SOME COUNTY CORK FAMILIES

COFFEY & COWHIG - BARRYROE – Dun-ui-Chobhthaig, in this barony, still marks the site of the ancient residence of the family of Ua Cobhthaigh, now O Coffey, Coffey, and O Cowings [Cowig/Cowhig]. The name Cobhthach denotes victor, or the victorious ; Cobhthach Finn, son of Dunghalech, twelfth in descent from Laghaidh Maccon, is the progenitor after whom the surname was called. The barony was anciently called Trichen ahead Meadhonach, the middle or central cantred.

The barony is studded with old castles, seven of which belonged to the Coffeys, Dundeedy, Dunowen, Dunore, Duneen, Duncowhig, Dunwarley, and Dungarley.’

MURPHY – The Murphys, O Murphys, are descended from Feidhlim, son of Eana Cinsealach, King of Leinster, in the fourth century. There were two branches of the Ui Feidhlema (sons of Feidhlim) – the northern and the southern. On the introduction of surnames the principal family of the northern branch took that of Mac Murchadha Caemhanaigh, Anglice Mac Murrough-Kavanagh, now Kavanagh, without any prefix. The chief family of the southern branch took that of O Murchadha, Anglice formerly O Murrough, now Murphy ; and the family multiplied so much that this is now the most numerous of all the ancient Irish tribes all over Leinster and Munster. This family numbers, in later times, the Right Rev. John Murphy, D. D., Catholic bishop of Cork, Serjeant Murphy, M. P. for the city of Cork, 1841-1846, and 1852 ; Nicholas Daniel Murphy, M. P. for the city of Cork, since 1865 ; and John Nicholas Murphy, author Terra Incognita, and other works. – See Keating’s History of Ireland, page 11, Dublin, 1723 ; the Book of Rights, translated by O Donovan, page 208, Dublin ; Celtic Society, 1847 ; and Mac Geoghan’s History of Ireland, page 168, Dublin, 1844

NOONAN – ‘ The O Nunans or Nunans, some of whom have changed their name to Newman and Newenham, are a clan of the Munster Milesians, and a branch of the same stock as the O Briens, kings of Thomond. It is stated by O Brien, in his Irish dictionary, at the letter U, that the O Nunans were hereditary or protectors of St. Brendan’s church at Tullalais [Tullylease], in the county of Cork, and proprietors of the lands of Tullalais and Castlelissin, under obligation of repairs and all other expenses attending the divine service of that church, to which those lands had been originally given as an allodial endowment by its founder. This district, possessed by the chiefs of the O Nunan’s, comprised the present parish of Tullalais [Tullylease], partly in the barony of Duhallow and partly in that of Orrery, in the county of Cork, and also the lands of Castlelissin, or Castleishen, in the adjoining parish of Knocktemple. All situated between Charleville, Liscarroll, and Newmarket, in the county of Cork, and on the borders of Limerick. The lands possessed by the O Nunan’s amounted to at least twelve thousand acres, and were held by them in perpetuity or by allodial tenure. The O Nunan’s are numerous, and there are many respectable families of the name in Cork, Tipperary, and Limerick.’

O DRISCOLL - ‘CORCA LAIDHE, the original country of the Dairinne, or O Driscolls, and their co-relatives, was originally co-extensive with the diocese of Ross, or Ros-ailethre, of which St. Fachtna of this race, who flourished in the sixth century, was the first bishop. But on the increase of the power and population of the Deirgthine, or race of Oilill Olum, the original territory of the Dairinne was much circumscribed. Long before the English invasion, the Ui-Eathach-Mumhan, or O Mahonys, wrested from them that portion of their territory called Fonn-Tartharach, ie, West-land, otherwise Trahagh, comprising the parishes of Kilmoe, Scoole, Kilcrohane, Durris, Kilmaconoge, and Caheragh, in the barony of West Carbery ; and after the English invasion various encroachments were made upon the lands by the English, and by families of the race of Oilill Olum, then recently driven from their original localities by the English invaders. The Barrys encroached on the eastern side of their principality. The O Sullivans (Ui Suileabhain), who had been originally seated at Cnock Raffonn and Cluain-meala, (Clonmel), in the now county of Tipperary, were driven from thence in the year 1192, when they settled in the mountains of the now counties of Cork and Kerry, and finally wrested from the Darinne, or Cora-Laidhe, the portion of their territories now comprised in the baronies of Beare and Bantry. About the same period the Cairbre Aeldha, or O Donovans, O Collins, etc, who had been seated in the barony of Cois Maighe (Coshma), and in the plain of the west side of the river Maigh (Maigue), in the now county of Limerick, were driven from thence by the Fitzgeralds, and they settled in the present county of Cork, and wrested from the Corca-Laidha a considerable portion of the northern part of their territory. This latter sept transferred their tribe name of Cairbre from the banks of the Maigh, to the south of the Bandon, where it is still retained, applied to an extensive territory, now the four baronies of Carbery. The Corca-Laidhe, though circumscribed, were, however, independent of their new invaders until the year 1232, when Cormac Gott, the third son of MacCarthaigh Mor, acquired dominion over the entire region, now forming the four baronies of Carbery. This event is briefly noticed in the old copy of the Annals of Innisfallen, preserved in the Bodleian Library as follows :-

