An Chlann Mhic Cárthaigh Riabhaigh
~
The MacCarthy Reagh Clan

Like any other country, the ancient Irish had a social hierarchy. While it's true that the Irish kings and chiefs operated very differently from other European monarchs, and it was actually partly meritocracy which dictated who belonged in which stratum of society, there was still a strict social order which governed society. 

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Of course, at the top were the kings. And in order of descending precedence they were:

1. Ard Rí  (the High King) - the King of all Ireland, but was a mostly ceremonial position

2. Ri Cuicidh  (a Provincial King) - this would have been the rank of The MacCarthy Mór

3. Rí Mór Túatha (lit. King of the Great Túath) - this would have been the rank of The MacCarthy Reagh

4. Rí Túatha  (King of the Túath) - this would have been a sept Chieftain

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The ancient clan system was held together by a strong sense of community, and because of this, the authority of the chiefs and kings was restricted by the Brehon Laws and was truly beholden to the clan itself. Indeed, to cite Laurence Ginnell's 1894 book The Brehon Laws: A Legal Handbook:

“The king was not in any sense the maker of the law, but its officer, and so limited and hemmed round in his office, and so dependent on his clan, that it was easier and safer for him to conform to the intention of the law and promote the welfare of his people than to become either negligent or despotic. The office of Rig, of whatever rank, was always elective, as was the office of king anciently among the Saxons.” (Ginnell, p. 66)

 

“The method of choosing the king was not fully one of merit, nor fully elective, nor fully hereditary, but a combination of all three: and on the whole the office resembled as much that of president of a republic as it did that of a modern king.” (Ginnell, pp. 67-68)

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But beneath the kings and chiefs was the flaith (pronounced like 'flah'). The class of flaith was the class of nobility, but unlike the modern aristocracy there weren't five or six ranks of nobility (i.e. duke, marquess, earl, viscount, baron, and sometimes knight). In the Gaelic-Irish structure there was only the Ard Tiarna (the Lord Paramount), the Tiarna (the Lord, or sometimes called Baron) and the office holder. Certain offices within a chiefly, or royal, household were ranks of nobility in their own right.

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It can be sometimes difficult to say in retrospect (having few surviving written documents) precisely which people/holdings/chiefships held what noble rank historically. But understanding that the owner of a particular castle or fortified house would necessarily have been Lord of the immediate surrounds, it is fair to say that in Carbery, sub-ordinate to The MacCarthy Reagh, were the noble holdings of:

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These lordships had The MacCarthy Reagh as their immediate overlord:

Baron of Carriganassig ~ Tiarna Charraig an Easaigh

Baron of Coolmain ~ Tiarna Chúl Méine

Baron of Dundaniel ~ Tiarna Dhún Dónaill

Baron of Gortnaclogh ~ Tiarna Ghort na gCloch

Baron of Lettertinlish ~ Tiarna Leitir an tSinlis

Baron of Downeen ~ Tiarna an Dúinín

Baron of Kilgobbin ~ Tiarna Chill Ghobáin

Baron of Banduff ~ Tiarna an Bháin Duibh

Baron of Ballyourane ~ Tiarna Bhaile Uí Óráin

Baron of Phale ~ Tiarna an Fhéil

Baron of Rosscarbery ~ Tiarna Ros Ó gCairbre

Baron of Murragh ~ Tiarna Mhaigh Rátha

Baron of Skeaf ~ Tiarna Scéimhe

Baron of Kilshinahan ~ Tiarna Chill tSeancháin

Baron of Burrane ~ Tiarna Bharráin

Baron of Burren ~ Tiarna Bhoirne

Baron of Monteen ~ Tiarna Mhóintín

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Lord Paramount of Clandermod ~ Ard Tiarna Clainne Diarmada

(held by the Chief of the MacCarthy Reagh sept 'Clan Dermod') who was overlord of:

Baron of Kilcoe ~ Tiarna Chill Chóiche

Baron of Cloghan ~ Tiarna an Chlocháin

    

Lord Paramount of Durrus ~ Ard Tiarna Dhúrais

(held by the Chief of the MacCarthy Mór sept 'Mucklagh') who was overlord of:

