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THE ANCIENT AND PRESENT STATE OF THE COUNTY AND CITY OF CORK CONTAINING A Natural, Civil, Ecclesiastical, Historical, and Topographical Description thereof. By CHARLES SMITH, MD [FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1750] REPRINTED BY THE CORK HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, WITH THE ADDITION OF NUMEROUS ORIGINAL NOTES, ETC, FROM THE MSS OF THE LATE THOMAS CROFTON CROKER, FSA, AND RICHARD CAULFIELD, LLD. EDITED BY ROBERT DAY, JP, FSA, MRIA, VP CH & AS; AND W.A. COPINGER, BL, LLD, FSA (Eng.), FRSA (Irel.) >VOL. 1 CORK PUBLISHED BY GUY & CO. LTD., 70 PATRICK STREET, 1893

Cork Ancestors

corkgen.org

CHAPTER 1 – OF THE ANCIENT NAMES OF THE TERRITORIES AND INHABITANTS OF THIS COUNTY, TOGETHER WITH THOSE OF THE MIDDLE AND PRESENT AGE.

‘….. Cork, before the arrival of the Strongbonian conquerors, was a kingdom of itself, the kings of which were the Mac Cartys, that family being found in possession of it by the English. Diarmuid, who was Mac Carthy More, king of Cork or Desmond, swore fealty, gave hostages, and subjected his kingdom to a yearly tribute to King Henry II in the year 1172. This kingdom comprehended all that tract of country from Lismore to Brandon hills, in the county of Kerry, where they face the eastern parts of that county. Besides the county of Cork, and the western parts of Waterford, it also comprehended another county, formerly called Desmond; which county, being now a part of those of Cork and Kerry, it may not be amiss to mention its extent. It was divided into three tracts: 1^st, Clancare, which lay next the sea, between the bay of Dingle and Kilmaire river; 2^nd Bear, lying between that river and Bantry; and 3^rd, Iveragh or Evaugh, situated between Bantry and Baltimore. There was another part of it, which lay near the Shannon, being the small barony of Iragticonner. Desmond, in the Irish language, signifies South Munster.

The Irish antiquarians allow but eight families of royal extraction in Munster, of which they place four in Carbery, (13) which comprehended all the S.W. part of this county: And there were, besides the Mac Cartys above mentioned, O Mahon or Mahown, O Donovan and O Driscoll (14). Those Mahowns derive their pedigree from Kean Mac

(13) - The territory of Carbery took its name from an ancient Irish Chief, so called. There were three brothers, according to the Irish antiquarians. 1. Carbry Riada; 2. Carbry Musc; and 3. Carbry Bascoin, who are said to be sons to Fiachad, who was brother to Eana Aighnach, Monarch of Munster. They, and their posterity, were called Earnihade Mumhan; from the first of these, this barony is said to take its name; and some add, that from him, or his race, Dailriadi, in Scotland, was called. The second brother is said to give his name to Muskery, as did the youngest to Corca Bascoin, a territory where the city of Cork now stands. In the reign of Oilioll Olum, king of Munster, Carbry Musc presented a poem to the king, wherein he celebrated the valour, generosity, and magnificence of that prince, who so greatly liked the performance, that he rewarded him with the two Urmhumhains, ie, Upper and Lower Ormond, called afterwards, from this Carbry, Muskery, and contained all the country from Ossory to Carrigneshure – Keating.

(14) – According to the genealogical tables added to Keating, all the tribes and septs of the O Mahonys, in the counties of Cork and Kerry, are descended from Cas, brother to Nadfraoch, and son of Corc, kings of Munster.

In an ancient life of St. Kieran, quoted by Archbishop Ussher, Carbery is called Coraluidhe.

Moyle More, who married Sarah, daughter to Brien Boruma, king of Munster, by whom he had Mahown, the ancestor of all that sept. For, in that king’s reign, surnames were given to the Irish, and were commonly deduced from the name of their principal ancestor, with O or Mac annexed. It is from this Kean that the village of Iniskean, in Carbery, has its name: and from this sept, that Bandon is called sometimes Droghid Mahon, and the castle near it, Castlemahon. The head branch of the family resided in West Carbery, and were called O Mahownfune, alias Owinyerer, or ‘of the west,’ where they had many castles, the chief of which were are Ardintenant and Three Castle-head (15). This family had also anciently possessions in part of the modern barony of Muskery, viz, the parishes of Kilmurry, Moviddy, Caneboy, Aglish, &c, which bore the name of Ive-flan-lee, from Flan, one of the Mahonys nursed there, who conquered almost all this tract, as appears from those ancient Irish lines:

O Glaise crithe fuair flan

Na criocha thuaig adteorinn

Mar ar shaig cuan achros

Gan chios uatha ach deaglais

West from the stream of Glaisecrithe brook,

To Muskery’s paps, where holy Patrick struck

His crosier; thence unto the southern main

The conquering Flan o’er all this tract did reign.

No rent, or tribute, for this land he paid

But to the church alone, his offering made.

From this Flan descended Beake; from whom, according to the Munster Annals, the territory of Kinalmeaky (16) took its name, which was anciently part of Carbery (17).

The family of O Donovan (18) was the next mentioned as allowed to be of royal extraction; their territory, in this county, went formerly by the name of Clancahill, a part of West Carbery, comprehending the large and mountainous parish of Drumalegue, and other tracts, in which parish they had their chief residence, at Castle-Donovan. This family came hither from a barony in the county of Limerick called Coshma, where they built the famous castle of Crom, which afterwards fell to the Kildare family, and from which the motto Crom-a-Boo, still used by that noble house, was taken. The representative of this ancient family has his seat at Banlaghan, in West Carbery. Another ancient sept, also said to be of

(15) – Vide a note of the name of all the ploughlands belonging to O Mahown-fune in Luaghe, a part of West Carbery, in the Lambeth Library, L. fol, 105.

The division of the territory of Ivagh ( a part also of Carbery) among the O Mahonys may also be seen, in the manuscripts of the same library, X. X. fol. 10.

(16) – Kinalmeaky signifies the ‘head of the noble root,’ From Kean, a head, Neal, noble, and Mecan, a root, in old Irish, probably alluding to this sept of the Mahonys.

(17) – The last of this sept, who was called Conogher O Mahony, was slain in Desmond’ rebellion, and died seized of the seigniory of Kinalmeaky. – Cox, vol. I., p. 383.

(18) – The O Conailles and O Cullinanes, also derive their pedigree from the same origin as O Donovan. What is remarkable of this last family of the O Cullinanes is, that it was never known without one or more physicians in it, which is remarked by Cambden; insomuch, that when a person is given over, they have a saying in Irish, ‘even O Cullinane cannot cure him.’ Which profession still continues in the family.

Royal extraction, are the O Driscolls (19), who took this surname, as they pretend, from Heidersgoil, son of Fin, who sprang from Ith, son of Bregoan, which Ith they will have to be uncle to King Milesius. Other antiquarians, which more probability, say they had their name from Conary More Mac Eidriscoll, king of Ireland. But be that as it may, this sept had possession of a large tract both in this county and in Kerry, called Iveragh, and also Cothilia, in old Irish records, being a very considerable country on the S.W. coast. They had in it several strong castles, viz, Dunashad, now Baltimore; and opposite to it, in the island of Inisherkin, Dunelong castle, in which island Sir Florence O Driscoll founded a Franciscan abbey, anno 1460. The island of Cape Clear also belonged to them, the castle of which place, delivered up to the Spaniards, anno 1601, but were retaken by the English two years later. In order to ingratiate himself with Queen Elizabeth, a fleet of English ships of war were supplied, for a considerable time, with fresh provisions by this Sir Fineene O Driscoll, who also nobly entertained all the captains and other officers in his castles. The queen being informed of it, pardoned his joining the Spaniards, and sent for him to court. But, before he arrived there, the queen died; and during his absence, great part of his possessions were intruded into by Sir Walter Coppinger, which caused this ancient family to fall to decay.

