the territory did not extend south of the River Lee
River Lee
River Lee may refer to:*The River Lea or Lee in England*The River Lee in Ireland...
(although the river bisects the current barony). A pedigree of the chieftains of the tribe may be found in the Book of Leinster
Book of Leinster
The Book of Leinster , is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled ca. 1160 and now kept in Trinity College, Dublin, under the shelfmark MS H 2.18...
.
The main septs were:
| Irish name of the túath | Equivalent barony | County |
|---|---|---|
| Múscraige Tíre | Ormond Lower Ormond Lower Ormond Lower is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. It is one of 14 baronies in the traditional county of Tipperary between the baronies of Ormond Upper to the south-east and Owney and Arra to the south-west... and Owney and Arra Owney and Arra Owney and Arra is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Newport... |
North Tipperary North Tipperary North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county... |
| Múscraige Breógain | Clanwilliam Clanwilliam (County Tipperary) Clanwilliam is one of the baronies of Ireland, a historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Tipperary. It is one of 14 baronies in the old county of Tipperary between Kilnamanagh Lower to the north , Iffa and Offa West to the south and Middle Third to the east .It is... |
South Tipperary South Tipperary South Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 52% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county... |
| Múscraige Tri Maighe | Orrery and Kilmore and part of the barony of Duhallow Duhallow Duhallow is a barony located in the north-western part of County Cork, Ireland.- Legal context :Baronies were created after the Norman invasion as subdivisions of counties and were used for administration. Baronies continue to be regarded as officially defined units, but they are no longer used... |
County Cork |
| Múscraige Mittaine | Muskerry East, Muskerry West Muskerry West Muskerry West is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Macroom. It is one of 24 baronies in the county of Cork. It may also be viewed as a half barony because some time before the 1821 census data, it was divided from its other half - Muskerry East... and Barretts Barony of Barretts Barretts is a barony in County Cork in Ireland.The name is from the Old English Barrett family.Barretts is bordered by the baronies of Muskerry East to the south-west, Duhallow to the north-west, Fermoy to the north, Barrymore to the east and the Barony of Cork to the south-east... |
County Cork |
| Múscraige Aodha (alias Múscraige Luachra) |
Various baronies | Counties Cork, Tipperary and Limerick |
Rivalry between the princely houses of the outer circle of the Eóganacht would eventually undo the kingdom of Múscraige Mittaine. The O'Donoghues, originally from Eóganacht Raithlind
Eóganacht Raithlind
Eóganacht Raithlind or Uí Echach Muman are a branch of the Eóganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster during the 5th-10th centuries. They took their name from Raithlinn or Raithleann described around the area of Bandon, in the same area...
, moved in to become the new princes of Eóganacht Locha Léin
Eóganacht Locha Léin
Eóganacht Locha Léin or Ui Caipre Luachra were a branch of the ruling Eoganachta of Munster. Their territory was in Iarmuman or West Munster. Luachair is the old name of a large district on the borders of Co Cork, Kerry and Limerick...
. This forced the erstwhile rulers of Locha Léin - the O'Flynns - to migrate eastwards. Sometime after 1096, Múscraighe Mittaine fell to the O'Flynns . The local Ó Donnagáin dynasty persisted in their opposition to the usurpers, at least until 1115 when they killed the reigning O'Flynn king of Muskerry. Thereafter, both dynasties were united in obscurity.
From 1118 onwards, the kings of Desmond came from the leading family of Eóganacht Chaisil
Eóganacht Chaisil
Eóganacht Chaisil were a branch of the Eóganachta, the ruling dynasty of Munster during the 5th-10th centuries. They took their name from Cashel which was the capital of the early Christian kingdom of Munster...
- the MacCarthy dynasty
MacCarthy dynasty
The MacCarthy dynasty was one of Ireland's greatest medieval dynasties. It was and continues to be divided into several great branches. The MacCarthy Reagh, MacCarthy of Muskerry, and MacCarthy of Duhallow dynasties were the three most important of these, after the central or MacCarthy Mór...
