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{{short description|Gaelic Irish dynasty}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox family
|name                 = MacCarthy<br />''{{lang|ga|Mac Cárthaigh}}''
|native_name          = 
|native_name_lang     =
|other_names          = 
|type                 = 
|coat_of_arms         = [[File:Arms of McCarthy.svg|frameless|upright=0.5]]
|coat_of_arms_size    = 
|alt                  = 
|coat_of_arms_caption = Arms of MacCarthy
|image                = 
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|alt2                 = 
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|parent_family        = [[Eóganachta]]
|country              = [[Kingdom of Munster]]<br />[[Kingdom of Desmond]]
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|early_forms          = 
|etymology            = 
|origin               = 
|founded              = 
|founder              = Cárthach mac Saorbhreathach
|current_head         = 
|dissolution          = 
|deposition           = 
|cadet branches       = [[MacCarthy Reagh]]<br />[[MacCarthy of Muskerry]]
|final_ruler          = [[Florence MacCarthy]]
|final_head           = 
|historic_seat        = [[Blarney Castle]]
|titles               = * [[List of kings of Munster|King of Munster]]
* [[List of monarchs of Desmond|King of Desmond]]
* [[Carbery (barony)|Prince of Carbery]]
* [[Lord of Kerslawny]]
* [[Lordship of Coshmaing|Lord of Coshmaing]]
* [[Lordship of Molahiffe|Lord of Molahiffe]]
* [[Earl of Clancarty]]
* [[Viscount Muskerry]]
* [[Count of Toulouse]]{{cn|date=March 2025}}
|styles               = 
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|other_families       = 
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}}
'''MacCarthy''' ({{langx|ga|'''Mac Cárthaigh'''}}), also spelled '''Macarthy''', '''McCarthy''' or '''McCarty''', is an Irish [[Irish clans|clan]] originating from [[Kingdom of Munster|Munster]], an area they ruled during the Middle Ages.<ref>{{Cite web |last=helpdesk1 |date=2006-04-01 |title=Roots: The McCarthy Clan {{!}} Irish America |url=https://www.irishamerica.com/2006/04/the-mccarthy-clan/,%20https://www.irishamerica.com/2006/04/the-mccarthy-clan/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=www.irishamerica.com |language=en-US}}</ref> It was divided into several [[sept]]s (branches) of which the [[MacCarthy Reagh]], [[MacCarthy of Muskerry]], and MacCarthy of Duhallow were the most notable.

==Naming conventions==
{{Main article|Irish personal naming system}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
! width=16% | Male
! width=16% | Daughter ''<small>(Long)</small>''
! width=16% | Daughter ''<small>(Short)</small>''
! width=16% | Wife ''<small>(Long)</small>''
! width=16% | Wife ''<small>(Short)</small>''
|-
| align="center"| Mac Cárthaigh<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sloinne.ie/surname/ga/mac-carthaigh/|publisher=Sloinne|title=Mac Cárthaigh|date=5 December 2015|access-date=13 April 2018|archive-date=13 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413124926/http://www.sloinne.ie/surname/ga/mac-carthaigh/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| align="center"| Iníon Mhic Cárthaigh
| align="center"|  Nic Cárthaigh
| align="center"| Bean Mhic Cárthaigh
| align="center"| Mhic Cárthaigh
|-
|}

==History==
[[File:James Barry's The Baptism of King Cashel by St Patrick.png|thumb|right|240px|''The Baptism of the King of Cashel by St Patrick'', painted by [[James Barry (painter)|James Barry]], ''c.'' 1780s.  [[Óengus mac Nad Froích]], a paternal ancestor from the [[Eóganacht Chaisil]] from whom the Mac Cárthaigh descend.]]
The origin of the MacCarthy dynasty begins with Carthach, an [[Eóganachta|Eóganacht Chaisil]] king, who died in 1045 in a house fire deliberately started by one of the [[Lonergan (surname)|Lonergans]] (who were members of the Eóganacht's arch-enemies, the [[Dál gCais]]). Carthach was a contemporary and bitter rival of High King [[Brian Boru]], and what would become known as the McCarthy Clan was pushed out of its traditional homelands in the [[Golden Vale]] of [[County Tipperary|Tipperary]] by the expansion of the O'Brien sept in the middle of the twelfth century.