I have already taken notice that the Mac Cartys were kings of Cork, but the chief of this name in Carbery was Mac Carty Reagh, who was also the chief person in the whole territory of Carbery. He is not only in the Irish chronicles, but also in several patents and records, styled Prince of Carbery; and it is certain that he enjoyed a chief rent, more or less, out of the greatest part of this barony, computed to be 300l. per annum, which, for the most part, was paid in hogs, beeves, sheep, and the like, and was counted a greater and more noble chiefrie than was received in those times, out of any other seigniory in Ireland.

It is also manifest from the honourable marriages (20) and noble alliances of this family of Mac Carty Reagh, that it was always esteemed amongst the most considerable in Ireland; nor was there any of this house in rebellion against the crown of England until the unhappy year of 1641; which makes it strange that so great a man as the head of this house was had then but 1200l. per annum. But the Irish give two reasons for this: the first is that the younger sons of the family had drawn off many tracts from the patrimonial estate; and another that, in the

(19) – Keating’s Tables

(20) – Donald Mac Fineen Mac Carty Reagh was married to Elinor, daughter to Gerald, the eighth Earl of Kildare, who was lord lieutenant of Ireland, anno 1496, by whom he had four sons. 1. Florence, commonly called the deaf, who died without issue male. 2. Cormac Mac Carty Reagh, ancestor to the family of Banduff in Carbery. 3. Sir Donogh, alias Mac Carty Reagh, ancestor of Charles Mac Carty More, in Kerry, esq. 4. Sir Owen Mac Carty Reagh, ancestor to the family of Trale, in Carbery, and of Owen Mac Carty, lieutenant-colonel in 1689, to Mac Carthy More. Sir Donogh and Sir Owen were Mac Carthy Reagh during their lives. Thomas, their elder brother, had issue Donald.

Infancy of Daniel who was called Ni-pipy (21) (who was Mac Carty Reagh by tanistry), his uncle Sir Donogh Mac Carty, gave his own son, Florence, a better estate in Carbery than he left to the heir, or than his son got by Mac Carty More’s daughter. For he gave him Tough Carriganassig, containing 12 ploughlands; Tough Mountain, being 7 ploughlands; and Touth Inishkean, 12 ploughlands. So that he left Mac Carty Reagh only the 10 ploughlands of Kilbritton, (22) 3 of Coolmain, 2 of Downdaniel, 4 of Ballynadee, 1 of Burrin, 2 ½ of Gorticlogh, now Skibbereen, 1 ploughland of Knockandee, and some other parcels besides his chief rent.

Of all the Mac Cartys of Carbery, the above-mentioned Florence Mac Donogh was the most famous. He was a man of extraordinary stature, and as great policy; he had competent courage, and as much zeal as anybody, for what he imagined to be true religion and the liberty of his country. He married Illen, daughter and heiress to the Earl of Clarcare, (23) and, purely by his merit, dispossessed her bastard brother,

(21) – This Donald Ni-pipy was so-called, because, in his time, some pipes of wine were cast on the shore at Burrin, and consequently, were his right, being a wreck, and accordingly he had them, which, in those superstitious times, were reckoned very fortunate; the wreck being esteemed (as the Cornish men’s phrase is ) God’s goods. His grandson, Donald Mac Cormac, was high sheriff of this county, and a Protestant, anno 1635. The additional name of Reagh was annexed to this family from the time of Donald Reagh, one of its ancestors, to distinguish it from the other family of Mac Carthy More.

(22) – Kilbritton belonged to the Lords Kinsale long before Mac Carty Reagh possessed it. For, by a composition of Walter de la Haye, the King’s escheator of Ireland, anno 23, Edw. I 1295, the manor of Kilbritton and Ringrone, with the mills, fisheries, etc, thereto belonging; the lands of Corrotsheran, Holderness, Liffynin, Tathax, Lysside, and Kingsale, in the county of Cork; and other places in the extent roll taken on the occasion, being seized into the king’s hands, upon the death of John de Courcey, who was slain by Mac Carty the same year, in the island of Inchydonny ( as appears by a certificate of Samuel Mollineaux, Ulster king-at-arms, concerning the said battle.) This Walter restores the said lands, &c, on a composition of 12l. 12s to James Keating, per brevi domini regis, &c. And the said Walter de la Haye restores the country of Glynardall, and other lands in the county of Kerry, to the said Keating, for the use of the heir of the said John, Lord Courcey. Concordat cum original, in thes. Infra Cast. Dubl. Rememb. Philip Percevall, penes dominum de Kingsale.

(23) – Donald Mac Carty More, Earl of Clancare ( a territory in the county of Kerry), was so created by Queen Elizabeth, anno 1566, having resigned his estate to her, and then had it restored, to hold of the crown of England, by fealty, after the English manner. He was, at the same time, created Baron of Valentia, an island adjoining. Cambden says, he was a man eminent, of great power in those parts, and a bitter enemy to the Fitz-Geralds, who dispossessed his ancestors, kings of Desmond, of their country.

In a manuscript, called a Breviate of the Getting of Ireland, &c, in the College library, E. Tab. 3N. 18 Mac Carty More, of Desmond, and these following, are enumerated among the chief Irish captains of Munster, Mac Donagh, of Duhallow. O Donogh, of Ross, by Loughlean, in Kerry. O Donogh, of Glanfleske. O Kief, of Drumtariff, in this county. Mac Awly, of Clan-Awly. O Callaghan, of Clonmeene, in the same. O Sullivan More, of Dunkerron, in Kerry. O Sullivan Bear, of Dunboy, in this county. Mac Gillicuddy, of Doneboo, in Kerry. Mac Fyneen, of Ardentully, &c. These were all followers of Mac Carty More; they brought into the field 60 horse and 1500 foot. They, and all other of Mac Carty’s followers, with his own forces, were to be at the call of the Earls of Desmond. Mac Carty Reagh, of Carbery, could raise 300 footmen, and 60 horsemen; his territory extended, in length, 50 miles, and in breadth, 30 miles. Those following were his followers :- O Driscoll, of Baltimore. Barry Oge Roe, and Barry-Oge, Oge, O Mahon, of Ardintenant, O Donovan, Mac Patrick, O Crowley, O Mulrian, &c. He was also subject to the call of the Earls of Desmond.

Donald, of the name and title of Mac Carty More, which he himself assumed, by the unanimous suffrages of Tyrone, the clergy, and the people; this is the more strange, for in Ireland they usually preferred bastard sons before daughters, in order to preserve the name and the family, as in the Roman adoptions, and to defend the country. For this marriage, without the queen’s licence, this Florence was sent to the Tower of London, where he was kept eleven years; and then, being set at liberty, he joined Tyrone’s rebellion.

The other clans of the Mac Cartys in Carbery, and their territories, were, first the branch of Clancrimine, so called from MacCrimin, a sept of the Mac Cartys, whose seat was at Ballynorohor, anciently one of the best castles in this county, which he justly forfeited, together with his life, for a barbarous murder by him committed, anno 1641. A second branch of the Mac Cartys possessed a tract, called Glawnacrime, being the parish of Fanlobush, now Dunmanway, near which place they had their residence, in a castle lately demolished by Sir Richard Cox. This family was famous for its extravagant hospitality, a practice formerly much applauded in this county. The last of this house was called Teige O Downy, who, besides the fore-named castle, had another, which is still standing, called Togher. A third branch of this family had the surname, or rather the soubriquet, of Rabagh, ie, ‘the hospitable.’

