MacCarthy Mor dynasty

MacCarthy Mac Cárthaigh
Arms of MacCarthy
Parent family	Eóganachta
Country	Kingdom of Munster Kingdom of Desmond
Founder	Cárthach mac Saorbhreathach
Final ruler	Florence MacCarthy
Titles	King of Munster King of Desmond Prince of Carbery Lord of Kerslawny Lord of Coshmaing Lord of Molahiffe Earl of Clancarty Viscount Muskerry Count of Toulouse
Cadet branches	MacCarthy Reagh MacCarthy of Muskerry

MacCarthy (Irish: Mac Cárthaigh), also spelled Macarthy, McCarthy or McCarty, is an Irish clan originating from Munster, an area they ruled during the Middle Ages. It was divided into several great branches; the MacCarthy Reagh, MacCarthy of Muskerry, and MacCarthy of Duhallow dynasties were the three most important of these.

Their name, meaning "son of Cárthach" (whose name meant "loving"), is a common surname that originated in Ireland. As a surname, its prevalent spelling in the English language is McCarthy. Several variants are found, such as McCarty (most common in North America) as well as Carthy and Carty (though these latter are also the Anglicization of an unrelated name, Ó Cárthaigh). Sixty percent of people with the surname in Ireland still live in County Cork where the family was very powerful in the Middle Ages.^{[citation needed]}

Naming conventions[]

History[]

The origin of the name begins with Carthach, an Eóganacht Chaisil king, who died in 1045 in a house fire deliberately started by one of the Lonergans (who were members of the Eóganacht's arch-enemies, the Dál gCais). Carthach was a contemporary and bitter rival of High King Brian Boru, and what would become known as the McCarthy Clan was pushed out of its traditional homelands in the Golden Vale of Tipperary by the expansion of the O'Brien sept in the middle of the twelfth century.

Carthach's son was known as Muireadhach mac Carthaigh (meaning "Muireadhach, son of Carthach"). Such ephemeral patronymics were common at the time. However, when Muireadhach died in 1092 his sons Tadhg and Cormac adopted Mac Carthaigh as an actual surname. Following the treaty of Glanmire in 1118, dividing the kingdom of Munster into Desmond and Thomond, this Tadhg became the first king of Desmond, comprising parts of the modern counties of Cork and Kerry. For almost five centuries they dominated much of Munster, with four major branches: those led by the MacCarthy Mór (Great MacCarthy), nominal head of all the MacCarthys, who ruled over much of south Kerry, the , who controlled north-west Cork; MacCarthy Reagh or Riabhach ('grey') based in the Barony of Carbery in south-west Cork; and MacCarthy Muskerry, on the Cork / Kerry border.

Each of these families continued resistance to Norman and English encroachment up to the seventeenth century when, like virtually all the Gaelic aristocracy, they lost almost everything. An exception was Macroom Castle, which passed to the White family of Bantry House, descendants of Cormac Láidir Mac Cárthaigh. This was burnt in 1922 and is part of the local golf club today. [1]

The Muskerry McCarthy's historical seat is Blarney Castle in County Cork. Legend has it that the Blarney Stone was given as a gift to Cormac MacCarthy, King of Desmond, from king Robert the Bruce of Scotland, who presented the 'magical' stone in gratitude for his assistance in the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The third castle built on the site (the castle which stands to this day) was built by another McCarthy descendant, Dermot McCarthy, in 1446. Dermot was known for his eloquence, hence the Blarney Stone's reputation for imparting the gift of the gab upon those who kiss it.

The number of references to the MacCarthys in the annals, especially the "Annals of Innisfallen", is very great. Carthach was the son of Saoirbhreathach, a Gaelic name which is anglicised as Justin, and in the latter form has been in continuous use among many branches of the McCarthys for centuries. Another male forename similarly associated with them is Finghin, anglice Fineen, but for some centuries past, the name Florence (colloquially Flurry) has been used as its English form. From the thirteenth century, when Fineen MacCarthy decisively defeated the Geraldines in 1261, down to the present day, Fineen or Florence MacCarthys and Justin MacCarthys have been very prominent among the many distinguished men of the name in Irish military, political and cultural history.

