The Lordship of Coshmaing is a Paramount lordship, of comital (Count) rank (Gaelic: "Ard Tiarna na Cois Mainge"). The original Lord of Coshmaing, Eoghan Mór MacCarthy, head of Sliocht Eoghan of Coshmaing, granted sub-lordships to his two sons: Cormac (West Coshmaing), and Donal (East Coshmaing, known as the Lordship of Molahiffe [tiarnas/baronial-rank]). In turn, Cormac's two sons also received grants of sub-lordships (tiarnas) – Donal (Lord of Clonmeallane), and Eoghan/Owen (Lord of Fieries – in Gaelic, "foithre", meaning "woods"). The lordships of Molahiffe, Fieries and Clonmeallane each had castles that survived for various tenures up until the Cromwellian Confisacations (ca. 1649–53).