West of the last territory was another small tract in Carbery, called Clandonel-Roe’s country, the Mac Cartys also possessed it. As did another small branch of the same name, a little territory to the east of Dunmanway, formerly called Mac Iganauras, though some give this last to the Collins’s.

These were the chief Irish septs in this large barony of Carbery, which is the greatest in Ireland; nor could I hear of any other who possessed any considerable territory in it, except the O Crowleys, who inhabited a tract called Kilshallow, which lay west of Bandon, on the river of that name. This family derived their descent from Diarmuid, of Mylurig, in Conaught. Their country, in old MSS, is described to have been woody and mountainous; and mention is also made of a smart skirmish happening in it between the Mac Cartys of Carbery and the O Learys of Muskery, anno 1600.

I have already observed that Kinalmeaky was a part of Carbery, as was also the modern barony of Ibawn and Barriroe, which, though divided by an arm of the sea, comprehends but one small barony. The tract called Ibawn, is ‘the fair territory,’ was, after the coming in of the English, wrested from the old proprietors by Lord Arundel, commonly called Lord Arundel of the Strand; and from him it fell to the Barrymore family. There are the remains of an ancient castle on the strand of Cloghnikelty, formerly called Arundel’s castle, (24) but now Rine castle. Barryroe has its present name from a branch of the Barrys, (25) but

(24) – Spenser, in his View of the State of Ireland, observes, that the Lord Arundel of the Strand, who was anciently a great lord, and had an estate of 3,500l. per annum, was, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a tenant to Lord Barry, to whom her performed those services which were only due to the queen.

(25) – The greatest part of this tract is now in the Barrymore family. In the Lambeth library, MS X X fol. 25, are the Lord Barry’s titles to the lands of Barryroe.

Anciently it belonged to the O Cowigs, who have been quite extinguished by the conquerors; yet there are some remains of them in a promontory called Dun O Cowig, which was fortified with a small old castle. They were originally descended from the O Driscolls before mentioned. There was also a sept of the O Donovans in those parts, named O Hea, whose residence was at a castle called Ahimilly; and they had a territory called Pubble O Hea in this tract. The residence of the Barrys, in this barony, was named Rathbarry, which was a stately castle in its time; it is now called Castle-Freke, and is the seat of Sir John Freke, bart. All this tract fell into English hands, anno 1642, being taken by Colonel Myn.

Another sept, west of Carbery, are the O Sullivans, who were distinguished into the names of O Sullivan Bear, and O Sullivan Bantry (26). Bear, probably, retains its name from the Iberi, before mentioned. Bantry ( in ancient times named Bentraighe) was reckoned a part of Carbery, and is said to have its name from Beant Mac Farriola, a person descended from the O Donovans and Mahonys. A son of his, called Bair Briver, possessed that small rugged tract, called by the name of Minterbairr, being now the parish of Killegrohan. I find, in latter times, the O Dalys had this territory, who were successively bards or poets to the O Mahon and the Carew family. O Glavin, who was also their termon or steward, possessed a part of it. By these names, Daly and Glavin, I design the family, and not any particular part of it. In Bantry bay there is still a place called Ardragoal, probably named from a clan of the Gauls or Celtiberi, who landed here. Ardgoal, or Ardgyle, in Scotland, is the same name. A colony of the clan of Gaul, or Celtiberi, sailed over from Ireland to the Western isles, and gave the country of Argyle, in Scotland, their name. They called that country Gael Albenich, from Old Albania, and those of Ireland, Gael Erinich, both nations, to this day, retaining the same language, manners, and customs.

Kerrycurihy and Kinalea are now one barony; the former was anciently called Muskery Killane, and was possessed by the Mac Cartys, but granted, after the conquest, to Richard de Cogan, as I shall shew hereafter. It is, in old manuscripts, called Long a Gowganig, is ‘Cogan’s ship,’ and comprehended not only the tract now called Kerricurihy, but also the barony of Imokilly, in which last the Carews, soon after the English conquest, likewise settled. In Queen Elizabeth’s time it went by the name of Kerry-wherry. The other part, called Kinalea, was anciently named Insovenagh; and, being also a territory of the Mac Cartys, was granted to Robert Fitz-Martin, by King John, (27) anno 1208. But, in latter times, it was possessed by Barry Oge.

(26) – Vid. An inquisition concerning O Sullivan’s lands in Bear and Bantry, preserved among the MSS of the Lambeth library, X X fol. 13. Vid. Also an account of the particular forces of O Sullivan in this part of the country, in the same library, manuscript X X fol. 105. In a manuscript, called a Breviate of Ireland, and the diversity of Irish in the same, preserved in the College library E. Tab. 3 N 8, wrote by Philip O Sullivan Bear, and presented to the King of Spain, anno 1618, by Florence, titular archbishop of Tuam; after O Neil, and O Donnell, the author sets down Don Dermitius O Sullivan among the ancient Irish seculars in Ireland, This Dermot was then at Madrid, and assumed the title of Earl of Bearhaven.

(27)Ware's Annals.

Having thus far treated of the ancient tracts and septs of the maritime parts of this county, I now proceed to the inland territories. And first, of the large barony of Muskery, which still retains its ancient name, and was, according to the conquests of the Irish upon each other, sometimes of a greater, and, at other times, of a lesser extent. Kerricurihy, called, as before, Muskery Millane, being once a part of it; as was also Muskery Donegan, a tract lying round Baltimore. It was anciently a wild and woody country, and so continued until the days of Camden. The Mac Cartys (28) were, for many years, the chief proprietors of it; and so continued long after the conquest of the English; the head of this branch being created Viscount Muskery, and Earl of Clancarty, which titles have been forfeited since the revolution.

The other Irish septs of Muskery were the O Learys, who had a considerable territory in the west of this barony called Iveleary, and many castles. Also the Swinys, Riordans, and Murphys, who were all followers of Mac Carty. The modern barony of Barrets was also a part of Muskery; as was, formerly, the present barony of Barrymore.

The eastern extremity of Barrymore was called, in the English grants, the cantred of Olethan, also Ivelehan; part of it had the name of Coshbride, which territory extended into the county of Waterford, and there still retains its name. Besides the Mac Cartys, who possessed the western part, which belonged to Muskery, the O Lehans, an ancient Irish sept, inhabited the eastern, whose chief seat was Castle-Lehan, now softened into Castle-Lyons. This country was granted, soon after the English came over, to the Barrys, who were, for some ages, called Lords Barry of Castlelehan. The Great Island, anciently called Arda-Neimhid, was also possessed by the same family.

The modern barony of Duhallow, in some old manuscripts Alla, is a large tract, of which Mac Donough, a branch of the Mac Cartys, (29) was chief. He is, in several old chronicles, styled prince of Duhallow, and lived in this country, with his followers, in great splendour, till the year 1641. His dependents were O Kief, chief of Poble O Kief, a country in the north-west part of this county; Mac Auliff, chief of Clan-Auliff; and O Callaghan, chief of the territory called Poble O Callaghan, (30) west of Mallow, being the present parishes of Kilshanick

(28) – I purposely omit giving a particular account of this branch of the Mac Cartys, called the Clancarty family, in this chapter, as they will frequently occur in the historical part of this work.