Until the dissolution of the kingdom in 1596, the crown was vested in the hereditary possession of the Mac Carthy (by the law of tanistry).

Septs[]

Eleven septs of the illustrious McCarthy family in Kerry are given in Kings History of Co. Kerry

• (1) Sliocht Owen More of Coshmaing
• (2) Sliocht Cormaic of Dunguile
• (3) Sliocht Fineen Duff of Ardeanaght
• (4) Sliocht Clan Donell Finn
• (5) Sliocht nInghean Riddery
• (6) Sliocht Donell Brick
• (7) Sliocht Nedeen
• (8) Sliocht Clan Teige Kittagh
• (9) Sliocht Clan Dermod
• (10) Sliocht Clan Donell Roe
• (11) Sliocht MacFineen

The MacCarthys are closely related to a number of other Munster families. These include the O'Sullivans, O'Callaghans, O'Keeffes, O'Donoghues, and O'Donovans. An early sept of the MacCarthys themselves are the MacAuliffes.

Rulers of the Kingdom of Desmond, the MacCarthys stood among the greatest Irish dynasties of the last millennium.

Notable people[]

• Florence MacCarthy, Irish prince, 1563–1640
• , Irish noble, d. 1536
• , great-grandson of Cormac MacCarthy, Lord of Muskerry, d. 1616
• and , son of Sir Cormac MacCarthy, d. 1640
• Donagh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry and Earl of Clancarty, son of Sir Cormac MacCarthy, d. 1665
• Charles MacCarthy, soldier in French and later English service, d. 1665
• Justin MacCarthy, Viscount Mountcashel, younger son of Donough MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry, d. 1694
• Donough MacCarthy, 4th Earl of Clancarty, grandson of Donough MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry, 1670–1734
• Nicholas Tuite MacCarthy, renowned Jesuit Preacher, 1769–1833
• Charles MacCarthy, Irish-born soldier who served in the French, Dutch and British armies, 1764–1824
• Robert MacCarty, Viscount Muskerry, Irish Royal Navy officer and colonial administrator, 1685–1769

Kings of Desmond 1118–1596[]

• Tadhg, eldest son of Muiredach, 1118–1123
• Cormac Mac Cárthaigh, his brother, 1123–1127 & 1127–1138
• Donogh, his brother, 1127 & 1138–1143
• Dermod, his nephew, 1143–1185
• Donal, his son, 1185–1206
• Fingen, his brother, 1206–1207
• Dermod, son of Donal, 1207–1229
• Cormac, his younger brother, 1229–1247
• Donal Gott MacCarthy, 1247–1252
• Fínghin of the Battle of Callann, 1252–1261
• Cormac, younger brother, 1261–1262
• Donal, eldest surviving son of Cormac, 1262–1302
• Donal, eldest son of Donal, 1302–1306
• Donogh, brother of Donal, 1306–1310
• Dermod, son of Donal, 1310–1326
• Cormac, brother of Dermod, 1326–1359
• Donal, son of Cormac, 1359–1390
• Tadhg, son of Donal, 1390–1428
• Donal, eldest son of Tadhg, 1428–1469
• Tadhg, brother of Donal, 1469–1503
• Donal, son of Tadhg, 1503–1508
• Cormac, brother of Donal, 1508–1516 & Tadhg IV, son of Donall, 1508–1514
• Donal, son of Cormac, 1516 – ante 1558
• Donal, ante 1558–1596

McCarthy[]

