Cormac Láidir Mac Cárthaigh. This was burnt in 1922 and is part of the local golf club today. The Muskerry McCarthys' historical seat is Blarney Castle in County Cork. Legend has it that the Blarney Stone was given as a gift to Cormac MacCarthy, King of Desmond, from king Robert the Bruce of Scotland, who presented the 'magical' stone in gratitude for his assistance in the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The third castle built on the site (the castle which stands to this day) was built by another McCarthy descendant, Dermot McCarthy, in 1446. Dermot was known for his eloquence, hence the Blarney Stone's reputation for imparting the gift of the gab upon those who kiss it. The number of references to the MacCarthys in the annals, especially the "Annals of Innisfallen", is very great. Carthach was the son of Saoirbhreathach, a Gaelic name which is anglicised as Justin, and in the latter form has been in continuous use among many branches of the McCarthys for centuries. Another male forename similarly associated with them is Finghin, anglice Fineen, but for some centuries past, the name Florence (colloquially Flurry) has been used as its English form. From the thirteenth century, when Fineen MacCarthy decisively defeated the Geraldines in 1261, down to the present day, Fineen or Florence MacCarthys and Justin MacCarthys have been very prominent among the many distinguished men of the name in Irish military, political and cultural history. Until the dissolution of the kingdom in 1596, the crown was vested in the hereditary possession of the Mac Carthy (by the law of tanistry). Septs Eleven septs of the illustrious McCarthy family in Kerry are given in Kings History of Co. Kerry (1) Sliocht Owen More of Coshmaing (2) Sliocht Cormaic of Dunguile (3) Sliocht Fineen Duff of Ardeanaght (4) Sliocht Clan Donell Finn (5) Sliocht nInghean Riddery (6) Sliocht Donell Brick (7) Sliocht Nedeen (8) Sliocht Clan Teige Kittagh (9) Sliocht Clan Dermod (10) Sliocht Clan Donell Roe (11) Sliocht MacFineen The MacCarthys are closely related to a number of other Munster families. These include the O'Sullivans, O'Callaghans, O'Keeffes, O'Donoghues, and O'Donovans. An early sept of the MacCarthys themselves are the MacAuliffes. Rulers of the Kingdom of Desmond, the MacCarthys stood among the greatest Irish dynasties of the last millennium. Notable members Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, 9th Lord of Muskerry, Irish chieftain, 1411–1494 Cormac Oge Laidir MacCarthy, 10th Lord