(29) – Vid. A note in the Lambeth library, manuscript X X fol, 15, concerning the several septs and lordships of the Mac Cartys, of Carbery. Also the division of Duhallow among the Cartys, X X fol. 43, 97

(30) – By an inquisition taken at Mallow, on the 25^th of October, 1594, before Sir Thomas Norris, vice-president of Munster; William Saxey, esq., and James Gould, esq., chief and second justices of the said province; by virtue of a commission from the lord deputy and council, dated the 26^th of June before, it is found, among other things, ‘that Conogher O Callaghan, alias The O Callaghan, was and is seized of several large territories in the inquisition recited in his demesne, as lord and chieftain of Poble-Callaghan, by the Irish custom, time out of mind used; that as O Callaghan aforesaid is lord of the said country, so there is a tanist, by the custom of the said country, who is Teig O Callaghan; and that the said Teig is seized as tanist, by the said custom, of several ploughlands in the inquisition mentioned; which also finds that the custom is further, that every kinsman of The O Callaghan had a parcel of land to live upon, and yet that no estate passed thereby, but that the lord, (who was then Conogher O Callaghan), and The O Callaghan for the time being, by custom time out of mind, may remove the said kinsmen to other lands; and the inquisition further finds that O Callaghan Mac Dermot, Irrelagh O Callaghan, Teig MacCahir O Callaghan, Donogho Mac Thomas O Callaghan, and others, were seized of several ploughlands according to the said custom, subject nevertheless to certain seigntories and duties, payable to The O Callaghan; and that they were removable by him to other lands at his pleasure.’ In the reign of King James I tanistry was condemned as a lewd and barbarous custom. – Vid. Davis’s Reports, p 28, &c

And Clonmeene, where the chief sept of the O Callaghans lived, and where a descendant of the family still remains. Mac Donough’s chief residence was at Kanturk, near which are the sumptuous ruins of one of his castles. (31) Anno 13^th of James I letters patent were passed to Dermot Mac Owen Mac Carty, of the town and lands of Keantwirk, Lohort, and divers other lands, &c, containing the greatest part of the territory of Duhallow, with a chiefrie and other duties and customs, out of the territories of Poble O Callaghan, Poble O Kief, and the lands of Donough-Oge, with the royalties of all waifs, strays, goods of felons, court-leet, and court-baron, view of frankpledge, &c; a weekly market and annual fair, with power to impark 500 acres, to have free-chace and free-warren throughout the said territory, and divers other ample privileges, to be held in free and common soccage of His Majesty’s castle of Dublin. Dated at Dublin, June 6, 1615. (32)

The large tract, now known by the names of the modern baronies of Armoy or Fermoy, Orrery and Kilmore, and Clangibbon, was, before the arrival of the English, a principality of the O Kiefs, called Fearmuigh; which, say the Irish antiquarians, is a contraction of Fera Muighe Fere, which Flaherty interprets, viros Mogruthii Militis; and adds, this Mogruth was a Druid, who, for services to his prince, had those territories given him, vid. Ogygia, p. 336, or, according to others, it is a contraction of Fera Muigh fene, signifying ‘the husbandman’s grassy plains.’ And thus Colgan calls it. (33) The princes of this tract did sometimes so enlarge their territory by conquest, that this whole country, in some Irish manuscripts, is called Fermuigh, the patron saint of which was, in ancient times, St. Molac, (34) whose festival was on the 30^th of January. But of

(31) – Penes Comit. De Egmont

(32) – Upon the first of Feb 1666, it was certified, by the Court of Claims, that Sir Philip Perceval, knight, deceased, had lent more money to Dermot Mac Owen Carty, alias Mac Donough, upon the territories of Duhallow, and manor of Kanturk, than they were worth; and that the said Sir Philip was in actual possession of them, upon the 23^rd of October, 1641. That the equity of redemption, which was of no value, was forfeited by the said Dermot’s engaging with the rebels, and that Sir Philip Perceval, bart., then a minor, grandson and heir of the said Sir Philip the elder, was legally entitled to the said lordship and manor.

On the 20^th of Feb. 18 Car. II 1667, the said Sir Philip Perceval, bart., passed patent for the said lordship and manor, to him and his heirs for ever.

On the 10^th of December, 27 Car. II 1667, the said Sir Philip Perceval, bart., lord of Duhallow and Kanturk, passed another patent for the said lordship and manor.

On the 15^th January, 36 Car. II 1675, the said Sir John Perceval, bart., lord of Duhallow and Kanturk, brother and heir to the said Sir Philip Perceval, passed another patent for the same. From whom the same descended to John, late Earl of Egmont, &c, son and heir to the said Sir John Perceval, bart., from whom it descended to John, now Earl of Egmont, &c, Lord of Duhallow and Kanturk, son and heir to the said earl. – Penes Comit de Egmont.

(33) - Act. Sanct. P. 148

(34) – Ib. id.

This saint and his church, recorded in old manuscripts to have been so famous, there are now no traces here. The O Kiefs of this country pretend to be descended from a brother of Feidlimid Eochaid, second son of Aongus, monarch of Ireland.

Anno 954, Donogh Mac Kief, king of Fermoy, commanded the Irish forces in an expedition against the Danes, under Kenedy, prince of Munster, whose father Callaghan, with his brother Duncan, were retained prisoners by them. Donogh, with the assistance of an Irish fleet, pursued the Danes into Ulster, and, after an obstinate battle, rescued the prisoners, who were then on board a Danish vessel. (35)

Keating mentions another prince of this territory, called Dubhagan, who was slain in a battle fought by Flan Fiona, monarch of Ireland, assisted by the Leinster forces, against Cormac Mac Cuillinane, king of Munster, in the plains of Magh Ailbhe, near Leighlin. This battle was fought about the year 908, in which King Cormac, who was also bishop of Cashel, lost his life.

Keating also says, (p. 264) that this country was bestowed, by Fiachadh Muileeathan, king of Munster, upon an eminent Druid, for delivering his army out of the power of his enemy. This fable is still believed and reported in this country; and all their antiquaries add, it was given to the Druid for causing the sun to stand still, an hour or two, till the above-named monarch’s forces gained the victory; and so by synderosis, they will have it called Fermoy. But this country was also named Armoy, is, the ‘fresh field,’ and sometimes urmagh, which has the same signification. This territory, after the conquest, was granted to Fleming, and, by the marriage of his daughter Amy, came into the Roches, or de Rupe, who were Lords Viscount Fermoy, and anciently Barons of poole-castle, alias Castlelough; and all this tract us yet called Roche’s country. (36) Another part of the ancient Fermoy, now Condons and Clangibbon, (37) was, after the conquest, granted to the Cantons, alias Condons, one of whom was called Baron of Ballyderawne, now a ruined castle, near the exit of the river Araglin. Orrery, after the English conquest, was possessed by the Barrys, from whom, in old records, it has been called Orriria-Barria. They had several castles in this tract, which they held till the general rebellion of 1641. The northern parts of it, near Limerick, were possessed mostly by the Fitz-Geralds, till the same time.

(35) – Keating, p. 548

(36) – It is said, that Roche, who married an heiress of Fleming, first ingratiated himself by killing one of the Condons, against whom Fleming employed him as his champion; and that he slew this Condon by a cross-bow shot in the thigh; which part happened to be uncovered, by the rising up of his cuirass.

(37) – The White Knight, otherwise styled Clan Gibbon, was descended from Gislebert, or Gilebert, called, by the Irish, Gibbon; the eldest son, by a second wife, of John Fitz-Gerald, ancestor to the houses of Kildare and Desmond. From whom also descended Mac Gibbon, of Mohownagh. They had large possession in this territory; a part of which is now the estate of the Right Hon the Lord Baron of Kingston, whose grandfather, Sir John King, was, September 4, 1660, so created by King Charles II. This first lord married Catherine, daughter to Sir William Fenton, knt., and Dame Margaret Fitz-Gerald, his wife, sole heiress to the family called the White Knights, from whom the estate is descended to the present lord.