Baron of Scart ~ Tiarna na Scairte

Baron of Coolnalong ~ Tiarna Chúil na Long

Baron of Baurgorm ~ Tiarna an Bhairr Ghoirm

Baron of Rossmore ~ Tiarna an Rois Mhóir

 

Lord Paramount of Clancrimen ​~ Ard Tiarna Clainne Crimen

(held by the Chief of the MacCarthy Reagh sept 'Clan Crimeen') who was overlord of:

Baron of Dromgarriff ~ Tiarna an Droma Ghairbh

Baron of Gallanes ~ Tiarna an Ghalláin

Baron of Garraneishal ~ Tiarna an Gharráin Ísil

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Lord Paramount of Gleannachroim ~ Ard Tiarna Ghleann na Croime

(held by the Chief of the MacCarthy Glas sept) who was overlord of:

Baron of Dunmanway ~ Tiarna Dhún Mánmhaí

Baron of Togher ~ Tiarna an Tóchair

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Lord Paramount of Baltimore & Baron of Collymore ~ Ard Tiarna Dhún na Séad & Tiarna na Binne Móire

(held by the Chief of the O'Driscoll Clan) who was overlord of:

Baron of Dunasead ~ Tiarna Dhún na Séad

Baron of Castlehaven ~ Tiarna Ghleann Bearcháin

Baron of Dunnalong ~ Tiarna Dhún na Long

Baron of Dunnagall ~ Tiarna Dhún na nGall

Baron of Collybeg ~ Tiarna na Binne Bige

(held by the Chief of the O'Driscoll sept 'Collybeg'), who was overlord of:

Baron of Aghadown ~ Tiarna Achadh Dúin

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Lord Paramount of Ivahagh ~ Ard Tiarna Uíbh Ráthaigh

(held by the Chief of the O'Mahony Fine Clan) who was overlord of:

Baron of Ardintenant ~ Tiarna Ard an Teannáin

Baron of Leamcon ~ Tiarna Léim Con

Baron of Dunbeacon ~ Tiarna Dhún Béacáin

Baron of Dunmanus ~ Tiarna Dhún Mánais

Baron of Ballydivlin ~ Tiarna Bhéal Duibhlinne

Baron of Dunlough ~ Tiarna Dhún Locha

Baron of Rossbrin ~ Tiarna Ros Brain

 

Lord Paramount of Kinalmeaky ~ Ard Tiarna Chineál mBéice

(held by the Chief of the O'Mahony Clan) who was overlord of:

Baron of Castle Mahon ~ Tiarna Chaisleán Uí Mathúna

 

Lord Paramount of Clancahil ~ Ard Tiarna Clainne Cathail

(held by the Chief of the O'Donovan Clan) who was overlord of:

Baron of Castledonovan ~ Tiarna Chaisleán Uí Dhonnabháin

Baron of Raheen ~ Tiarna an Ráithín

Baron of Tooreen ~ Tiarna an Tuairín

Baron of Caheragh ~ Tiarna Chathrach

Baron of Behagullane ~ Tiarna Bheithe an Ghalláin

 

Lord Paramount of Clanloghlin ~ Ard Tiarna Clainne Lóchrainn

(held by the Chief of the O'Donovan sept 'Clan Loughlin') who was overlord of:

Baron of Glandore ~ Tiarna Chuan Dor

Baron of Derryleamleary ~ Tiarna Dhoire Léim Laoghaire

Baron of Fahanacowley ~ [translation uncertain]

Baron of Kippagh ~ Tiarna na Ceapaí

Baron of Farranmareen ~ Tiarna Fhearann Mháirín

Baron of Aghaduff ~ Tiarna Achadh Dubh

 

Lord Paramount of Kilshallow ~ Ard Tiarna Chill Ó Sealbhaigh

(held by the Chief of the O'Crowley Clan) who was overlord of:

