Terence Francis MacCarthy
Encyclopedia
Terence Francis MacCarthy (born January 21, 1957), formerly self-styled Tadhg V, The MacCarthy Mór, Prince of Desmond and Lord of Kerslawny, is a genealogist, historian, and writer. Born in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, he is a resident of Morocco
. His last name is sometimes published as McCarthy.
recognition to Terence MacCarthy as the MacCarthy Mór, the title of the chief of the MacCarthy sept
or clan
. The title literally means "the great MacCarthy." The MacCarthys had been princes of Desmond
, and earlier, through the Eoghanacht of Cashel
, the kings of Munster
. Terence MacCarthy claimed the title based on tanistry
rather than primogeniture
, and stated that his father renounced the title in his favor in 1980. He then led a very successful affiliation of MacCarthy clan associations in Ireland, Canada, and the United States. These associations throve, because of good organisation and the strong appeal of heritage tourism
at the time. MacCarthy instituted a quasi-chivalric
order, the Niadh Nask
, and conferred titles of nobility
on his supporters.
On a practical level, the issue was settled by two events. In August 1999, the Irish Genealogical Office nullified its previous recognition of Terence MacCarthy as the MacCarthy Mór. On October 9, 1999, after losing the support of the Niadh Nask, Terence MacCarthy abdicated the title, which his younger brother, Conor, then claimed. Barry Trant MacCarthy, a resident of England, applied for recognition the title, but the Genealogical Office never made a decision on the matter. In 2003 the government discontinued the practice of granting courtesy recognition to Chiefs of the Name.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, he is a resident of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. His last name is sometimes published as McCarthy.
MacCarthy Mór
On January 28, 1992, the Irish Genealogical Office conferred courtesy Chief of the NameChiefs of the Name
The Chief of the Name, or in older English usage Captain of his Nation, is the recognised head of a family or clan...
recognition to Terence MacCarthy as the MacCarthy Mór, the title of the chief of the MacCarthy sept
Sept (social)
A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
or clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
. The title literally means "the great MacCarthy." The MacCarthys had been princes of Desmond
County Desmond
The Kingdom of Desmond was an historic kingdom located on the southwestern coast of Ireland. The name is Gaelic in origin - Deas-Mhumhain - which means South Munster...
, and earlier, through the Eoghanacht of Cashel
Eóganachta
The Eóganachta or Eoghanachta were an Irish dynasty centred around Cashel which dominated southern Ireland from the 6/7th to the 10th centuries, and following that, in a restricted form, the Kingdom of Desmond, and its offshoot Carbery, well into the 16th century...
, the kings of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
. Terence MacCarthy claimed the title based on tanistry
Tanistry
Tanistry was a Gaelic system for passing on titles and lands. In this system the Tanist was the office of heir-apparent, or second-in-command, among the Gaelic patrilineal dynasties of Ireland, Scotland and Man, to succeed to the chieftainship or to the kingship.-Origins:The Tanist was chosen from...
rather than primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
, and stated that his father renounced the title in his favor in 1980. He then led a very successful affiliation of MacCarthy clan associations in Ireland, Canada, and the United States. These associations throve, because of good organisation and the strong appeal of heritage tourism
Heritage tourism
Cultural heritage tourism is a branch of tourism oriented towards the cultural heritage of the location where tourism is occurring...
at the time. MacCarthy instituted a quasi-chivalric
Chivalry
Chivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour...
order, the Niadh Nask
Niadh Nask
The Niadh Nask was a self-styled nobiliary association devised by the self-styled MacCarthy Mór, Terence Francis MacCarthy. It was alleged to be a nobiliary fraternity which developed from the old warrior-guard of the Kings of Munster. The group dissolved when it was proven that its Grand Master...
, and conferred titles of nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
on his supporters.
Controversy
On June 20, 1999, the Sunday Times in Dublin published an article questioning both the facts of MacCarthy's particular application of tanistry, and the verity of his descent from former chiefs of the MacCarthy clan. Various public statements on both sides were released over the next few months. MacCarthy's critics alleged that he was an impostor who misused his genealogical skills to fraudulently claim the title, then exploited it for personal financial gain and aggrandisement. His supporters countered that he was an excellent organiser who delivered on every promise made to clan associations. They argued that a culturally inappropriate and impossibly stringent standard was applied to MacCarthy's pedigree. They also claimed that MacCarthy was being singled out because of jealousy of his success, and possibly due to his political and religious views. Investigation of the case was rendered more difficult due to the refusal of the Genealogical Office to release all documents relating to the 1992 courtesy recognition. The Irish Freedom of Information Act of 1997 does not apply retroactively, but documents relating to the case from April 1998 onwards were released. Sean Murphy, a County Wicklow genealogist, has published online accounts of the MacCarthy Mór case and a full-length book also. It is now clear that Terence MacCarthy's claim to be the MacCarthy Mór was based on fabricated documentation, and rather than being aristocrats of Munster origin, his ancestors were ordinary Belfast working people.On a practical level, the issue was settled by two events. In August 1999, the Irish Genealogical Office nullified its previous recognition of Terence MacCarthy as the MacCarthy Mór. On October 9, 1999, after losing the support of the Niadh Nask, Terence MacCarthy abdicated the title, which his younger brother, Conor, then claimed. Barry Trant MacCarthy, a resident of England, applied for recognition the title, but the Genealogical Office never made a decision on the matter. In 2003 the government discontinued the practice of granting courtesy recognition to Chiefs of the Name.
Genuine Claimant
In June 2009, Liam Trant MacCarthy (born 27 December 1957) of Southern Rhodesia received recognition from Garter Principal King of Arms at the College of Arms in London as the senior descendent and claimant to the title MacCarthy Mór. He is the son of Cormac Trant McCarthy (1931-1999) the son of William otherwise Liam Trant McCarthy, Solicitor (1894-1967) the son of William Patrick Trant McCarthy (1853-1901) the son of Daniel McCarthy of Srugrena and his wife Ellen the daughter of Patrick Trant of Waterford. The top two generations of this pedigree appear on a pedigree in the former Ulster Office of Arms. The family pedigree was also published in Burke's Irish Landed Gentry under the heading MacCarthy of Srugrena Abbey Co. Kerry.See also
- Sliocht Cormaic of DunguileSliocht Cormaic of DunguileThe Sliocht Cormaic of Dunguile, otherwise known as the MacCarthys of Srugrena Abbey, or the Srugrena sept, as well as the Trant McCarthys, are the principal and today perhaps only known surviving sept of the MacCarthy Mór dynasty, the Kings of Desmond...
, sept of the MacCarthy dynasty into whose pedigree Terence MacCarthy inserted himself - James ShorttJames ShorttJames Gerard Richard Shortt, also known as Jim Shortt, Jimbo, Seamus Shortt, Colonel The Chevalier James Shortt, James Shortt of Castleshort, or The Baron Castleshort, is an English born Director General of the International Bodyguard Association...
, accomplice of MacCarthy