# Cork (barony)

Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) is a barony in County Cork, Ireland, surrounding the city of Cork. The barony comprises the former Liberties of Cork, the area which was within the county of the city of Cork but outside the municipal borough of Cork. The liberties were defined by the charter granted in 1608 by Charles I of England as extending three miles in all directions from the city walls. Under the Municipal Corporations Act (Ireland) 1840, the liberties were detached from the county of the city, and attached to the county of Cork as a new barony.
The Barony of Cork City comprises the former area of the municipal borough. No modifications to barony boundaries have been made since the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. The boundary of the city (previously county borough) of Cork has been extended since 1898 beyond the barony of Cork City and now includes parts of the barony of Cork.

## Legal context

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. While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they have been administratively obsolete since 1898. However, they continue to be used in land registration and in specification, such as in planning permissions. In many cases, a barony corresponds to an earlier Gaelic túath which had submitted to the Crown.

## Location

The barony, doughnut-like, entirely surrounds the Barony of Cork City. Other neighbouring baronies include Barrymore to the east, Barretts to the north-west, Muskerry East to the west, and Kerrycurrihy to the south. The River Lee bisects the barony from west to east.

## Subdivisions

The barony of Cork comprises part or all of 16 civil parishes:
| Parish | Irish name | Location within barony of Cork | Other baronies in parish | Notes |
| Rathcooney | Ráth Chuanna | North-east | None | |
| St. Michael's | Paróiste Mhichíl | North | Barrymore | Only the townland of Ballinvriskig is in the barony of Cork. |
| Dunbulloge | Dún Bolg | North | Barrymore | Only the townland of Ballyhesty is in the barony of Cork. |
| Kilcully | Cill Chúile | North | None | |
| St. Anne's, Shandon | Paróiste San Anna | North, inner | Cork City | See Church of St Anne |
| St. Mary's, Shandon | Paróiste Mhuire | North-west, inner | Cork City | |
| Whitechurch | An Teampall Geal | North-west | Barrymore, Barretts | |
| Currykippane | Currach Cheapáin | West, north of the River Lee | None | |
| Carrigrohane | Carraig Ruacháin | West, south of the River Lee | Muskerry East | |
| St. Finbar's | Paróiste Fhionnbharra | South | Cork City | Cathedral parish; see Saint Finbarre's Cathedral |
| Kilnaglory | Cill na Gluaire | South-west | Muskerry East | Only the townland of Ballynora is in the barony of Cork. |
| St. Nicholas | Paróiste San Nioclás | South, inner | Cork City, Muskerry East | Only the detached townland of Maglin is in Muskerry East. |
| Inishkenny | Inis Cionaoith | South | Muskerry East | |
| Ballinaboy | Baile na Baoi | South | Muskerry East, Kerrycurrihy, Kinalea | |
| Killanully | Cill an Eallaigh | South | Cork City, Kerrycurrihy | |
| Carrigaline | Carraig Uí Leighin | South-east | Muskerry East, Kerrycurrihy, Kinalea | |