Carthach's son was known as Muireadhach mac Carthaigh (meaning "Muireadhach, son of Carthach"). Such ephemeral patronymics were common at the time. However, when Muireadhach died in 1092 his sons Tadhg and Cormac adopted ''Mac Carthaigh'' as an actual surname. Following [[Cormac Mac Carthaigh#The Treaty of Glanmire|the treaty of Glanmire]] in 1118, dividing the kingdom of [[Munster]] into [[County Desmond|Desmond]] and [[Thomond]], this Tadhg became the first king of Desmond, comprising parts of the modern counties of [[County Cork|Cork]] and [[County Kerry|Kerry]]. For almost five centuries they dominated much of Munster, with four major branches: those led by the MacCarthy Mór (Great MacCarthy), nominal head of all the MacCarthys, who ruled over much of south Kerry, the [[Duhallow MacCarthys]], who controlled north-west Cork; [[MacCarthy Reagh]] or Riabhach ('grey') based in the [[Barony of Carbery]] in south-west Cork; and [[MacCarthy Muskerry]], on the [[County Cork|Cork]] / [[County Kerry|Kerry]] border.

Each of these families continued resistance to Norman and English encroachment up to the seventeenth century when, like virtually all the Gaelic aristocracy, they lost almost everything. An exception was [[Macroom]] Castle, which passed to the White family of [[Bantry House]], descendants of Cormac Láidir Mac Cárthaigh. This was burnt in 1922 and is part of the local golf club today.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.macroomgolfclub.com/visitors/history-of-macroom-golf-club.htm |title=Macroom Golf Club |website=www.macroomgolfclub.com |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510185943/http://www.macroomgolfclub.com/visitors/history-of-macroom-golf-club.htm |archive-date=10 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Muskerry McCarthys' historical seat is [[Blarney Castle]] in County Cork. Legend has it that the [[Blarney Stone]] was given as a gift to Cormac MacCarthy, [[List of monarchs of Desmond|King of Desmond]], from king [[Robert the Bruce]] of Scotland, who presented the 'magical' stone in gratitude for his assistance in the [[battle of Bannockburn]] in 1314. The third castle built on the site (the castle which stands to this day) was built by another McCarthy descendant, Dermot McCarthy, in 1446. Dermot was known for his eloquence, hence the Blarney Stone's reputation for imparting the gift of the gab upon those who kiss it.

The number of references to the MacCarthys in the annals, especially the "[[Annals of Innisfallen]]", is very great. Carthach was the son of Saoirbhreathach, a Gaelic name which is anglicised as Justin, and in the latter form has been in continuous use among many branches of the McCarthys for centuries. Another male forename similarly associated with them is Finghin, anglice Fineen, but for some centuries past, the name Florence (colloquially Flurry) has been used as its English form. From the thirteenth century, when Fineen MacCarthy decisively defeated the Geraldines in 1261, down to the present day, Fineen or Florence MacCarthys and Justin MacCarthys have been very prominent among the many distinguished men of the name in Irish military, political and cultural history.

Until the dissolution of the kingdom in 1596, the crown was vested in the hereditary possession of the Mac Carthy Mór (by the law of [[tanistry]]).

