The MacCarthy Name: Muiredach (of the Eoghanacht clan Carthagh) had been intentionally killed in a house fire in 1045. His sons Tadhg and Cormac adopted the clan patronymic and were the first to use the surname MacCarthagh (or Son of Carthagh). These MacCarthys were to become the rulers of the Kingdom of Desmond in 1118 and for generations to come, ending only in 1596.
During the thirteenth century, the Irish decisively pushed out from their mountain strongholds against the Norman invaders. The victories won culminated in Tooreencormick and the clear establishment of MacCarthy rule throughout Desmond.
Of these was Fínghin MacCarthy (r. 1252-1261) who ruled until his death at the Battle of Ringrone near Kinsale. Fínghin is anglicised as Florence (or 'Flurry' to fans of the Irish R.M.). He had earlier that year defeated John FitzThomas Fitzgerald, 1st Baron Desmond at the Battle of Callann, in present day Kilgarvan to the south of Mangerton.
Following his death, he was succeeded by his brother Cormac, who was himself killed on the battlefield on the northern slopes of Mangerton. In memory, the site is since known as Tooreencormick or Tuarín Cormac, translated as the “Little Field of Cormac”.
Tooreencormick was one of a series of battles including Ringrone (near Kinsale) and Callann (near Kilgarvan). It can be considered a decisive Gaelic victory despite the loss of Cormac as it set the scene for the exclusion of Norman control and set in place MacCarthy rule throughout Desmond (south Munster) for the next three centuries.