Settlers ‘ethnically cleansed’ in Lee Valley

If your surname is McCarthy, O’Riordan, Twomey or Kelleher and your forebears came from the Lee Valley then they were probably a bloodthirsty bunch involved in ethnic cleansing in the 14th century.

Research carried out by eminent historian Dr Paul MacCotter shows Gaelic clans in the valley rose up against Norman settlers with such ferocity that they butchered many of them and sent the rest scurrying back to the safety of Cork City. Some were so petrified they even decided to pack their bags altogether and flee back to England.

The Normans initially looked to have the area sewn up for themselves as the native Irish peasantry who remained in the Lee Valley toiled in semi-servile status on the land for their Norman lords. But infighting among the Normans added to their instability.