== Branches ==

=== MacCarthy of Muskerry ===
{{Main articles|McCarthy of Muskerry}}

The MacCarthy dynasty of Muskerry is a [[tacksman]] branch of the [[MacCarthy Mor dynasty|MacCarthy dynasty]], the Kings of Desmond. It was founded by [[Dermot MacCarthy, 1st Lord of Muskerry]], second son of [[Cormac MacCarthy Mor, King of Desmond]]. [[Donough MacCarthy, 4th Earl of Clancarty]] fought in the [[Williamite War in Ireland]] for [[James II of England]] against [[William III of England]]. He was attainted at the defeat in 1691 and the MacCarthys of Muskerry lost the noble titles of Earl of Clancarty, Viscount Muskerry, and Baron Blarney. In 1694, the family lost all noble titles and peerage in Ireland.

=== MacCarthy Reagh ===
{{Main articles|Mac Carthaigh Riabhach}}

The MacCarthy Reagh dynasty are a branch of the MacCarthy dynasty. The MacCarthy Reagh seated themselves as kings of Carbery in what is now southwestern County Cork including [[Rosscarbery]] in the 13th century. Their descendants would expand their territories considerably and forge a small, wealthy kingdom distinct and independent from the larger Kingdom of Desmond, as well as largely independent from the [[Earl of Desmond|Earldom of Desmond]] and from England, which would last into the early-mid 17th century. The dynasty became very successful during the 14th to 16th centuries, accumulating great wealth and possessing a great army. 

== Septs ==

Eleven septs of the illustrious McCarthy family in Kerry are given in Kings History of County Kerry
* (1) [[Lordship of Coshmaing|Sliocht Owen of Coshmaing]]
* (2) [[Sliocht Cormaic of Dunguile]]
* (3) Sliocht Fineen Duff of Ardeanaght
* (4) Sliocht Clan Donell Finn
* (5) Sliocht nInghean Riddery
* (6) Sliocht Donell Brick
* (7) Sliocht Nedeen
* (8) Sliocht Clan Teige Kittagh
* (9) Sliocht Clan Dermod
*(10) Sliocht Clan Donell Roe
*(11) Sliocht MacFineen

The MacCarthys are closely related to a number of other Munster families. These include the [[O'Sullivan family|O'Sullivan]]s, [[O'Callaghan]]s, [[O'Keeffe]]s, [[O'Donoghue]]s, and [[O'Donovan]]s. An early sept of the MacCarthys themselves are the [[McAuliffe (surname)|MacAuliffe]]s.

Rulers of the [[Kingdom of Desmond]], the McCarthy stood among the greatest Irish dynasties of the last millennium.

==Notable members==
* [[Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, 9th Lord of Muskerry]], Irish chieftain, 1411–1494
* [[Cormac Oge Laidir MacCarthy, 10th Lord of Muskerry]], Irish noble, d. 1536
* [[Cormac MacDermot MacCarthy, 16th Lord of Muskerry|Cormac MacDermot MacCarthy]], great-grandson of Cormac MacCarthy, Lord of Muskerry, d. 1616
* [[Charles MacCarthy, 1st Viscount Muskerry|Cormac (Charles) MacCarthy, 1st Viscount Muskerry]] and [[Baron of Blarney]], son of Cormac MacDermot MacCarthy, d. 1641
* [[Florence MacCarthy]], Irish prince, 1563–1640
* [[Donagh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry]] and [[Earl of Clancarty]], son of Cormac MacDermot MacCarthy, d. 1665
* [[Charles MacCarthy (Irish soldier)|Charles MacCarthy]], soldier in French and later English service, d. 1665
* [[Justin MacCarthy, Viscount Mountcashel]], younger son of Donough MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry, d. 1694
* [[Donough MacCarthy, 4th Earl of Clancarty]], grandson of Donough MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry, 1670–1734
* [[Nicholas Tuite MacCarthy]], renowned Jesuit Preacher, 1769–1833
* [[Charles MacCarthy (British Army officer)|Charles MacCarthy]], Irish-born soldier who served in the French, Dutch and British armies, 1764–1824
* [[Robert MacCarty, Viscount Muskerry]], Irish Royal Navy officer and colonial administrator, 1685–1769
* [[Cormac Mac Cárthaigh]], d.1138
* [[Donal Gott MacCarthy]], 1247–1252
* [[Finghin Mac Cárthaigh|Fínghin]], 1252–1261