• Andre McCarthy (born 1987), Jamaican cricketer
• Andrew McCarthy (born 1962), American actor
• Andrew McCarthy (footballer) (born 1998), Scottish footballer
• Andrew C. McCarthy (born 1959), American attorney and columnist
• Arch McCarthy, American baseball pitcher
• Benni McCarthy (born 1977), South African footballer
• Bernard McCarthy (1874–1948) New Zealand cricketer, lawyer and papal knight
• Bernie McCarthy (1943–2019), Australian rules footballer
• Brandon McCarthy (born 1983), American baseball pitcher
• Carolyn McCarthy (born 1944), U.S. congresswoman
• Charles McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Chris McCarthy (1931–2009), American racewalker
• Claire McCarthy (born 1976), Irish marathon runner
• Clem McCarthy (1882–1962), American sports announcer
• Con McCarthy (1893–1975), Australian rules footballer
• Con McCarthy (rugby league) (1894–1968), New Zealand rugby league player
• Cormac McCarthy (born 1933), Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist
• Dalton McCarthy (1836–1898), Canadian lawyer and politician
• Daniel McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• David McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Dennis McCarthy (composer) (born 1945), composer of film scores
• Dominic McCarthy (1892–1975), Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Don McCarthy (1955–2018), British entrepreneur
• Douglas McCarthy (born 1966), English singer
• E. Jerome McCarthy (1928–2015), American marketing scholar and inventor of 4Ps of marketing
• Earl McCarthy (born 1969), Irish freestyle swimmer
• Edward McCarthy, American police chief
• Edward A. McCarthy (1918–2005), American Roman Catholic archbishop
• Edward Joseph McCarthy (1850–1931), Canadian Roman Catholic archbishop
• Ellis McCarthy (born 1994), American football player
• Eugene McCarthy (1916–2005), U.S. congressman and senator
• Fabian "Fabe" McCarthy (born 1919), Australian rugby union player
• Francis X. McCarthy (born 1942), American actor
• Garry McCarthy (born 1959), American police administrator in Newark and Chicago
• Glenn McCarthy (1907–1988), American oil tycoon and businessman
• Harry McCarthy, variety entertainer, wrote "The Bonnie Blue Flag" in 1861
• J. P. McCarthy (1933–1995), American radio personality
• J. Thomas McCarthy (born 1937), American educator, author and attorney
• James McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Jenny McCarthy (born 1972), American anti-vaccine activist and former Playboy model and actress
• Joe McCarthy (manager) (1887–1978), American baseball manager
• John McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• John McCarthy (composer) (born 1961), composer of film scores
• Joseph McCarthy (1908–1957), U.S. senator
• Joseph McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Justin McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Kate McCarthy (born 1992), Australian rules footballer
• Kate McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Katie McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Kevin McCarthy (actor) (1914–2010), American film actor
• Kevin McCarthy (California politician), U.S. Representative (2007–present) and House Minority Leader (2019–present)
• Kevin McCarthy (cricketer) (born 1945), Australian cricketer
• Leo T. McCarthy (1930–2007), Californian politician and businessman
• Lincoln McCarthy (born 1993), Australian rules footballer
• Maeve McCarthy, Irish mathematician
• Margaret McCarthy, Irish-American migrant
• Mary McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Matt McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Melissa McCarthy (born 1970), American actress and comedian
• Michael McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Mick McCarthy (born 1959), English football player and manager
• Mick McCarthy (footballer, born 1911), Irish footballer
• Mick McCarthy (Gaelic footballer) (1965–1998), Irish Gaelic footballer
• Mike McCarthy (born 1963), American football coach
• Nicholas McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Nobu McCarthy (1934–2002), Japanese-Canadian actress and model
• Patrick McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Paul McCarthy (born 1945), American contemporary artist
• Pete McCarthy (1952–2004), pen name of Peter Charles Robinson, British broadcaster and travel writer
• Peter McCarthy (industrialist) (1845–1919), American industrialist and philanthropist
• Rachel McCarthy (born 1984), English poet, critic and broadcaster
• Rashawn McCarthy (born 1989), Filipino-American basketball player
• Richard McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Rick McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Robert McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Rory McCarthy, (born 1975), Irish hurler
• Shaun Lloyd McCarthy (1928–2000), aka Desmond Cory, British novelist and screenwriter
• Stephen McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Steve McCarthy (boxer) (born 1962), British boxer
• Steve McCarthy (ice hockey) (born 1981), Canadian ice hockey player
• Thaddeus McCarthy (1455–1492), Irish bishop
• Thaddeus McCarthy (jurist) (1907–2001), New Zealand jurist
• Thomas McCarthy (disambiguation), several people
• Tim McCarthy (born 1949), US Secret Service agent injured in assassination attempt on President Reagan
• Tom McCarthy (director) (born 1966), American film director, screenwriter, and actor
• Tom McCarthy (novelist) (born 1969), English novelist
• Tom McCarthy (sportscaster) (born 1968), American sportscaster
• Tom McCarthy (trade unionist) (c. 1862 – 1899) British Irish trade unionist
• Tommy McCarthy (1863–1922), American baseball player
• Winston McCarthy (1908–1984), New Zealand radio sports commentator

