The
Names of the Baronies of
The
Baronies of Cork present a strange mixture of
names, some referring to old
Irish tribes
who occupied these territories before the
supremacy of the Eoghanachta, some of the late
Irish rulers, mainly
McCarthys, and yet others to the great
barons of the Anglo-Norman period.
There is no consistancy in the selection
of these names.
In
considering these names one should refer to the
map overleaf.
These Baronies are defined by the
Parishes they contain.
This is accurate in most cases, but most
Baronies also contain a few Parishes which they
overlap and share with another Barony.
No attempt has been made to show this on
the map, but this slight inaccuracy does not
seriously affect the overall picture.
It must
be remembered that the principal chieftains of
the McCarthy and O Sullivan families , McCarthy
mór and O Sullivan mór, both lived in Co. Kerry
so are not included in this list.
Also that the principal Anglo-Norman Lord
in
This was
the area ruled over by McCarthy of Muskerry at
the peak of his powers.in 1689.
It includes 10 Parishes and 189,819
acres.
It is the largest Barony in
This was
also under the sway of Lord Muskerry by 1689.
It includes 17 Parishes and 122,856
acres.
It also includes another two of his power
bases, the castles of
Bantry
The
territory controlled by one of the two O
Sullivan chieftains of
Beare
The land
of the second of the two O Sullivan chieftains
of
After
the defeat of O Sullivan Beare at Dunboy, the
two territories were reunited, but the Barony
names still reflect the earlier position.
Barrymore
Barry
mór was one of the Anglo-Norman barons, and the
head of the Barry family.
The other two main branches were Barry
roe and Barry óg.
This barony includes 27 Parishes and
148,755 acres.
Ibane &
Barryroe
Ibane is
the name of an early Irish Clan, the Uí
Baghamna.
Their chieftains later adopted the
surname of O Flynn.
Barryroe reflects the name of the second
of the Anglo-Norman
Barry family, Barry roe, who owned this
land later.
It includes 9 Parishes and 34,158 acres.
The land
of the O Mahonys an Fonn Iartharach (Western).
It includes 6 Parishes and 109,125 acres.
The land
of the O Driscolls.
It includes 9 Parishes and 79,483 acres.
The land
of the O Donovans.
It includes 6 Parishes and 104,432 acres.
This
might be said to represent the lands of McCarthy
Reagh.
It includes 11 Parishes and 67,596 acres.
In practice this Lord claimed suzerainty
also over the entire area of Carbery.
Carbery
was the name given to the Barony in the 12th.c.
when Cathal O Donovan moved South from
Cairbre-Aebhdha in
Courcey’s
The
territory of the Anglo-Norman Baron, Lord de
Courcey .
It includes 3 Parishes and 8,811 acres.
It is the smallest Barony in
Kinsale
Also de
Courcey land.
It includes 4 Parishes and 12,181 acres.
It is difficult today to understand the
differentiation between Courceys and Kinsale.
The de Courcey family and the Lords
Kinsale were of the same
stock.
Duhallow
The land
of the fourth great McCarthy chieftain, McCarthy
of Duhallow.
Includes 15 Parishes and 232,368 acres.
His centre of power was in Kanturk.
McCarthy of Duhallow was overlord of 3
other major Clans in
Kinelea
One of
the two Baronies in the hands of the O Mahonys
of Kinelmeaky (Eastern).
Includes 13 Parishes and 50,936 acres.
The name comes from Kinel Aodh, a
sub-division of the early 6th.c. Irish
Kinelmeaky
Also an
O Mahony Barony.
It includes 6 Parishes and 36,372 acres.
The name comes from Kinel Beicce who was
another
brother of Aodh and Laoghaire of the Uí
Eachach.
Condon’s
& Clangibbons
Condon
was one of the Anglo-Norman barons.
Sometimes known as de Caunteton.
The Clangibbon name represents the
FitzGibbons, who were a branch of the
FitzGeralds.
It includes
13 Parishes and 74,990 acres.
Fermoy
Was the
territory of the Anglo-Norman barons called
Roche.
It includes 26 Parishes and 125,019
acres.
The head
of the family called himself
Lord Fermoy and lived in Castletownroche.
The name itself refers to earlier owners
of the land, the Irish Clan of Fir Maige Fene.
Barretts
Was the
territory of the Anglo-Norman barons called
Barrett.
It includes 2 Parishes and 31,849 acres.
The
Barony of Barretts was much larger originally,
but suffered grieviously at the hands of the
Muskerry McCarthys and others.
The
FitzGeral
Baronies.
Orrery &
Kilmore.
Includes
17 Parishes and 71,318 acres.
Principal seat
Castleishen.
The name Orrery refers to the tribe
called the Orbhraighe who originally owned this
district.
Kilmore or Coille mór refers to part of
this country which was densely wooded.
Imokilly.
Includes
23 Parishes and 95,318 acres.
Principal seats Castlemartyr and Youghal.
The name refers to the old Irish tribe,
the ní
meic caille who originally owned this
territory.
Kinataloon.
Includes
4 Parishes and 27,706 acres.
Principal seats Mogeely and Conna.
The name is thought to be Ceann-na-talun,
or the geographical description, the headland.
Kerrycurrihy.
Includes
8 Parishes and 23,959 acres.
Principal seat
Carrigaline.
It is named after the old Irish tribe,
the
Ciarraighe Cuirche who originally owned this
territory.
The
Parishes in and around
It will
be noted that there are baronies which bear the
names of most of the great land owning dynasties
of
Peter
O’Leary