The de Barry family is a noble family of Cambro-Norman origins which held extensive land holdings in Wales and Ireland. The founder of the family was a Norman Knight, Odo, who assisted in the Norman Conquest of England during the 11th century. As reward for his military services, Odo was granted estates in Pembrokeshire and around Barry, Wales, including Barry Island just off the coast. Odo’s grandson, Gerald of Wales, a 12th-century scholar, gives the origin of his family's name, de Barry, in his Itinerarium Cambriae : "Not far from Caerdyf is a small island situated near the shore of the Severn, called Barri, from St. Baroc …. From hence a noble family, of the maritime parts of South Wales, who owned this island and the adjoining estates, received the name of de Barri." Many family members later assisted in the Norman invasion of Ireland. For the family's services, King John of England awarded Philip's son, William de Barry, extensive baronies in the Kingdom of South Munster, specifically the defunct Uí Liatháin kingdom with its late seat at Castlelyons.
Ancestry
Odo de Barry was the grantee of the immense manor of Manorbier in Pembrokeshire, which included the manors of Jameston and Manorbier Newton, as well as the manors of Begelly and Penally. He built the first motte-and-bailey at Manorbier. His son, William FitzOdo de Barry, is the common ancestor of the Barry family in Ireland. He rebuilt Manorbier Castle in stone and the family retained the lordship of Manorbier until the 15th century.
Robert de Barry accompanied his half-uncle Robert Fitz-Stephen in the Norman invasion of Ireland. He took part in the Siege of Wexford and was killed at the battle of Lismore in 1185.
Philip de Barry came to Ireland in 1185 to assist his half-uncle Robert Fitz-Stephen, and his first cousin Raymond FitzGerald, in their efforts to recover lands in the modern county Cork - the cantreds of Killede, Olethan and Muscarydonegan.
near Carrigtwohill was the seat of the Barry family from the 12th century until 1617 when they removed to Barrymore Castle in Castlelyons. In 1771, the 6th Earl saw Barrymore Castle burn to the ground. The family fortunes were subsequently dissipated by his issue, the 7th and 8th Earls. The name of the town of Buttevant is believed to derive from the family's battle cry – Boutez-en-Avant, roughly translating as "Kick your way through".
Irish descendants
The most prominent Gaelic neighbours of the de Barrys were the MacCarthy Reagh dynasty, rulers of the principality or petty kingdom of Carbery. For the most part, with not a great many exceptions, the two families kept on good terms, and also regularly intermarried. The de Barrys are descended from several of the MacCarthy Reagh princes through their daughters. Likewise the Barrys intermarried with the also powerful MacCarthys of Muskerry. Some Barrys eventually became so Gaelicized that a paternal Gaelic lineage was imagined for them. They were made to descend from Fothach Canann, 5th son of the famous Lugaid Mac Con of the Dáirine or Corcu Loígde.
Uí Liatháin
The Uí Liatháin or "Sons of Liathán", whose long decayed and defunct kingdom the de Barrys by coincidence came to occupy, are notable for having raided other parts of Britain in antiquity from their fortresses in Wales and Cornwall. Also, notable that the de Barry family descend maternally, through Angharad and Nesta, from the ancient Welsh Prince Cunedda, whose sons were the Britons who ended the Uí Liatháin's dominance in Wales.
