[l 1][l 2] Baronies were created after the Norman invasion of Ireland as divisions of counties and were used the administration of justice and the raising of revenue.
Patrick Weston Joyce said the name Carbery comes from Uí Chairpre Áebda, of which a sept, the O'Donovans under Cathal Ua Donnubáin, migrated to the area c.1300 after being driven from County Limerick by the Fitzgeralds.
[2] The antiquarian Canon John O'Mahony disagreed, and offered three alternatives: Cairpre founder of Dál Riata; or Cairbre of Uibh Laoghaire; or the Ui Carbre of Corcu Loígde, from whom Rosscarbery in the barony is named.
[3] However, supporting the first theory is that the O'Donovans, such as Crom Ua Donnabáin, are closely associated with earliest MacCarthys in the area, and soon became their chief vassals, holding approximately 100,000 acres (400 km2) right in the middle of the medieval barony.
[5] Settlements in the division include Ballinascarty,[l 3] Ballineen,[l 4] Bandon,[l 4] Clonakilty,[l 4] Desertserges,[l 3] Innishannon,[l 4] Kilbrittain,[l 4] Kilmacsimon Quay,[l 3] and Lyre.