Pre-Christian Tribes in
By Peter O’Leary.
From about 200 AD onwards there was established
in South West Cork a tribe known as the Corca
Laoighdhe.
They were the descendants of a remarkable
man called Luy Maccon who is listed in the
Annals as the High King of Ireland during the
period 196AD
to 225AD.
This tribe were part of the Erainn people, which
simply means the Celtic Race which existed in
the Country before the coming of the Gaelic
invaders.
Most of the country was in the hands of
these Erainn people, but there were a few other
tribal groups
known, such as the Cruithni or Picts in
the North.
As a youth, Luy had been banished to the kingdom
of the Picts in Scotland.
He grew up at that court where his
talents were well recognised.
After a few years the king of the Picts
raised an army and crossed over to Ireland with
young Luy to restore him to his birthright.
In 186AD at the battle of Ceannfeabhrat
Luy was wounded in the thigh in personal combat
with Cairbre Musc.
From that date on he always walked with a
limp.
In 196AD Art the son of Conn of the hundred
battles was slain by Luy
at the battle of Magh-Mucruimhe near
Athenry.
Beinne Brit, the king of the Picts, was
also slain in this battle which was fought to
restore Luy Maccon.
In that same year of 196AD Luy Maccon, son of
mac Niadh, became accepted as High King of
Teamhair (Tara).
It must be remembered that this office
merely meant that all other kings bowed the knee
to him.
There was no attempt made by the
High-King to conquer or administer the
territories of the other kings.
At his peak, Luy Maccon ruled the area
stretching from the Beare peninsula
to Kinsale, ie. the land occupied today
by all the present Carbery, Beare and Bantry
baronies
and more.
In 225AD after a reign of 29 years, Luy fell by
the hand of Feiris, son of Cormac Ecces, having
previously been expelled from Teamhair by the
young Cormac mac Art, the grandson of Conn of
the hundred battles.
He left behind him five sons who divided his
land amongst themselves.
The eldest was Aongus who was the
ancestor of the O’Driscoll and the O’Coffey
clans.
His fifth son was Fothach Canaan who was the
ancestor of the O’Leary and the O’Bari clans.