Cormac MacCarthy

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

MacCarthy, Cormac, Lord of Muskerry, who flourished early in the 16th century, descended from a younger branch of the family of preceding. His father, Cormac Ladir, built the castles of Blarney, Kilcrea, and Carrignamuck, with several ecclesiastical edifices. The subject of our notice carried on hostilities against James, 11th Earl of Desmond, inflicting disastrous defeats upon him in 1522. Surrey thus writes concerning his giving in his adhesion to Henry VIII.: "Surely he is substantial of his promise, and without any safe-conduct hath come to me, tendering his service, and is very willing to conform himself to the English order." He was the friend and ally of Ormond. The 13th Earl of Desmond married his daughter. He died in 1536.

Sources

196. Irishmen, Lives of Illustrious and Distinguished, Rev. James Wills, D.D. 6 vols. or 12 parts. Dublin, 1840-'7.

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