McCarty[]

• Calvin McCarty (born 1984), Canadian football running back
• Carolyn A. McCarty (fl. 2019), American psychologist
• Daniel T. McCarty (1912–53), American politician
• Darren McCarty (born 1972), Canadian hockey player
• David McCarty (born 1969), American baseball player
• David McCarty (American football) (born 1987), American football player
• Dax McCarty (born 1987), American soccer player
• Ernest McCarty (born 1941), American musician and playwright
• (Born 1971) American Blacksmith and Cutler
• Henry "Billy the Kid" McCarty (died 1881), American outlaw
• J. D. McCarty (1916–1980), American politician from Oklahoma
• Jim McCarty (born 1943), English pop/rock musician
• Jim McCarty (guitarist) (born 1947), American blues/rock musician
• John McCarty (fl. 1880s), American baseball player
• John McCarty (New York) (1782–1851), New York politician
• Ken McCarty (born 1958), American politician
• Leon McCarty (1888–1962), American college sports coach
• Luther McCarty (1892–1913), American heavyweight boxer
• Maclyn McCarty (1911–2005), American geneticist
• Mary McCarty (1923–1980), American actress, singer, dancer, and comedienne
• Mary McCarty (1931–2009), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
• Richard McCarty (disambiguation), several people
• Ted McCarty (1910–2001), American electric guitar maker
• Walter McCarty (born 1974), American basketball player
• William M. McCarty (c. 1789 – 1863), American politician

MacCarthy[]

• Denis Florence MacCarthy, Irish poet, translator, and biographer, 1818–1882
• Desmond MacCarthy, English critic, 1878–1952
• Fiona MacCarthy (1940–2020), British biographer and cultural historian

See also[]

• Sliocht Cormaic of Dunguile
• Gaelic nobility of Ireland

References[]

Bibliography[]

• Burke, Bernard and Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, Burke's Irish Family Records, or Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland. London: Burke's Peerage Ltd. 5th edition, 1976.
• Byrne, Francis J., Irish Kings and High-Kings. Four Courts Press. 2nd edition, 2001.
• Cronnelly, Richard F., Irish Family History Part II: A History of the Clan Eoghan, or Eoghanachts. Dublin. 1864.
• D'Alton, John, Illustrations, Historical and Genealogical, of King James's Irish Army List, 1689 2 vols. London: J.R. Smith. 2nd edition, 1861.
• Laffan, Thomas (1911). Tipperary Families : Being The Hearth Money Records for 1665–1667. James Duffy & Co.
• O'Donovan, John (ed. and tr.), Annála Ríoghachta Éireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, from the Earliest Period to the Year 1616. 7 vols. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin. 1848–51. 2nd edition, 1856.
• O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees Dublin. 5th edition, 1892.
• Ó hInnse, Séamus (ed. and tr.) and Florence MacCarthy, Mac Carthaigh's Book, or Miscellaneous Irish Annals (A.D. 1114–1437). Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. 1947.
• O'Keeffe, Eugene (ed. and tr.), Eoganacht Genealogies from the Book of Munster. Cork. 1703. (available here)

External links[]

• The McCarthy Clan Gathering 2013
• MacCarthy Mór Pedigree at Library Ireland
• The MacCarthys and the Nine Years War in Munster, 1595-1603 at The Irish Story
• Centuries of ‘lost’ MacCarthy lore returned at Irish Examiner
• McCarthy at Araltas