Thus, having given an ample detail of the old Irish septs and ancient territories in this county, I proceed to lay before the reader an account of the grants made to the first English adventurers by the kings of England.

This kingdom being reduced to the power of the English, and publicly proclaimed so to be, King Henry II distributed large possessions to the several adventurers who had assisted in the reduction of it. This monarch granted the whole kingdom of Cork to Robert Fitz-Stephen (38) and Milo de Cogan. The words of the charter are as follows :-

‘Henry, by grace of God, king of England, and duke of Normandy and Aquitain, and earl of Anjou; to all archbishops, abbots, earls, barons, justices, and all his ministers and faithful subjects, French, English, and Irish, greeting. Know ye that I have granted, and by this my charter confirmed, to Robert Fitz-Stephen and Milo de Cogan, the government of my city of Cork, with the cantred which belonged to the Ostmen of the said city, which I retain in my own hands; to have and to hold them together during my pleasure, and as long as they shall serve me faithfully. I moreover, by this my charter, give, grant, and confirm to them and their heirs, all the kingdom of Cork, except the said city, and the before-mentioned cantred, which I retain in my own hands; to hold them and their heirs, of me and my son John, and our heirs, by an exact division, towards the cape of Saint Brandon, on the sea-coast, and towards Limerick and other parts, and as far as the water near Lismore, which runs between Lismore and Cork, and falls into the sea, by the service of 60 knights, to be performed thereout to me and my son John, and our heirs; the service of 30 knights, by the said Milo, and his heirs. Wherefore, I will and strictly command, that the said Robert and Milo, shall have and hold the government of the said city and cantred, in manner as is before mentioned; and that they and their heirs, shall have and hold all the kingdom aforesaid, except the said city and cantred, (which I retain in my own hands) from me and my son John, and our heirs, by an exact division, as is above described; well and peaceably, freely and quietly, entirely, fully and honourably, in wood and in plain, in meadows and pastures, in waters and mills, in warrens, ponds, and fishings, in ways and paths, and in all other places and things belonging thereto; with all their liberties and free customs; so that from the aforesaid river that runs between Lismore and Cork, the whole land as far as Waterford, together with the city of Lismore, shall remain in my hands, for the government

(38) – Robert Fitz-Stephen was son to Stephen, constable of the castles of Abertiny and Pembroke, and Ann, daughter to Rees Gruffydh, prince of South Wales. She had been concubine to King Henry A by whom he had a son, Henry, father to Miles and Robert Fitz-Henry, who were also adventurers under Strongbow. Her second husband was Gerald, ancestor to the Fitz-Geralds, by whom she had Maurice and William; which Maurice came into Ireland with this Robert Fitz-Stephen, anno 1169 or 1170, and took Wexford, whereby a way was opened for conquering this kingdom. Robert had two sons, Radolph and Mereduk, who died in Cork, March 14, 1179-80, greatly lamented, and was slain in 1185, with Milo de Cogan , the younger, who was some time governor of Dublin, and joint sharer with his father in the kingdom of Cork, between Waterford and Lismore, by treachery, having (according to Giraldus Cambrensis) but a little before married the daughter of Milo de Cogan.

This Robert Fitz-Stephen, after his father, was also governor of Cardigan or Abertiny castle, in Wales, and ancestor to the Fitz-Stephens of this country, now extinct. He was the first Englishman that landed in Ireland in a hostile manner, with 30 knights, 60 esquires, and 300 foot soldiers, and after several successes, he was by King Henry II together with Hugh de Lacy, Maurice Fitz-Gerald, his half-brother, and Robert de Bruce, made joint governors of Ireland.

Of Waterford. Witnesses present, John, bishop of Norwich, Adam, bishop of St. Asaph, and Augustine, bishop of Waterford, Richard de Lucy, William Fitz-Adelm, my sewer, Hugh de Lacy, Hugh de Burid, Roger Fit-Remsey, Maurice de Prendergast, Robert Dene, Robert Fitz-Eliodore, Jeoffrey Poer, and Harvy de Monte Marisco. At Oxford.’

This charter seems to be granted about the year 1177; for, at that time, according to Hovenden, (39) –

‘The king came to Oxenford, and in a general council there held, created his son John, king in Ireland, by the grant and confirmation of Pope Alexander.’

Two years after, Fitz-Stephen and Cogan came to a partition of seven cantred; which Giraldus Cambrensis, (40) who lived at that time, thus describes :-

‘Therefore Dermod of Desmond, (41) being brought to terms, and other powerful men of those parts, Fitz-Stephen and Milo divided seven cantred between them, which were contiguous to the city, and which they then possessed in great security; three of which, eastward, fell to Fitz-Stephen’s lot, and four, westward, to Milo’s. The one had the fewer in his division, because they were the best; and the other had the larger number, because they were of worse quality. The government of the city remained in common to them both, and the tribute of the other 24 cantreds, which remained undivided, was to be equally distributed between them, when they should be brought under subjection.’

Cambrensis has left us but very imperfect accounts of the distribution made by Fitz-Stephen and Cogan to others; the death of Cogan, which happened in 1184, putting some stop to the undertaking. But the confirmation charters of King John, granted in the 8^th year of his reign, afford some light in this matter; for he then –

‘Confirmed to William de Barry, the donation made by Robert Fitz-Stephen (to Philip de Barry, his sister’s son (42) and father of the said William, whose heir he was) of three cantreds in his lands of Cork, ie Olethan, with all its appurtenances, and of

(39) – In vita Hen. II (40) – Expugnat Hib lib 2, cap 18 (41) – Mac Carty

(42) – This Philip de Barry succeeded his elder brother, Robert de Barry, who was the first man (says Cambrensis) that was wounded in the conquest of this kingdom, and was also the first who ever manned a hawk in this island. The same author gives a noble character of him, and says ‘he was a man rather ambitious to be eminent, than to seem so.’ This family hath afforded several eminent persons, besides the above Robert de Barry, viz : Giraldus Cambrensis, who, in 1185, attended King John into Ireland, in quality of his secretary, and was bishop of St. David’s, alias Minevia, in Wales, and refused the bishoprics of Ferns and Leighlin, in Ireland, which were then vacant. During his stay here he collected materials for his Topography of Ireland, and his Vaticinal History of the conquest of it; but finished them in England. 2. Sir David de Barry, who was Lord Justice of Ireland, anno 1267. He subdued the Mac Cartys in this county, founded the abbey of Buttevant, and enlarged the revenues of that of Ballybeg, founded by his grandfather, Philip de Barry. 3. Gerald de Barry, Lord Bishop of Cork, anno 1359. 4. James Barry, Lord Buttevant (anno 1555) 5. David, Viscount Buttevant, who did great service in Tyrone’s rebellion, in 1601. 6. David, the first Earl of Barrymore, who served against the Scots, anno 1639, and in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, as will further be seen in the annals of this county.

There is an island, called Barry island, on the S.W. coast of Glamorganshire, in Wales, which, with a castle on the opposite chore, had their names from this family.

Two other cantreds, is Muscherie-Dunegan, and the cantred of Killede, by the service of ten knights, as the charter of the said Robert, which had had thereof, testified.’

