Cormac na Haoine MacCarthy Reagh facts for kids

Cormac na Haoine MacCarthy Reagh (born around 1490, died 1567) was an important Irish leader. He was the 13th Prince of Carbery, a large area in southwest Ireland. Cormac ruled over a huge amount of land, nearly half a million acres!

Cormac's Early Life and Family

Cormac was born in a place called Carbery around the year 1490. He was the oldest son of Donal MacCarthy Reagh and his mother, Eleanor FitzGerald. His father, Donal, was the 12th Prince of Carbery before him.

Cormac's family, the MacCarthy Reaghs, were a powerful Irish family. They were part of an even bigger family called the MacCarthy-Mor line. Their history goes way back to Donal Gott MacCarthy, who was a medieval King of Desmond. One of Donal Gott's sons, Donal Maol MacCarthy Reagh, became the first independent ruler of Carbery.

Cormac's mother, Eleanor FitzGerald, came from another important family called the Geraldines. They were known as "Old English" families in Ireland.

Carbery in Tudor times

A Battle for Power

Cormac was involved in a battle around 1520 or 1521. It was called the Battle of Mourne, or sometimes Cluhar and Moor. This battle was part of a fight between two parts of the FitzGerald family of Desmond.

In this fight, Thomas FitzThomas FitzGerald defeated his nephew, James FitzGerald. Thomas then became the 11th Earl of Desmond. Cormac's family got involved because Thomas FitzThomas was allied with Cormac Oge Laidir MacCarthy, who was Cormac's future father-in-law. Cormac led his father's soldiers in this battle against the 11th Earl of Desmond, and they won.

Becoming Prince of Carbery

In 1530, Cormac's father passed away. Cormac then took over as the 13th Prince of Carbery. This meant he became the main leader of the Carbery region.

Cormac's Family Life

Cormac married a woman named Julia. She was the daughter of Cormac Oge Laidir MacCarthy, 10th Lord of Muskerry. This was Cormac's first marriage, but Julia had been married before. Her first husband, Gerald Fitzmaurice, 15th Baron Kerry, had died in 1550.

Cormac and Julia had two sons and four daughters:

• Sons:
  • Donal na Pipi, who later became the 17th Prince of Carbery.
  • Dermond na-Glac MacCarthy.
• Daughters:
  • Catherine, who married John Butler of Kilcash. He was the father of Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormond.
  • Honoria, who married her distant cousin, Owen MacDonogh MacCarthy, the Prince of Duhallow.
  • Ellinor, who married her cousin, Dermod MacCarthy of Enniskean.
  • Ellen, who married twice. Her first husband was Sir James FitzGerald, Lord of Decies (who died in 1581). Her second husband was James FitzRichard de Barry, Lord Ibane and 4th Viscount Buttevant. He was an ancestor of the Earls of Barrymore.

After Cormac died, his wife Julia married a third time to Edmund Butler, 1st/11th Baron Dunboyne.

The End of His Rule

Cormac, the Prince of Carbery, died in 1567. After his death, his brother Finghin became the 14th Prince. This was decided by the old Irish laws of succession, known as Brehon law and tanistry.