Dermod MacCarthy (abt. 1165 - 1229)

Born about 1165 in Munster, Ireland

Died 1229 at about age 64 in Munster, Ireland

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Biography

Known as Dermod of Dun-Droghian, or Diarmait Cluasach (the long-eared). Birth year estimate, as he appears to be older than brother Cormac Fionn, b.1170.

Dermod MacCarthy was King of Desmond. His demesne lands were around Killarney. His descendants are the MacDonnagh MacCarthys, Lords of Duhallow. ^[1]

His sons:

• Teige, who died in 1257^[2]
• Finin, who died in 1235^[3]

From his father's profile in the Dictionary of Irish Biography:^[4]

• Domnall's brother Fíngen succeeded him, but Domnall's son, Diarmait Dúna Droignéin Mac Carthaig (d.1229), more commonly called Diarmait Cluasach (the long-eared), deposed Fíngen within months, resulting in widespread warfare throughout Desmond. The Annals are divided on the date of Diarmait's accession. It is certain he was King of Desmond following Fíngen's death at the hands of the Uí Shúilliubáin (O'Sullivans) in 1209. Two years later the sheriff of Cork captured Diarmait, but when Cormac Óc, the son of Cormac Liathánach, established himself as King of Desmond, Diarmait was released and a dynastic war erupted between the claimants. With their respective Anglo-Norman allies they devastated much of Desmond in 1214.

• Diarmait seems to have been closely allied to the Anglo-Normans, as his marriage, about 1216, to Petronilla Bloet, the sister of the sheriff of Waterford, indicates. In 1218–19 Diarmait captured two Butler castles. Later Henry III wrote to him and to other Anglo-Norman and Gaelic Irish leaders on 17 July 1221 requesting their obedience to the new justiciar, Archbishop Henry of London. In 1224 Domnall was part of an Anglo-Norman campaign against the sons of Hugh de Lacy (d.1186) at Dundalk.

• According to the Annals, Diarmait was killed by a thunderbolt at his castle of Dún Draignéin (Castlemore in Muskerry East, Co. Cork) in 1229, which was seen as punishment for his evil deeds. He left one recorded son, Fíngen.

Sources

1. ↑ sometimes recorded as MacDonagh (Lord) of Dunhallow
2. ↑ murdered by uncles, says O'Hart
3. ↑ murdered by uncles, says O'Hart
4. ↑ Author Emmett O'Byrne (2009):
   • https://www.dib.ie/biography/mac-carthaig-maccarthy-domnall-mor-a5000

• Library Ireland - Irish Pedigrees by John O'Hart : MacCarthy More no: 1

• The McDonagh McCarthys Of Curraghs and Kilbrin