Magunihy (; also spelled Magonhy) is a barony in eastern County Kerry, Ireland.Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society. (1897:127). Ireland: The Society. Baronies were mainly cadastral rather than administrative units. They acquired modest local taxation and spending functions in the 19th century before being superseded by arrangements under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. The barony contains both Kerry's second town and leading centre of tourism, Killarney and Kerry Airport at Farranfore.
History
The name Magunihy is from Irish , "Coinchinn's plain." Coinchinn ()Dungan, M. (2024). Land Is All That Matters: The Struggle That Shaped Irish History. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing. is a female name; a Coinchinn, daughter of Cathbhadh, appears in the genealogy of the Corcu Loígde.
The Ó Conghalaigh of Corcu Duibne were the medieval rulers of the territory. By the 11th century, the O'Donoghues forced them to the west, as the O'Donoghue were driven from County Cork by the MacCarthy and O'Mahonys. The McGillycuddy family were also found in Magunihy.O'Laughlin, M. C. (2002:121). The Book of Irish Families, Great & Small. United States: Irish Genealogical Foundation.
The MacCarthy Mór was centred at Muckross, near Killarney.
The barony of Magunihy was created in the 16th century. Until 1843 it included exclaves known as the "East Fractions" that were surrounded by County Cork and included the village of Ballydaly.
Geography
Magunihy is in the east of the county, bounded to the north by the River Maine, to the west by the River Laune and MacGillycuddy's Reeks, and to the east by the Munster Blackwater and the border with County Cork.
List of settlements
Settlements within Magunihy include: Ballyhar Farranfore Firies Glenflesk Gneevgullia Kilcummin Killarney Rathmore
References