Eliogarty

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.

By the 8th century, the territory of Ancient Éile had broken up into a number of petty kingdoms: the O’Carrolls occupied the northern portion, the O’Spillanes held Ileagh (Ileigh) while the Eóganacht Chaisil had annexed Middlethird.

The River Nore, at its position between Roscrea and Templemore, although just a small stream at this point, is usually taken as the southern limit of Ely O'Carroll territory.

As the Down Survey was being conducted in the 1650s, the barony had so effectively been cleared of its native population it was found necessary to have some returned from Connaught to clarify to surveyors the extent of properties for distribution to Undertakers.

However, the neighbouring barony of Kilnamanagh was split into Upper and Lower half-baronies, being allocated to the north and south ridings respectively.