Figure 1. The boundaries of the barony at the time of the Civil Survey (circa 1656).
Figure 1. The boundaries of the barony at the time of the Civil Survey (circa 1656).
Figure 2. The barony has been divided into baronies of East Muskerry and West Muskerry.
Muskerry was carved out of the ancient region of Muscraighe, now the land for East and West Muskerry, Barrymore, and other baronies. These baronies separates Cork City from County Kerry. Much of the history of Cork and Kerry from about 1100 through 1500 in this region is unknown, possibly because of the destruction of monastaries and castles during the Desmond Rebellions as well as the destruction of garrisons during the 1641 rebellion.
In earlier times parts of Muskerry territory were held by the O'Flynns and the O'Mahonys.
Norman invaders pushed inwards, settling along the valley of the River Lee. Eventually the McCarthy Mór prevailed in the region, driving out Norman barons in the 1300's. This branch of McCarthys came to rule the area.
Today the unions (or parts) of Bandon, Cork, and Macroom lie in what is East Muskerry. The unions (or parts) of Macroom, Dunmanway, and Millstreet lie in West Muskerry. Some of the major family names associated with Muskerry are Barry, Leary, Casey, Murphy, Riordan, McCarthy, and Sweeney.
The pages for Muskerry from the 1659 Pender survey did not survive. Nor are there Cromwell confiscation records from O'Hart.
There are surviving Civil Survey records available from 1656.