The area surrounding Durrus village and civil parish has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The current layout of Durrus village, in West Cork in the south of Ireland, has its basis in developments during the 19th century. Prehistory to middleages Neolithic (3500–1500 BC) monuments at Coolcoulaghta and at Dunmanus provide evidence of pre-Celtic population in the area. In 1700–1500 BC, copper was mined at Mount Gabriel and at Derrycarhoon. Later on, around 500 BC, the Celts started arriving in a process that lasted for quite some time slowly overlaying the local population who adopted their language and culture. The Annals of Innisfallen state that St. Ciarán of Cape Clear came back to his native place from Rome in 402 AD and introduced Christianity to the area. By the sixth century AD, a number of St. Finbarr's disciples were living in Muintir Bhaire. Some time in the sixth or seventh century, the family now known as the O'Mahonys from the Eoghanach in North Munster arrived in the area. By the eighth century they were well settled in Muintir Bhaire. The McCarthys arrived in the twelfth century, and by 1185 they had secured the lands of the O'Mahonys. Tadhg Rua McCarthy built a castle at Scart, now demolished. He was called Tadhg Rua na Scairte and the family later built Cul na Long, the fortified castle some outside Durrus. The O'Donovans also arrived in the twelfth century and secured some of the O'Mahony lands. By 1190, the Normans had reached as far west as Durrus, but were repulsed by the Desmumu (people of South Munster). From 1375 onwards, the herring fishery was established in the area, and tribute was paid by the French and Iberian fleets to the O'Mahony, O'Driscoll and McCarthy families. This conferred on them the right to fish and also to build on shore bases to salt their catch. This prosperity gave rise to the building of tower houses in the area. For example, the O'Mahonys built twelve fortifications, including examples at Rossmore, Dunbeacon and Ballydevlin. Parish boundaries The boundary between the baronies of Bantry and Carbery coincided with those of Clann Taidhg Ruaidh and McCarthy's lands. The parts in Durrus Barony reaching from the site of Bantry Abbey along the bay to Rooska, was in the territory of O'Sullivans of Bantry. Clann Taidhg Ruaidh had no direct access to Bantry Bay, as the only townland touching it in