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MacCarthy Reagh

Gaelic dynasty branch

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
4 min read
Source updated September 11, 2026

The MacCarthy Reagh (Irish: Mac Cárthaigh Riabhach) dynasty is a branch of the MacCarthy, Kings of Desmond, deriving from the Eóganacht Chaisil sept, who were the princes of Carbery.

01History

The Mac Cárthaigh Riabhach ruled what is now southwestern County Cork including Rosscarbery in the 13th century. Their primary allies in the initially small territory itself were O'Donovans, and members of the Ui Chairpre; both were recent arrivals, gaining their lands from the O'Mahonys of Eóganacht Raithlind and the O'Driscolls of Corcu Loígde. The historical record for this period is very confused and a precise sequence of events cannot be reconstructed. A portion of Carbery was conquered around 1232 by Donal Gott MacCarthy, King of Desmond, from whom the dynasty descend. His son Donal Maol Mac Carthaigh, was the first ruler of the new principality. Their descendants expanded their lands considerably and forged a small territory distinct and independent from the larger Kingdom of Desmond, as well as largely independent from the Earldom of Desmond and from England, which would last into the early-mid 17th century.

Fínghin Mac Carthaigh, the victor for Gaelic Desmond in the Battle of Callann and other campaigns, is considered to belong to the Mhic Carthaigh Riabhach, being a son of Donal Gott. They were in frequent conflict with the line of the MacCarthy Mor, and the MacCarthys of Duhallow and Coshmaine, all of which were generally in conflict with the Fitzgeralds and FitzMaurices which comprised the lines of the Earl of Desmond and the Earl of Kildare, respectively.

The dynasty became very successful during the 14th to 16th centuries, accumulating great wealth and possessing what was at times the most formidable, although not the largest army in the Desmond region. MacCarthy Reagh princes such as Florence MacCarthy were highly active in the politics and wars of Munster. A later branch from Bansha, County Tipperary, descendants of Donal of the Pipes, would relocate to Toulouse in France and be recognised as Counts MacCarthy Reagh (Comtes de Mac-Carthy Reagh). The renowned Jesuit preacher Nicholas Tuite MacCarthy was from this line. From another branch of the dynasty descended several more lines of counts and viscounts in France.

Florence MacCarthy was the compiler of Mac Carthaigh's Book, and the Book of Lismore was commissioned by an earlier member of the dynasty.

The controversial Blessed Thaddeus McCarthy is believed to have belonged to the MacCarthys Reagh.

The line of the Mac Carthaigh Riabhach was not represented among the Gaelic nobility of Ireland granted courtesy recognition.

Carbery in Tudor times
Carbery in Tudor times

02Princes of Carbery

Claimants to the title of Prince of Carbery have included:

  • Donal na Pipi, 17th Prince of Carbery, son of Cormac na Haoine, last Prince of Carbery
    • Cormac MacCarthy Reagh
      • Donal MacCarthy Reagh, "Comte de Carbery" & Lord of Kilbrittain m. Lady Ellen Roche of Fermoy
        • Col. Finghin MacCarthy Reagh, "le comte de MacCarthy-Reagh" (1625-1676) m. Mary
            • Cormac
              • Owen (1691-1775)
                • Cormac m. Catherine Bernard
                  • Francis Bernard MacCarthy Reagh, from whom the "Longfield MacCarthys" stem.
            • Dermot (1658-1728)
              • Donal I MacCarthy Reagh of Gorteenasowna (1690-1758) m. Katherine O'Driscoll
                • Donal II MacCarthy (1735-1814) m. Anna MacCarthy Reagh of Gortnascreeny
                  • Daniel Carty of Cashloura, from whom the McCarthys of Drinagh
                • Cormac McCarty Esq. (d. 1792)
                • Owen MacCarthy
                • Margaret m. Richard O'Neill of Kilmichael, Prince of Ulster (1743-1817)
        • Cormac, Lord of Kilbrittain (d. 1667) m. Ellen McCarthy Mor
      • Owen (d. 1641)
      • Catherine
    • Owen, a quo the Springhouse sept
    • Donough, Proprietor of Kilbrittain
    • Finghin of Bandubh
    • Ellen
    • Julia
    • Teige, Chief of Kilgobane

03MacCarthy Glas/Duna

As patrilineal descendants of the 4th Prince, but not the 5th Prince, the MacCarthys of Dunmanway, belonging to the MacCarthy Glas and MacCarthy Duna septs, are not technically MacCarthys Reagh.

Watch videos about MacCarthy ReaghExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “MacCarthy Reagh”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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