Thus far the charter of confirmation, which agrees with the charter of Fitz-Stephen, except that the two cantreds of Muscherie-Dunegan and Killede, granted to Philip de Barry, are not mentioned therein by name, but he was to have two cantreds in the kingdom of Cork, such as should fall to him by casting lots. King John’s charter of confirmation of Fitz-Stephen’s grant to Philip Barry is enrolled (43) de anno 21 Eliz., and Fitz-Stephen’s grant is in the same roll, the former whereof bears date the 21^st of Feb. regni Johannis 8vo (44)

‘He also granted to Adam de Rupe (or Roch), the cantred of Rosselihir, with all its appurtenances, save the demesnes of the bishop of that See, by the service of five knights; also to Richard de Cogan, the cantred of Muscrie O Millane, with the appurtenances, by the service of 5 knights, lying between the harbour of Cork and the port of Insovenagh, and 25 knights’ fees, which he ordered to be set out to him in some other place, by the advice of Meiler Fitz-Henry, Lord Justice of Ireland, and John Mareschall, by service of 4 knights; saving to the king, and his heirs, the aforesaid harbour, and his own demesnes. Also to Robert Fitz-Martin, 20 knights’ fees in the cantred of Insovenagh, and 20 knights’ fees in some other place, which he ordered to be set out to him by the advice of Meiler Fitz-Henry, Lord Justice of Ireland, and John Mareschall, and Philip de Prendergast, by the service of 4 knights, in full of all services.’

Lastly, he gave to two brothers,

‘Henry and Maurice Fitz-Philip, one cantred of land, in which Dunalahoth is situated, by the service of 5 knights.’

In the reign of King Edward III, Thomas de Carew set up a title as heir to Fitz-Stephen, to all his share of that great estate. But by an inquisition taken at Cork, before Sir Anthony Lucy, Lord Justice, on the 31^st of August, the 5^th of Edw. III, it was found –

‘That Robert Fitz-Stephen died, seized of the moiety of the estate granted by King Henry II to him and Cogan; and that the said Fitz-Stephen was a bastard, and died without issue of his body; that the claim of Thomas de Carew, asserting that he and his ancestors were heirs to Fitz-Stephen, could not be true, because the said Fitz-Stephen was a bastard, and died without heir of his body ; (45) and further, that the said Fitz-Stephen, in his lifetime, enfeoffed Maurice Fitz-Thomas before he

(43) – Harris’s Ware, p.145

(44) – By an inquisition taken at Cork, before William de Rose, prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, Chief Justice of Ireland, on the eve of St. Bartholomew, 29 of Edward III, 1355, it appeared, from the oath of Girald Fitz-Maurice and others, that it would not be to the King’s loss, nor to any others, if the King granted William Barry power to bestow one carucate of land, with its appurtenances, in Cleynboly, in the Great Island, and the advowson of the church of Downgourney; and leave to John Barry to give 20 parcels of land in Muscry O Lethan and Ibawne, and to John Fitz-Gerald, to give one carucate and half of land in Garanacor, in Ibawne, and the advowson of the church of Rathratha, and two acres of land in Lylmide, in Lanaletha, with the advowson of that church, etc.

(45) – A collateral branch cannot be heir to a bastard, nor any but the issue of his body.

Was created Earl of Desmond, of the castle and manor of Dunemarke, and the moiety of the estate granted to him by King Henry II.’ (46)

For want of male issue, the kingdom of Cork descended to daughters, and, notwithstanding what was found by the above-mentioned inquisition, which was much influenced by the power of Maurice Fitz-Thomas Fitzgerald, the first Earl of Desmond, (47) a large part of this country came, by marriage, to (48) Robert de Carew and Patrick de Courcey, who enjoyed it, anno 20 Henry III, viz, about the year 1236. De Courcey’s part was afterwards subdivided among daughters, who were heirs-general

(46) – This title was again set up in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, anno 1568, by Sir Peter Carew, who brought his cause before the Lords of the Council, and came to Ireland very well recommended, being fully resolved to prosecute the recovery of this ancient estate, who, besides other lands in Leinster, laid claim to one-half of the kingdom of Cork, viz, Imokilly, Trybarry, Muskery, Trycourcy, Carbery, Kinalmeaky, Collymore, and Collybeg (two territories near Skibbereen, in West Carbery), Ivaugh and Synnagh O Donovan, Bantry, Bear, Minterbarry, Clandonogh, Cloigboigh, Iveragh, Kerrycurrihy, Clanmorris, Iragticonnor (these two last in Kerry), Duhallow, and Coshbride.

This Sir Peter Carew sent his agent, John Hooker, to Cork, where he had a solemn meeting with Mac Carty Reagh, Sir Cormac Mac-Teig, Lord Muskery, Barry-Oge, O Driscol, O Daly, and others. They proposed to advance 3,000 kine, with sheep, hogs, and corn, in proportion for the present; and that, if Sir Peter would live among them, they would pay him an annual reasonable rent. Upon which, Hooker took an house for Sir Peter at Cork, and another at Kingsale. But, as Sir Peter was travelling to Cork, he fell ill at Ross, in the county of Wexford, and died there the 27^th of November, 1575. – Cox, vol. I p. 327

(47) – The Carews of Ireland are said, by Cambden and other genealogists, to be (Dugdale, vol. I, p.481) descended from Arnolph de Montgomery, who built the Castle of Pembroke, in Wales. He had the title of that earldom, and afterwards fortified his castle in the behalf of his brother, the Earl of Shrewsbury, in the time of his rebellion against King Henry I. They were both banished the realm, anno 1112; and this Arnolph being outlawed, the castle at Pembroke came to the Crown. Odericus Vitalis, p.573 (who was a monk of Utica, and a writer of the Norman history), says that he married Lafracoth, a daughter to one of the kings of Ireland, and their posterity took the name of Carew, from Carew castle, in Pembrokeshire.

Anno 3d Edward II, 1310, the king issued a precept to Maurice de Carew, to distrain the lands of David de Barry, and Maurice Fitz-Gerald, for services and duties due to him, as lord of several of their possession. – Bibl. Lamb. L. fol. 38

In the same place may be seen a note of such lands as Thomas Fitz-Maurice held of Maurice de Carew, at the death of the said Thomas, which were forfeited to the king; but restored again to Maurice de Carew, anno 1312.

In the same library there is a grant from John de Carew, lord of the manor of Castle-Cork, to Richard Fitz-Peter de Carew, of the custody of all the lands belonging to George Fitz-Adam, dated anno 1334, - ibid, fol. 23

Anno 1340, the king issued writs to the sheriffs of Cork and Kilkenny to possess John de Carew of the manor of Clonmentach – Ibid fol. 35

Anno 1567, the possession of Castle-Cork, and all other lands belonging to this family, in this county, were delivered into the hands of Richard, the son of Sir Peter Carew, which amounted to near one-half of the county, as appears from MSS in the same place.

About this time, Sir Peter Carew first petitioned Sit Henry Sidney, then Lord Deputy of Ireland, and not only laid claim to a vast estate in this county, but also to the lands of Ballimaclethen, in Odrone, against Sir Christopher Chever; which petition, with Sir Peter’s answer, and the names of such lands as he claimed in this county, may be seen at large in the Lambeth library. See also farther concerning this claim in the fourth book of this work.

(48) – Hooker, p.46.

Hanmer, p.158

Brady p.369

Of that ancient family. The Carews were styled Marquises of Cork, and built the castles of Ardentully, Dunkerron, and Dunemarke, (49) in the west of this country, and others in Imokilly, to protect them from the natives. The chief men of this family, with many other English settled here, removed into England upon the breaking out of the civil wars between the houses of York and Lancaster, to the great prejudice of the English interest in this country. De Courcey, who remained in Ireland, besides dividing his lands as portions to his daughters, lost many of them by force, and, in particular, the cantred and castle of Kilbritton, which were wrested from him by Mac Carty Reagh, who, with numbers of the Irish attacked the few English that remained in this part of the kingdom. Notwithstanding, this ancient and noble family enjoys a considerable estate to this day in the barony called, from them, Courcey’s country. And have constantly preserved their loyalty untainted, being never concerned in any rebellion against the crown of England. Their ancient seat was, for many ages, at Dun Mac Patrick, so called from Patrick de Courcey, who gave the name of Mac Patrick to his posterity. This place, in ancient records, is said to have been a royal seat of the kings of Ireland, being called Dunkearma. The Right Hon. Gerald de Courcey, the present Lord Kingsale, quarters the arms of Cogan, in right of the marriage with the daughter and heir of Milo de Cogan, the first grantee of the kingdom of Cork. (50)

Besides a considerable estate, which came to Maurice Fitz-John Fitz-Gerald by his marriage to Juliana, heiress to John, Lord Cogan, of

(49) – Anno 1601, when Sir George Carew, Lord President of Munster, was in the west of this county, he and his army quartered at Dunemarke, a castle in Bantry bay, which the author of Pacata Hibern calls Carew Castle, and says it belonged to the President’s ancestors.

