MacCarthy of Muskerry

The MacCarthy dynasty of Muskerry is a tacksman branch of the MacCarthy Mor dynasty, the Kings of Desmond.

MacCarthy Mac Cárthaigh
Parent family	MacCarthy Mor
Founded	1353
Founder	Dermot, 1st Lord of Muskerry
Final ruler	Donogh, 4th Earl of Clancarty
Titles	Lord of Muskerry, Viscount Muskerry, and Earl of Clancarty
Estate(s)	Muskerry

Origins and advancement

Family tree

The main line of the MacCarthys of Muskerry.[a] Dermot 1st Lord 1310–1367 Cormac 2nd Lord d. 1374 Teige 6th Lord 1380–1448 Owen 7th Lord Cormac 8th Lord Cormac Laidir 9th Lord 1411–1494 Mary Fitzmaurice Owen MacCarthy d. 1498 Cormac Oge Laidir 10th Lord 1447–1536 Catherine Barry Teige 11th Lord 1472–1565 Callaghan 12th Lord Dermot 13th Lord 1501–1570 Ellen FitzGerald Cormac 14th Lord d. 1583 tanist Callaghan 15th Lord tanist resigned 1584 Donogh O'Brien 4th Earl Thomond d. 1624 Cormac MacDermot 16th Lord 1552–1616 Mary Butler Margaret O'Brien d. c. 1599 Charles 1st Viscount Muskerry d. 1641 Ellen Roche Donough 1st Earl 1594–1665 Eleanor Butler 1612–1682 Charles Viscount Muskerry** c. 1633 – 1665 d.v.p.* Margaret Bourke d. 1698 Callaghan 3rd Earl d. 1676 Elizabeth FitzGerald d. 1698 Justin Viscount Mountcashel c. 1643 – 1694 Charles James 2nd Earl 1663–1666 infant Donough 4th Earl 1668–1734 Elizabeth Spencer 1671–1704 Robert MacCarty 1698–1769 Elizabeth Farnelly Legend XXX Lords & Viscounts Muskerry, as well as Earls of Clancarty XXX Viscount Mountcashel *d.v.p. = predeceased his father (decessit vita patris) **courtesy title

The MacCarthy of Muskerry are a cadet branch of the MacCarthy Mor, Kings of Desmond. This cadet branch was founded by Dermot MacCarthy, 1st Lord of Muskerry, second son of Cormac MacCarthy Mor, King of Desmond,^[10] who was in 1353 created Lord of Muskerry by the English.^[11] This title's position is unclear. Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, 9th Lord of Muskerry was called Dominus and F. Dermot's descendant Cormac Oge MacCarthy, 17th Lord of Muskerry, was in 1628 created Charles MacCarthy, 1st Viscount Muskerry, and his son, the 2nd Viscount Muskerry, was in 1658 created Donough MacCarty, 1st Earl of Clancarty.

Lands

The family's ancestral lands of were situated along the River Lee in the baronies of Muskerry West and Muskerry East, in central County Cork west of the City of Cork.

Castles

• Blarney Castle, enlarged by Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, 9th Lord of Muskerry
• Carrigaphooca Castle, built by Dermot McCarthy of Drishane Castle.^[12]
• Castle Salem, Cork
• Kilcrea Castle, built by Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, 9th Lord of Muskerry
• Macroom Castle
• Carrigadrohid castle.
• Carrignamuck Tower House

Monasteries

Kilcrea Friary, built by Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, 9th Lord of Muskerry

Blarney Stone

The Blarney Stone passed from MacCarthy hands during the Williamite wars. Following the forfeiture by Donogh McCarthy, 4th Earl of Clancarthy, the castle property passed to the Hollow Sword Blade Company who subsequently sold it to Sir James St. John Jefferyes, Governor of Cork in 1688.

Downfall

Donough MacCarthy, 4th Earl of Clancarty fought in the Williamite War in Ireland for James II of England against William III of England. He was attainted at the defeat in 1691 and the MacCarthys of Muskerry lost the noble titles of Earl of Clancarty, Viscount Muskerry, and Baron Blarney.^[13]

The titles of Mountcashel and Baron Castleinch, of the (1689 creation, went extinct with the death of Justin MacCarthy in 1694. At that date the MacCarthys of Muskerry had therefore lost all their noble titles in the peerage of Ireland.