. The reigning king at the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland
Norman Invasion of Ireland
The Norman invasion of Ireland was a two-stage process, which began on 1 May 1169 when a force of loosely associated Norman knights landed near Bannow, County Wexford...
was Dermod Mór na Cill Baghain MacCarthy, who, in 1171 submited to King Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. In so doing, he hoped to secure the king's protection for his lands, particularly from Henry's own barons, as was the Gaelic way. Instead, Henry granted of Dermod's entire kingdom to two of his leading adventurer knights, Robert Fitz-Stephen
Robert Fitz-Stephen
Robert Fitz-Stephen was a 12th century Cambro-Norman soldier, one of the leaders of the Norman invasion of Ireland, for which he was granted extensive lands in Ireland. He was a son of the famous Nest, daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, the last king of Deheubarth . His father was Nest's second husband,...
and Milo de Cogan in 1177. According to Giraldus, the grantees took possession of seven cantreds only; three to the east of Cork city were allocated to Fitz-Stephen and four to the west to de Cogan. The remaining twenty four cantreds they allowed to MacCarthy at rent.
An invasion into Múscraige Mittaine in 1201 in reported in the Annals of Inisfallen
Annals of Inisfallen
The Annals of Inisfallen are a chronicle of the medieval history of Ireland. There are more than 2,500 entries spanning the years between AD 433 and AD 1450, but it is believed to have been written between the 12th and 15th centuries...
as follows:http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100004/index.html
As neither Fitz-Stephen nor de Cogan left male heirs, the inheritance was confused. This suited the purposes of King John of England
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
who, when he came to the throne, was determined to weaken the power of the Irish barons. He sequestered the kingdom of Desmond to the English crown and from 1200 to 1207 he proceeded to parcel out the land among his loyal subjects. Richard de Cogan (son of Milo's brother, Richard) got Múscraige Mittaine which he was expected to win by the sword.
The de Cogans conquered most of this area, building castles at Mourne Abbey, Maglin (near Ballincollig), Dundrinan, (Castlemore near Cookstown), Dooniskey, Mahallagh, and Macroom. About 1242, John de Cogan (Richard's son) had the patronage of the churches of Clondrohid, Matehy, and Kilshannig. In 1254-5, "Muscryemychene" was one of the cantreds to pay a compotum of 40/- so that the county sessions might be held there.
The O'Leary
O'Leary
O'Leary is an Irish name, an anglicized version of the original Gaelic patronym Ó Laoghaire or Ó Laoire.The Uí Laoghaire clan, today associated with the Uibh Laoghaire parish in County Cork, is considered by scholars to have originated on the south-west coast, in the area of Ros Ó gCairbre , of...
s (0 Laoghaire) were originally chiefs of the territory lying around Rosscarbery
Rosscarbery
Rosscarbery or Roscarbery is a town in County Cork, Ireland. The town is on a shallow estuary, which opens onto Rosscarbery Bay.-History:...
, but removed from there about the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion. They became lords, under the MacCarthy dynasty, of the country between Macroom and Inchigeelagh. In 1642, sixteen leading men of the name were attainted (legally deprived of civil rights), including Connor O’Leary of Carrignacurra and Auliff O’Leary of Cunnowley.
Following the Battle of Callann
Battle of Callann
The Battle of Callann was fought in 1261 between the Normans, under John FitzGerald, 1st Baron Desmond, and the Gaelic forces of Fínghin Mac Carthaigh, King of Desmond, ancestor of the MacCarthy Reagh dynasty. MacCarthy was victorious...
, the MacCarthies successfully repulsed the Cambo-Normans although their leader Fínghin Mac Carthaigh was slain. In 1280 the MacCarthy Reagh
MacCarthy Reagh
The MacCarthy Reagh dynasty are a branch of the great MacCarthy dynasty, Kings of Desmond, deriving from the ancient Eóganachta, of the central Eóganacht Chaisil sept. The MacCarthys Reagh seated themselves as Princes of Carbery in what is now southwestern County Cork in the 13th century...
sept of Carbery made peace with the main branch of the family, whose king was Domhnall Ruadh MacCarthy, the nephew of Fínghin Mac Carthaigh. They apportioned Desmond amongst themselves. The Cogans gradually lost their power and lands in Muskerry. Efforts by the viceroys Lionel and Rokeby to recover Cogan lands from the MacCarthys in east Muskerry failed. In 1398 the Mac Carthys were not alone free to plunder from Dingle to the territory of the Barretts, but could carry on their ancient feud against the Carbery MacCarthys at Carrigrohane.
