Cork (barony)


Cork is a barony in County Cork, Ireland, surrounding the city of Cork. The barony comprises the former Liberties of Cork, the area which was within the county of the city of Cork but outside the municipal borough of Cork. The liberties were defined by the charter granted in 1608 by Charles I of England as extending three miles in all directions from the city walls. Under the Municipal Corporations Act 1840, the liberties were detached from the county of the city, and attached to the county of Cork as a new barony.
The Barony of Cork City comprises the former area of the municipal borough. No modifications to barony boundaries have been made since the Local Government Act 1898. The boundary of the city of Cork has been extended since 1898 beyond the barony of Cork City and now includes parts of the barony of Cork.

Legal context

Baronies were created after the Norman invasion of Ireland as divisions of counties and were used the administration of justice and the raising of revenue. While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they have been administratively obsolete since 1898. However, they continue to be used in land registration and in specification, such as in planning permissions. In many cases, a barony corresponds to an earlier Gaelic túath which had submitted to the Crown.

Location

The barony, doughnut-like, entirely surrounds the Barony of Cork City. Other neighbouring baronies include Barrymore to the east, Barretts to the north-west, Muskerry East to the west, and Kerrycurrihy to the south. The River Lee bisects the barony from west to east.

Subdivisions

The barony of Cork comprises part or all of 16 civil parishes:
ParishIrish nameLocation within barony of CorkOther baronies in parishNotesReferences
RathcooneyRáth ChuannaNorth-east-
St. Michael'sParóiste MhichílNorthBarrymoreOnly the townland of Ballinvriskig is in the barony of Cork.
DunbullogeDún BolgNorthBarrymoreOnly the townland of Ballyhesty is in the barony of Cork.
KilcullyCill ChúileNorth-
St. Anne's, ShandonParóiste San AnnaNorth, innerCork CitySee Church of St Anne
St. Mary's, ShandonParóiste MhuireNorth-west, innerCork City
WhitechurchAn Teampall GealNorth-westBarrymore, Barretts
CurrykippaneCurrach CheapáinWest, north of the River Lee-
CarrigrohaneCarraig RuacháinWest, south of the River LeeMuskerry East
St. Finbar'sParóiste FhionnbharraSouthCork CityCathedral parish; see Saint Finbarre's Cathedral
KilnagloryCill na GluaireSouth-westMuskerry EastOnly the townland of Ballynora is in the barony of Cork.
St. NicholasParóiste San NioclásSouth, innerCork City, Muskerry EastOnly the detached townland of Maglin is in Muskerry East.
InishkennyInis CionaoithSouthMuskerry East
BallinaboyBaile na BaoiSouthMuskerry East, Kerrycurrihy, Kinalea
KillanullyCill an EallaighSouthCork City, Kerrycurrihy
CarrigalineCarraig Uí LeighinSouth-eastMuskerry East, Kerrycurrihy, Kinalea