‘AD 1232. – Domhnall God Mac Carthaigh was taken prisoner by his own brother, Cormac Carthaigh, but he was set at liberty by him at the end of a quarter, and immediately after this Domhnall went at the instance of Maghnus O Cobhthaigh and the daughter of O Mercheartaigh (O Moriarty) to commit and unneighbourly act against Muircheartach O Mathghamhna (O Mahony), a thing which he did, for he slew the three sons of O Mathghamhna and plundered himself, and in consequence of this Domhnall Cairbreach and his race remained in the south from that forth.’

The surrounding tribes still continued to encroach upon the Corca Laidhe, until at length they narrowed their territory to the limits of the following parishes, which, according to the Regal Visitation Book of 1615, constitute the rural deanery of Colleymare and Colleybeg, viz : Myross, Glanbarahane (now Castlehaven), Tullagh, Creagh, Kilcoe, Aghadowne and Cleere. In this territory they built the castles Gleann Bearchain or Castlehaven, Lough-Hyne, Ardagh, Baltimore, Dun-na-n-gall, Dun-Dunanvir in Cape Clear Island, Rincoliskey, and a castle and abbey on Sherkin Island. In 1636, the entire of O Driscoll’s territory, as well as those of the O Donovan’s, O Mahony’s, and several septs of the Mac Carthys, paid tribute to Mac Carthy Reagh.’

O KEEFFE – ‘Pobble O Keeffe, a district in the barony of Duhallow, the country of the O Keeffes or of O Keeffe’s people. The O Keeffes are an important southern sept.

The ancient sept O Keeffe derives its lineage from Aengus, who was king of Munster at the close of the fifth century, and from whom all the great southern families are descended. The Four Masters record the death in 1603 of Ceallagh O Ceamh, and at 1135, they record a battle, in which Fingrisne O Ceamh, lord of Gleannamnach (Glanworth, in Fermoy barony), was slain. In 1161 Hugh O Keeffe, tiarnach (lord) of Fermoy was slain. During these centuries, and up to the English invasion, this family was territorially possessed of Pobble O Keeffe, which extended over what have been since denominated the baronies of Fermoy, Orrery, Kilmore, and Clongibbons. By the native annalists they are sometimes styled Princes of Fermoy, and were hereditary marshals and chief military leaders in Desmond. In the latter capacity it is recorded that Donogh Mac Keeffe, Prince of Fermoy, commanded the Irish forces of Munster in 924 ; and at their head pursuing the Danes into Ulster, obtained a signal victory over them at Dundalk.

Before the invasion, their territory was considerably circumscribed. In 1336 Richard Fitzmaurice was authorised to receive Donald, son of Donald O Keeffe, into the king’s peace, with his retainers, their goods and chattels, with permission for them to reside in a land of peace,’ after giving security for good behaviour.

In the autumn of 1582 the Earl of Desmond made an incursion into Kerry with the object of collecting spoils. Pobble O Keeffe-O Keeffe and his neighbours endeavoured to resist the aggression, but they were overpowered, and O Keeffe himself, ie, Art (son of Donal, son of Art), and his son Art Oge, were taken prisoners, and Hugh, another of his sons, were slain. The death of old Art in 1583, and the inauguration of his son Art, the younger, to the chieftaincy, are also commemorated by the Four Masters.

Thady O Keif, styled of Knockaregan, was one of the numerous Munster proprietors attainted for adhering to the Earl of Desmond.

In 1610 Sir Edward Fitz-Gerald, knight, had a grant of a castle and lands in the county of Cork, parcel of the estates of Teigue O Quiefe, attainted two years after which Arthur O Keeffe, of Dromagh, in the same county, passed patent for various castles, lands, tithes, etc., which where thereupon erected into the manor of Dromagh, with markets, fairs, courts, and tolls.

In 1619 he had a further grant of the manor, castle, and mill of Dunbullog, with various townlands, the advowson of the vicarage, and liberty to impark 200 acres, to create tenures, hold courts leet and baron, enjoy all waifs and strays, etc. The confistications consequent upon the Desmond war, and those resulting from the civil war of 1641, greatly despoiled this family. The attainders on the latter occasion includes the names of four of the sept, viz, Cornelius Oge O Keeffe, of Cullin ; Keeffe-O Keeffe, of Kilcoleman ; Donogh, son of Daniel O Keeffe, and Donogh O Keeffe Oge, the two last being described as of Dromagh.

The last parcel of their territory, containing about 9,000 acres, and still bearing testimony of its ancient proprietary by its designation of ‘Pobble O Keeffe,’ remained in the hands of the Crown, as an undisposed forfeiture, until a very recent period, when it was sold by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests.

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