Carbery

Carbery is a historic geographic region in southwestern County Cork, Ireland. It refers to a Gaelic territorial unit that existed in medieval times and, later, to civil administrative divisions in the English era. The area is commonly divided into East Carbery and West Carbery, two baronies created within County Cork to reflect the prior Gaelic divisions. The two parts roughly correspond to the eastern and western portions of the former kingdom, and were important in local administration, landholding, and inheritance patterns during the early modern period. The region is coastal, with towns such as Skibbereen, Bantry, and Clonakilty lying in West Carbery; the landscape includes rugged coastline, farmland, and rural communities. The name Carbery continues to appear in historical geography, genealogical work, and in the titles of local institutions and places, reflecting the enduring cultural significance of the historic territory. The exact boundaries of East Carbery and West Carbery were subject to changes over time, particularly with the administrative reforms of the 19th century. Today, Carbery is primarily a historical and regional identifier rather than an official administrative unit, though the term is still used in local history and tourism contexts.