Donald McCarthy, 1st Earl of Clancare facts for kids
Donald McCarthy Mór (died 1596) was an important leader in Ireland during the 1500s. He was the last person to hold the title of King of Desmond. He also became the 1st Earl of Clancare, a special noble title given by the English crown.
Who Was Donald McCarthy Mór?
Donald McCarthy Mór was the oldest son of Donald MacCormac Ladrach MacCarthy Mor. His family, the MacCarthys, were powerful rulers in a part of Ireland called Desmond. Donald was the last person to be known as the King of Desmond.
He married a woman named Lady Honora FitzGerald. Her father was James FitzGerald, 13th Earl of Desmond. Donald and Honora had two children: a son named Teige McCarthy Mór, Lord Valentia and a daughter named Lady Ellen McCarthy.
Becoming an Earl
Donald MacCarthy was given the special honor of being knighted. This happened on 26 June 1558 in Limerick, Ireland, by a man named Thomas Radcliffe. Being knighted meant he was recognized as a brave and loyal person.
Later, on 24 June 1565, Donald McCarthy was given even higher titles. He became the 1st Earl of Clancare and the 1st Baron of Valentia. These titles were part of the Peerage of Ireland, which was a system of noble ranks in Ireland.
A Time of Change
In 1569, Donald McCarthy decided to give up his title as Earl of Clancare. This was because he joined a major uprising known as the first Desmond Rebellion. He fought alongside another leader named James fitz Maurice Fitzgerald. These rebellions were a series of conflicts in Ireland during the late 1500s.
Later Life and Legacy
Donald McCarthy Mór faced a sad event in 1587 when his son, Teige, passed away. This meant Donald no longer had a male heir to inherit his titles and lands.
In 1588, he sold the family's large estates to a man named Sir Valentine Browne. Donald McCarthy Mór died without any surviving sons. He was buried at a place called Murcuss Abbey.