Anno 1304, an order issued to pardon Maurice de Carew 400l. arrears, which he owed the king for his lands in Desmond, because he was serving the king in Scotland – M anuscript in Bob. Lamb.

(50) – The ancient nobility in this county, in Henry IV’s time, according to a letter then said to be wrote by the inhabitants, were the Lord Marquis Carew, whose yearly revenue was 2,2000l. per ann.; the Lord Barnwell, of Bearhaven, who had 1,600l. per ann.; the Lord Uggan, of the Great Castle, 1,300l. per ann.; the Lord Balram, of Emforle, his revenue 1,300l. Lord Courcey, of Kilbritton, his revenue 1,500l. sterl.; the Lord Mandeville, of Barnehelly, 1,200l. sterl.; the Lord Arundel, of the Strand, 1,500l. per ann.; the Lord Baron of the Gaurd, 1,100l. ; the Lord Slinie, of Baltimore, 800l. sterl. Per ann.; the Lord Roche, of Poole Castle , his revenue, besides havens and creeks (which, the letter takes notice, all the other Lords also had), 1,000l. per ann.

This letter says, that the king had all Barry Oge’s estate by forfeiture, worth 1,800l. sterl.; and desires that those lords and the Irish may be bound over, upon pain of life and goods, not to make war upon each other, by which the country was brought to destruction, and the Irish, who were formerly drove to the mountains of Glanerought, were now returned, and become stronger than the English, of whom, only the Lords Roche, Courcey, and Barry then remained; and requests that proper persons may be sent over to command the English, and quiet the country. See the letter at large in Campion p. 94. Sir Richard Cox, vol. I, p. 162, says this letter was wrote in Henry VIth’s time, anno 1449. But I have seen a letter from Archbishop ussher, to the Lord Courcey, dated at Drogheda, Dec. 12, 1626 (of which I took a copy), wherein the Primate says, this letter was wrote in Henry the IVth’s time, and gives an account of the Lords Courcey mentioned in several ancient records, which he furnished Lord Kingsale with, on the occasion of a dispute between that lord and Sir Dominick Sarsfield, who was created Viscount Kingsale, by King Charles I, but was obliged afterwards to change his title for that of Killmallock.

Belvoir, (51) which I take to be Bellvelly, in the Great Island, Robert Fitz-Geoffry Cogan granted to James, the seventh Earl of Desmond, all his lands in Ireland, being half this county (of which he possessed himself by virtue of a letter of attorney, dated the 12^th of June, 1438), to the further prejudice of the Carew and Courcey families. The Earl married in Conaught, and brought the Ne Sheehys into this county, which he retained as his lifeguard; a sept afterwards very eminent both in this and the county of Limerick. This Earl by the aid of James, Earl of Ormond, whose family he had assisted against the Talbots, obtained a patent, in 1444, for the government or custody of this county, together with those of Limerick, Waterford, and Kerry, in which he was suffered (during the government of Richard, Duke of York, who was his gossip, and of Thomas, Earl of Kildare, his kinsman) to raise upon the King’s subjects the Irish impositions of coigne and livery, cosherings, bonnaught, etc. Notwithstanding these illegal extortions, he procured licence to absent himself from all future parliaments, only sending a sufficient proxy in his room; as also to purchase whatever lands he pleased, by what service so ever they were held of the Crown. Thus, by these and other usurpations upon the liberties of the people, this family came to be the most powerful subjects of their time, and gained large possessions, not only from the natives, but also from the English, many of whom, rather than undergo such exactions, quitted the country, and had their estates seized by Desmond and his followers, who were very numerous in this county (52) as well as in Waterford, Limerick, and Kerry.

(51) – This Maurice was the only son to John Fitz-Thomas, by his first wife. He married Johanna, or Juliana, daughter and heir to John, Lord Cogan, of Belvoir, who brought into the Desmond family the estate of Carigoline, Carigrohan, Castlemore, Mallow, Rathgogan, &c. His second wife was Mathilda de Barry. Those lands are mentioned, with many others, in an inquisition taken the 3d of Edw. III, 1310, by which Juliana de Cogan enfeoffed him in the said lands.

Stanihurst, in his description of Ireland, printed 1586, in Holling Collect p.37, says that Maurice Fitz-Thomas, a Geraldine, was created Earl of Desmond, anno 1300; but falsely, for he was created in 1329, as appears by his patent, dated at Gloucester. He made the following verses for him :-

Evasi tandem, jactatus fluctibus altis

Et precor in portu sit mea tuta ratis

(52) – Gerald Fitz-Gerald, grandson to the above-mentioned earl, and youngest son to Thomas, the eighth earl (who was beheaded at Drogheda, for his unjust exactions, according to Davis; or, according to Russel’s history of this house, which I have in manuscript, by the malice of King Edward the Ivth’s queen, for advising the king not to marry her), built the castle of Mocollop, upon the borders of this county and that of Waterford, and was the founder of the family of Coshbride, a territory in both counties. He was knighted, and married the daughter of Maurice, Lord Roche, Viscount Fermoy, by whom he had James his heir, and Thomas, the father of John, who built the castles of Kilmacow, lately fallen to ruin. There were many of the Fitz-Geralds’ castles in this tract, near the river Bride, those in this county are Mogeely, once a seat of the Earls of Desmond, of which hereafter. Also Connough, built by Thomas Fitz-Gerald Roe, eldest son of James, the fifteenth Earl of Desmond, by a daughter of Maurice, lord Roche, from whom his father was divorced, upon pretence of being too near of kin. This Thomas did not concern himself in the rebellion of his relations, but lived peaceably in his castle of Connough, where he died, anno 1593, and was interred among his ancestors in the Franciscan Abbey at Youghal. He had issue by Elis, daughter of Richard Power, lord of Curraghmore, three sons, James, John, and Gerald, and one daughter, Margaret, who was married to Donald Mac Carty Reagh, and was mother of Cormac or Charles, great grandfather to Donald Mac Carty Reagh, who lived at the time of the revolution.

As this Sir Thomas was set aside by his father, upon pretence of his being illegitimate, the earldom fell to Gerald, who was the eldest son, by a second wife, and daughter to Lord Ely O Carrol, so that Thomas had only the barony of Kilnataloon and the manor of Castlemore, near Cork, assigned him. Vide a grant of lands from James, Earl of Desmond, to this Thomas, in the Bodleian Library, Laud fol 27

After Desmond’s rebellion was over, the eldest son of this Sir Thomas took up arms, joined O Neal, Earl of Tyrone, in his rebellion, and was afterwards known by the name of the Sugane Earl of Desmond, of whom I shall give a further account in the third book of this work.

The Fitz-Geralds of Castle-Martyr, formerly called Seneschals of Imokilly (being so appointed by the Earls of Desmond, who were lords of this barony). Derived themselves from a second son of Maurice, Knight of Kerry, fourth son of John Fitz-Thomas Fitz-Gerald, who was murdered at Callin, in Desmond, by Mac Carty. This estate was given them by their cousin, Thomas Nappah, which they enjoyed till the rebellion of 1641, when it was forfeited by Edmund Fitz-Gerald. Sir John Fitz-Edmond, of Cloyne, was also descended from the house of Desmond.

