Lord of Kerslawny
The Gaelic-Irish Lordship of Kerslawny (ard tiarna-rank) is the noble title that attaches to the head of the MacCarthy Mór sept known as Sliocht Cormaic of Dunguile. Kerslawny was created in the 15th century as an appanage of the royal house, by then-King of Desmond, Tadhg na Mainistreach Mac Carthaigh Mór (r. 1390/2 – 1428), for his second son, Cormac (d.1467). Kerslawny is the anglicisation of the Gaelic-Irish "cois leamhna," meaning "beside the (River) Laune." This area, near present-day Killarney, in County Kerry, Ireland, was the original territory of the sept.
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Succession to the MacCarthy Mór Chiefship
Sliocht Cormac of Dunguile is believed by genealogists[citation needed] to be the last (most-senior) appanage of the royal line of MacCarthy Mór to remain extant today. Thus, the Chief of the Dunguile sept is entitled to rightfully claim succession to the overlordship title of The MacCarthy Mór. In November, 2009, Liam Trant McCarthy was elected (by his family derbhfine) to be Chief of the Dunguile sept, and, because his pedigree[1] shows him to also be the senior-most living descendant of the last recognised MacCarthy Mór (Samuel Trant McCarthy of Srugrena), he also proclaimed as MacCarthy Mór, Chief of the Name (MacCarthy/McCarthy), styled as Prince of Desmond. His title as Lord of Kerslawny thus became his secondary title. Chief of the Name is the highest title of nobility in Gaelic Ireland prior to the 17th-century, and in modern revival. It is followed in rank by a sept's chiefly title. Depending on the importance of the sept, that title might be Prince (flaith), Paramount Lord (ard tiarna/count), or Lord (tiarna/baron).
Current Title-Holder: The Tanist
It is tradition within the Royal House of MacCarthy Mór to bestow the Chief's secondary (sept) title on the Tanist (heir-presumptive, or, "crown prince"). Thus, effective January 1, 2012, Liam Trant MacCarthy Mór re-granted to his only son, Alexander William (b. 1997), the title of Lord of Kerslawny.
Notes
- ↑ Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, 9 July 2009, Reference R.P.09/192
References
- Ellis, Peter Berresford, Erin's Blood Royal: The Gaelic Noble Dynasties of Ireland. Palgrave. Revised edition, 2002.
- MacCarthy, Samuel Trant, The MacCarthys of Munster. 1922.
External links
- The MacCarthy Clan Foundation
- The Kingdom of Desmond Association - An Association devoted to the study and preservation of the history and legacy of the Kingdom and its rulers.