Baron of Castlecrowley ~ Tiarna Chaisleán Uí Cruadhlaoich

Baron of Dromfeagh ~ Tiarna Dhrom Fia

Baron of Connagh ~ Tiarna Chonach

Baron of Lisselane ~ Tiarna Lios Fhaoláin

Baron of Dromidiclogh ~ Tiarna Dhrom an Tí Cloiche

Baron of Curraghcrowley ~ Tiarna an Churraigh Cruadhlaoich

Baron of Buckree ~ Tiarna Bhocraí

Baron of Kinneigh ~ Tiarna Chinn Eich

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Lord Paramount of Barryoge ~ Ard Tiarna Bharrach Óig

who was overlord of:

Baron of Ballinaclashet ~ Tiarna Bhaile na Claise

Baron of Ringcurran ~ Tiarna Rinn Chorráin

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Lord Paramount of Barryroe ~ Ard Tiarna Bharrach Rua

who was overlord of:

Baron of Castlearundel ~ Tiarna Chaisleán Arundel

Baron of Timoleague ~ Tiarna Thigh Molaige

Baron of Courtmacsherry ~ Tiarna Chúirt Mhic Shéafraidh

Baron of Rathbarry ~ Tiarna Ráth an Bharraigh

Baron of Ballinlough ~ Tiarna Bhaile an Locha

Baron of Hayescastle ~ Tiarna Hae an Chaisleáin

Baron of Aghamilla ~ Tiarna Achadh Meille

Baron of Dunnycove ~ Tiarna Dhún Ó Cobhthaigh

Baron of Dunworly ~ Tiarna Dhún Urlainn

Baron of Dundeady ~ Tiarna Dhún dTéide

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Lord Paramount of Dromnea ~ Ard Tiarna Dhrom an Fhéich

(held by the Chief of the O'Daly Clan)

 

Lord Paramount of Ballynacarriga ~ Ard Tiarna Bhaile na Carraige

(held by the Chief of the O'Hurley Clan) who was overlord of:

Baron of Ballinvard ~ Tiarna Bhaile an Bhaird

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Lord Paramount of Coppingers Court ~ Ard Tiarna Chúirt an Choipinéaraigh

who was overlord of:

Baron of Lissangle ~ Tiarna Lios Aingil

Baron of Derrynalane ~ Tiarna Dhoire na Lainne

Baron of Coornishal ~ Tiarna Chuar Níseal

Baron of Kilfinnan ~ Tiarna Chill Fhíonáin

Baron of Rincolisky ~ Tiarna Rinn Chúil Uisce

Baron of Oldcourt ~ Tiarna na Seanchúirte

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Of course, while each overlord was given tribute by their respective barons, it was common that a baron was a member of another clan. For example the Baron of Tooreen, who was also Chief of The O’Crowley Baccach sept, was subordinate to The O’Donovan, the Lord Paramount of Clancahil. 

 

So The O’Crowley Baccach held Tooreen castle on behalf of The O'Donovan, but was familial loyal to The O’Crowley; all of whom were working together to ensure the protection and success of The MacCarthy Reagh's territory of Carbery! 

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Similarly, The O’Crowley Riough held Ballinacarriga of The O'Hurley, but he also held Phale and Rosscarbery of The MacCarthy Reagh; The O’Crowley Ciappach held Kippagh, Farranmareen and Aghaduff of The O'Donovan of Clanloughlin; The O’Crowley MacFyneen held Dromgarriff, Gallanes and Garraneishal of The MacCarthy of Clancrimen; and many more like this!

 

If the nation went to war The O'Crowley would need to coordinate with The O'Donovan and The O'Hurley (just to name two) to organize which troops would be stationed where. O'Crowley had chiefly authority over his kin manning Farranmareen and Ballinacarriga Castles, but The O'Hurley and The O'Donovan had military authority over those  fortified estates and territories respectively. So which authority took precedence? Such a complex system could only have worked with a tremendous amount of cooperation from all families, working towards a common goal - support The MacCarthy Reagh family and defend Carbery. 

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We can only now begin to image how complex, intertwined and strong the Irish social structure was! So many families all with mixed obligations and allegiances to each other, all working together to form a singular nation -the Principality of Carbery.