The whole barony of Kerricurihy was given to Sir Maurice, of Desmond, by his brother James, the 15^th Earl of Desmond. This Sir Maurice murdered James Fitz-Maurice (who was, a little before, returned out of England, to take possession of the earldom upon the death of his grandfather, Thomas Meale, Earl of Desmond), in the barony of Fermoy, as he was going to the county of Limerick. This Sir Thomas, of Desmond, possessed this barony 30 years, and was himself slain, anno 1556, by Dermot Mac Teig Carty, Lord Muskery. He left issue, two sons and three daughters. The eldest daughter was married to Mac Carty Reagh, the second to Lord Roche, and the third to the said Dermot Mac Teig, Lord Muskery. Thomas, the eldest son, soon died after his father’s murder, leaving issue Thomas Oge, who was also slain; but James, his second son, lived long after. He brought the Italian forces to Smirwick, in Kerry, and was slain by the son of William de Burgo, alias Bourk, anno 1579, for which his father was created Lord Baron of Castleconnel. By this rebellion the barony of Kerricurihy became forfeited to the Crown, by Act of Parliament, 28 Eliz. Cap 7.

I shall here only take notice that (as Sir John Davis (53) observes) Maurice Fitz-Gerald, the first Earl of Desmond, raised the greatness of his house by Irish exactions and oppressions; so Gerald, the last Earl, reduced it to nothing by the same means, and, at length, fell into open rebellion, where he perished, with numbers of his followers.

When this last Earl was attainted (September 25, 1582), he was posed of a prodigious estate in the counties of Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, etc; his lands extending 150 miles, and containing 574,628 acres of English measure, on which were many strong castles. He was Lord of the Regalities of the county palatine of Kerry, Lord of Imokilly, in this county, etc. (54) He had a number of vassals, and of his kindred and surname above 500 gentlemen; raised coigne and livery, shragh, etc, upon his tenants, through all the county of Limerick. He had all the wrecks of the sea, through all the ports and creeks of the county of Kerry; 13s 4d out of every fishing-boat in the port of Ventry and Ferreter’s Island. It was asserted that he was able to raise, at a call, 600 horse and 2,000 foot, all which possessions were utterly forfeited, and, by Act of Parliament, vested in the Queen and her heirs, as were

(53) – Historical Collections

(54) – Anno 1418, the manors of Moyallow, Broghil, and Kilcolman, were assigned to Maurice, son of Thomas, the 6^th Earl of Desmond, by his uncle James, who usurped the earldom.

those (55) of his confederates, a great part which were restored to them, as to Patrick Condon and the White Knight their countries; also a considerable quantity to several of the Fitz-Geralds and others….’

(55) – The following persons were, by an inquisition held at Shandon Castle, in Cork, September 9, 1588, found to be concerned in the Earl of Desmond’s rebellion, and were, most of them attainted by Act of Parliament :-

Patrick Condon, of Cloghleigh, Esq.
Sir John Desmond, knt.
John Pigott, Esq.
Sir John Fitz-Gerald, knt.
Sir James Fitz-Gerald, knt.
Edmund Fitz-Gerald Fitz-Gibbon, of Curribehy
Edmund Power, of Ballyinn
Donnough Mac Cormac Oge, of Loughfaily
Dermot Oge O Leary, of Carrignecuragh
Richard Fitz-Garret, of Drumada
Dermot Mac Edmund Oge, of Bantry
Teig Mac Edmund Oge, of the same
Conogher Mac Daniel Mac Rory, of the same
Teig Mac Daniel Mac Rory, of the same
Teig Roe Mac Fineen, of the same
Dermot Mac Fineen, of the same
Eugene Mac Fineen, of the same
Daniel Mac Conogher Mac Mahony, of Rossbrin
Maurice Fitz-Gerald, of Carigoline
Ulick Barret, of Curribehy
Cormac Mac Carty
David Mac Gibbon, of Coshnekily
Maurice Fitz-Edmund Garrett, of Rathcourcey
John Fitz-Garrett Mac Shane, of the Great Wood
Gibbon Roe Mac Shane Oge, of the same
Conogher O Mahony, of Castlemahon
Rory O Donoghoe, of Ross Donoghoe
John Barry, of Ballygoran
James Mac Conogher, of Drumbeg
James Fitz-John, of Poulinkerry
John Fitz-David Condon, of Kilbree
Richard FitzDavid, of Rahenisky
Feneen Mac Art, of Downbolloge
Gerald Fitz-Richard, of Ballynaclashy
Art Mac Donnel Mac Art, of Glanprehan
Thady O Keif, of Knockaregan
Edward Barry, of Bragoge
Richard Magner, of Castle-Magner
John Fitz-Edmond, of Ballymarter
John Fitz-James Fitz-Edmond, of Tymacmague
Garret Fitz-Richard Fitz-Morris, of Ballintemple
John Fitz-Garret, of Drumade
Martin Fitz-Richard Fitz-Gibbon, of Curribehy
John Fitz-Edmond, of Ballycrenan
Patrick Callaghan, of Clonmeene
Richard Rynferk, of Rinkinfecky
Garret Fitz-John, alias Mac Robinson, of Ballymacudy
John Supple, of Ightermurragh
Fordorough Mac William Mac Brien, of Kilnatoragh
William White, of White’s Island
Edmund Fitz-William Oge, of Garran-James
Richard Mac Morris, of Lisquinlan
Gerald Supple, of Ightermuragh
Thomas Mac Carty, of Kilbolane
Theobald Roch, of Creg
James Gare, of the Island of Inchydonny
Teig Mulrian, of Owny O Mulrian

In the same inquisition, the manor of Glyn, alias Cullin, the castle and 30 carucates of land of Cloghroe, the Island of Inchydonny, and the ancient Corporation of Ballynemony, were found to belong to the queen.

The same jury inquired into the death of James Barret, of Barret’s-country, and made a return thereof.

They also presented the names of all persons whom they suspected were apt to work mischief, and were ill-disposed to the government. They also made a return of all the abbeys and religious houses which were in this county, and became annexed to the Crown. They presented the names of such persons, in this county, as held lands of the queen by knight’s service in capite , and died, leaving their heirs in minority, with the quantity and value of all such lands. They returned all such as alienated their lands without licence; also, an account of lands concealed from her Majesty in this county, which fell to the Crown by escheat, attainder, suppression of abbeys, and who were then in possession of them. At the same time, there is another presentment of the grand jury of this county, shewing how, and in what manner, the Earl of Desmond’s rents were paid; and a list of all the Irish poets, chroniclers, and rhymers that were then in this county. All which presentments are preserved in the Lambeth Library, according to a catalogue of them among the MSS in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.

The chief lords and gentlemen in this county, in Queen Elizabeth’s time, were besides those above mentioned :-

The Earl of Clancare
The Lord Viscount Buttevant
The Lord Muskery
The Lord Viscount Roche, of Fermoy
Courcy, Lord Baron of Kingsale and Ringrone
The Bishops of Cork, Ross, and Cloyne
Sir Warham St. Leger
Sir Fineen O Driscoll
Sir Owen O Sullivan
O Donovan
O Callaghan
Mac Auliff; also the

Barrets
Condons
Barry-Oge
Barrys
Cartys
Flemmings (Skiddys)
Meaghs
Waters
Giraldines
Russels
O Kief
Sir Owen Mac Carty Reagh
The Seneschal of Imokilly, &c.

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