As a "frontier" district, Coshmaing served as a buffer between the MacCarthy territories of Desmond (MacCarthys Mór, MacCarthy Reaghs of Carbery, and MacCarthys of Muskerry).
The Lordship of Coshmaing is a Paramount lordship, of comital (Count) rank (Gaelic: Ard Tiarna na Cois Mainge).