Civil parishes
There are 12 civil parishCivil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
es in the barony.
| Civil Parish Irish Name | Civil Parish English Name |
|---|---|
| Baile Bhuirne | Ballyvourney Ballyvourney Baile Bhuirne , anglicised as Ballyvourney is a Gaeltacht village in south-west County Cork, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the barony of Muskerry West and is also one half of the Ecclesiastical parish of Baile Bhuirne agus Cúil Aodha in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cloyne-Location and... |
| Baile na Daibhche | Ballinadee |
| Cill Coirne | Kilcorney |
| Cill Mhichíl | Kilmichael |
| Cill Muire | Kilmurry |
| Cill na Martra | Kilnamartery |
| Cluain Droichead | Clondrohid |
| An Driseán | Drishane |
| Dún Uisce | Dunisky |
| Inse Geimhleach | Inchigeelagh |
| Maigh Chromtha | Macroom Macroom Macroom is a market town in Ireland located in a valley on the River Sullane, a tributary of the River Lee, between Cork and Killarney. It is one of the key gateways to the tourist region of West Cork. The town recorded a population on 3,553 in the 2006 national census... |
| Maigh Cluana Aichidh | Macloneigh |
Note 1: The parish of Macroom consists of the core around the town as well as two exclaves mainly enclosed by the parish of Clondrohid as well as a third exclave between Clondrohid and the parish of Aghabulloge in the neighbouring barony of Muskerry East.
Note 2: Parishes shared with the neighbouring barony of Muskerry East to the east.
- Twenty four out of twenty six townlands of the parish of Kilmurry lie in the barony with the remaining two contiguous townlands lying in the barony of Muskerry East.
Note 3: Parishes shared with the neighbouring barony of Duhallow to the north.
- Forty-six out of fifty-two townlands of the parish of Drishane lie in the barony with the remaining six contiguous townlands lying in a salient of the barony of Duhallow.
Note 4: Parishes shared with the neighbouring barony of Carbery East to the south.
- 107 out of 118 townlands of the parish of Inchigeelagh lie in the barony with the remaining eleven contiguous townlands lying in the barony of Carbery East.
- Two thirds of the parish of Kilmichael lie in the barony with the remaining third lying in the barony of Carbery East.
Attractions
- CarrigagullaCarrigagullaCarrigagulla is a megalithic complex located 2.9 km north-east of Ballinagree, County Cork, Ireland. It comprises two recumbent stone circles, two stone rows, and an ogham stone which has been moved around a half mile away....
, is a megalithic complex close to BallinagreeBallinagreeBallinagree is a small village in County Cork, Ireland.. Ballinagree and its surrounding areas comprise one of the richest areas in northern Europe for Megalithic monuments. It is located 18 miles west of Cork city, 8km north east of Macroom, 5km west of Rylane, 10km north west of Coachford and... - KnocknakillaKnocknakillaKnocknakilla megalithic complex lies between Macroom and Millstreet, in County Cork, Ireland. It is set in blanket peatland on the north-west upper slopes of Musherabeg mountain, and is said to be 3500 years old...
, is megalithic complex that lies between MillstreetMillstreetMillstreet is a town in north County Cork, Ireland with a population of approximately 1,500. It is located at the foot of Clara Mountain. The town's Catholic church is dedicated to St. Patrick. Since October 1985, the town has been twinned with Pommerit-le-Vicomte in Brittany, France...
and ClondrohidClondrohidClondrohid is a small village in County Cork, Ireland, four miles north of Macroom. Population is estimated as 55 people living in the village, with a further 45 living nearby. The name of the village means 'the meadow of the bridges'...
See also
- List of civil parishes of County Cork
- List of townlands of the barony of West Muskerry in County Cork
- MacCarthy of MuskerryMacCarthy of MuskerryThe MacCarthy dynasty of Muskerry is a branch of the great MacCarthy Mor dynasty, the Kings of Desmond. Their branch descends from Dermod Mor MacCarthy, 1st Lord of Muscry , second son of Cormac MacCarthy Mor , King of Desmond....
- Muskerry GAAMuskerry GAAMuskerry GAA is a Gaelic football and Hurling division located in the in the middle region of County Cork, Ireland. It is one of eight divisions of Cork GAA County Board. The division includes clubs from the western parts of Cork city to the county bounds with Kerry...
, a club in Cork GAA