An Chlann Mhic Cárthaigh Riabhaigh
~
The MacCarthy Reagh Clan
Fortis, Ferox et Celer ~ Tréan, Misniúil, agus Mear
The Full Story
The High Medieval Family
The MacCarthy Reagh (Mac Cárthaigh Riabhach) sept stems from the greater MacCarthy clan, which is headed by The MacCarthy Mór. The sept of MacCarthy Reagh was founded during the high medieval period, in the 13th century. At the hight of castle building and Anglo-Norman relations, the clans of Ireland began to take shape into what they are today.
The MacCarthy Mór
From 1045 A.D. until 1251 A.D. southern Munster was comprised of one territory called the Kingdom of Desmond. During the reign of Donal Mór na Curra MacCarthy (1185-1205), the Anglo-Norman invaders were driven our of Munster. So his son, Donal Goth, reigned from 1205 to 1251, and he was able to dethrone Dermod O'Mahony, Lord of Iveagh, after engaging him in battle at Carrigdurtheacht, circa 1232. During that battle, The O'Cowhig, Chief of Coillsealvy, and three sons of The O'Mahony were killed. It must have been a decisive victory, because it was the beginning of the establishment of the territory of Carbery, and Donal Goth's descendants would lord over that territory for the next three and a half centuries!
The MacCarthy Reagh
Donal Goth died in 1251, having been slain in battle by John FitzThomas, 1st Baron Desmond. Donal was succeeded as King of Desmond by fourth, and then third, sons - eventually passing to his nephew, Donal Roe MacCarthy Mór. But it was Donal Goth's sixth and youngest son, Donal Maol MacCarthy who ultimately succeed him to the lordship of Carbery.
​
Donal Maol fought the de Courcy family in several battles, ultimately winning the family's seat at Kilbrittain Castle from them. This success built upon his father's conquests and so consolidated the territory south of the Lee River, from the Celtic Sea all the way westward to Bantry Bay. As a result, in 1280 he made an agreement with his cousin, Donal Roe, The MacCarthy Mór, which ceded to him "Desmond south of the Lee" and so resulted in the establishment of the Principality of Carbery.
