Kilcoe Castle, reportedly bought and lived in by Jeremy Irons and his wife, is believed to have been built by the McCarthys who according to documentation were chieftains from the 1100’s, possibly earlier. They were said to have ruled a large part of County Cork which was seen as a seperate kingdom.
According to reports, the landing of the English, thought to be mainly saxons was followed by the battle of Kinsale in 1605, and an end to celtic sovereignty. The background according to official sources was a time nearing the end of the as described nine year war and the reign of Elizabeth I. The Celts were said to have been supported by Spain. Believed to be saxons fought the Spanish in Kinsale; according to reports, forming a barricade on sea and land. Their calvary was said to have destroyed livestock and crops en route. More troops are believed to have arrived from Spain and the north.
According to documentation, the Spanish who were said to have held the town for three months, and had lost men reportedly to disease and possibly hunger, agreed to saxon terms. Northerners were said to have returned northwards leaving a few clans, amongst them the McCarthys, and were believed to have surrendered around two years later in 1603. According to documentation, Elizabeth I died the same year.
England and Spain are believed to have reached an agreement to no more war in 1604. Hugh Roe O’Donnel took a ship to Spain but was poisoned by the thought to be English administration a few months later. Hugh O’Neil reportedly submitted the same year. Four years later, accompanied by supporters and other chieftains he is believed to have left for Spain. Said to be known as the flight of the earls.
According to a source, the McCarthy kingdom as called, ended in 1606. Florence Mór MacCarthy reportedly died in prison in 1649 at the age of 77. He was said to have been abused, according to one source, going from the tower of London to various other English prisons. According to the source many McCarthys began to make their way to France and other European destinations.
The saxons seized land and buildings north and south. The as called plantation of Ulster was a seizing of the land of Ulster and the bringing in of as described presbytarian scots. There were others, but mainly believed to be Scots stayed. The beginning of anglicisation, north and south.