==See also==
* [[Gaelic nobility of Ireland]]
* [[McCarthy (surname)]]
* [[King of desmond|King of Desmond]]

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* Burke, Bernard and Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, ''Burke's Irish Family Records, or Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland''. London: Burke's Peerage Ltd. 5th edition, 1976.
* Byrne, Francis J., ''Irish Kings and High-Kings''. Four Courts Press. 2nd edition, 2001.
* Cronnelly, Richard F., [https://books.google.com/books?id=HgOfAAAAMAAJ Irish Family History] ''Part II: A History of the Clan Eoghan, or Eoghanachts''. Dublin. 1864.
* [[John D'Alton (historian)|D'Alton, John]], [https://archive.org/details/illustrationshi01dalgoog Illustrations, Historical and Genealogical, of King James's Irish Army List, 1689] 2 vols. London: J.R. Smith. 2nd edition, 1861.
* {{cite book |title= Tipperary Families : Being The Hearth Money Records for 1665–1667|last= Laffan|first=Thomas|year=1911|publisher=James Duffy & Co}}
* O'Donovan, John (ed. and tr.), [[Annals of the Four Masters|Annála Ríoghachta Éireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, from the Earliest Period to the Year 1616]]. 7 vols. Royal Irish Academy. Dublin. 1848–51. 2nd edition, 1856.
* O'Hart, John, [https://archive.org/details/irishpedigrees00unkngoog Irish Pedigrees] Dublin. 5th edition, 1892.
* Ó hInnse, Séamus (ed. and tr.) and Florence MacCarthy, [[Mac Carthaigh's Book]], or [http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100013/index.html Miscellaneous Irish Annals (A.D. 1114–1437)]. [[Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies]]. 1947.
* O'Keeffe, Eugene (ed. and tr.), ''Eoganacht Genealogies from the [[An Leabhar Muimhneach|Book of Munster]]''. Cork. 1703. (available [https://web.archive.org/web/20110721184107/http://www.iol.ie/%7Ekevnilse/eoghantx.html here])
*[[Daniel MacCarthy Glas|McCarthy (Glas), Daniel]], ''A Historical Pedigree of the Sliochd Feidhlimidh the MacCarthys of Glean-nacroim, from Carthach, twenty-fourth in descent from Oilioll Olum'', (1880; W. Pollard)
*O'Brien, Michael J, ''The McCarthys in Early American History'', (1921; New York, Dodd, Mead & Company)
*McCarthy, Samuel Trant, ''The MacCarthys of Munster: The Story of a Great Irish Sept'', (1922: The Dundalgan Press)

==External links==
*[http://thegathering.blarneycastle.ie/ The McCarthy Clan Gathering 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519062114/http://thegathering.blarneycastle.ie/ |date=19 May 2022 }}
*[http://www.libraryireland.com/Pedigrees1/MacCarthyMor.php MacCarthy Mór Pedigree] at Library Ireland
* [http://www.theirishstory.com/2011/04/13/the-maccarthys-and-the-nine-years-war-in-munster-1595-1603/#.WsWWI5ch3Mw The MacCarthys and the Nine Years War in Munster, 1595-1603] at The Irish Story
* [https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/centuries-of-lost-maccarthy-lore-returned-450172.html Centuries of ‘lost’ MacCarthy lore returned] at Irish Examiner
* [https://mccarthyswhiskey.ie/mccarthy-clan-history/ McCarthy's Clan History] by Turtle Bunbury
* [http://www.araltas.com/features/mccarthy/ McCarthy] at Araltas
{{Mac Cárthaigh}}
{{Eóganachta}}
{{Munster}}
{{Royal houses of Britain and Ireland}}

[[Category:Clíodhna]]
[[Category:Irish clans]]
[[Category:Irish royal families]]