Carbury barony is found in northwest County Kildare, enclosed by the River Boyne, Enfield Blackwater and Bog of Allen.

Their chief local rivals were the O'Connors of Offaly whom they massacred under the cloak of hospitality on a number of occasions in the 14th century including a dinner on Trinity Sunday, A.D. 1315, by Sir Pierce MacFeorais (Peter Bermingham) at Carbury Castle.

The Berminghams also conducted private wars against their neighbours in the Pale culminating in their imprisonment of the Crown's representatives, including Thomas de Burley Chancellor of Ireland, after a failed parley in 1368 at Carbury Hill.

In 1466 the Earl of Desmond serving as Lord Deputy of Ireland was defeated by his own brother-in-law O'Conor of Offaly, who took him prisoner and confined him in Carbury castle.

[3] In 1588 Carbury Castle was granted to the Colley family, ancestors of the Dukes of Wellington, who built a large stronghouse in the 17th century.