Carrigadrohid Castle

Carrigadrohid Castle stands on a rock in the middle of the river Lee.It was built by the famous princely Mc Carthys of Muskerry,who were at one time Kings of Munster and later lords of the barony. In the 15th century the castle was fortified by Cormac Mc Carthy and his wife Sabina Carrrol. A century later Cormac Mac Teigh and his wife Joan Butler, held and lived in the fortress but in 1583 he died suddenly leaving Joan in possesion of the castle .

Bishop Beotius Mac Egan

Beotius Mac Egan was born in Dunhallow and went to Spain at a fairly early age to complete his education. He returned to Ireland and became Bishop of Ross. Carrigadrohid castle was garrisoned by Irish troops and when Broghill, with Cromwell's army, was on the march to Macroom, he was eager to come to grips with Roche's army,and bypassed the the castle at Carrigadrohid. He captured Bishop Mac Egan at Macroom and told him that if he got the garrison to surrender he would spare his life. He sent one of his lieutenants to tell the garrison to surrender or he would hang the Bishop. He then brought the Bishop to Carrigadrohid but the Bishop told the garrison not to surrender, but to hold out to the last. The Bishop was then seized by the soldiers and hung by the reins of his own horse from a wild pear tree in front of the castle.

The Battle Of Mullinhassig

In the 16th century the McCarthy were lords of Muskerry (which included Aghinagh). Up to the Spring of 1580 - the year of the Mullinhassig battle - the lands of Muskerry belonged to the whole tribe of McCarthy and not to any one individual. But Cormac McTeige McCarthy, who was lord of Muskerry at this time, discovered that if he surrendered the land to the Queen, she would regrant them to him personally, and not to the clan. On the other hand, the Fitzgeralds, at this time had formed the Desmond confederation to fight for the Irish cause. To put it mildly, they had different politic to the McCarthys of Muskerry, who were "men of the crown". It was common in those days - when clans were on bad terms - to make raids into the enemy territory and to carry off cattle. James Fitzgerald was on one such expedition to Muskerry, when he was confronted by "Donall of the county" McCarthy at Mullinhassig, in the parish of Aghinagh on the 4 August, 1580. Donall completely defeated James with a loss of 79 men (another source gives 150 slain). "A dart that struck him under the right ear and penetrated six inches into his neck" killed Donall himself. Sir James Fitzgerald, also, was very badly injured. The ancient historian Smith, says that he was captured, by a Blacksmith and, when the fighting ended, he was handed over to McCarthys men. "Sir James Fitzgerald - a true Irishman - is the knight in whose memory the ford at Mullinhassig is named - Athariddera - the Ford of the Knight. This is Mullinhassig Waterfall near where the Battle was fought.