Kinelarty derives its name from the IrishCineál Fhaghartaigh, which means Faghartach's kindred. This was the name of an Irish district, the chiefs of which were the Mac Artáin. The Mac Artáin descend from Artán, grandson of Fagartaigh of Uí Echach Cobo. The Mac Artáin, as is professed throughout the Annals of the Four Masters and in parts the Annals of Innisfallen reigned supreme as High Kings for considerable periods of history further positioning themselves as lords of Iveagh. By 1177, the NormanJohn de Courcy had arrived in Ulster and set about conquering most of eastern Ulster, forming the Earldom of Ulster. The only clans who were able to exist independently in eastern Ulster during this time were in the interior away from the sea-coast, where the Uí Tuirtre, north of Lough Neagh, and the Uí Echach Cobo. During the 14th centurythe Normans in Ulster faded as a result of the Bruce Invasion, with this period seeing the Mac Aonghusa and Mac Artáin clans emerge and expand from Uibh Echach, with their respective territories becoming the basis of the future baronies of Iveagh and Kinelarty. With the fall of Norman power in Ulster, the Clann Aodha Bhuidhe branch of the O'Neills took control of north Down, with the chiefs of Kinelarty eventually becoming their tributaries. Early mentions in regards to Kinelarty and the MacCartans include:
1004 or 1005, Flaithbheartach gained a victory over the Uí Echach and Ulaid at Loch Bricrenn, where Artán, heir of Uí Echach was killed.
1011, Muircheartach, son of Artán, the heir of Uí Echach, was killed in the "Battle of the Mullachs".
1157, "Kenel Fagartay" and "Kenelfagarthay" are recorded by the Normans in the Newry Charter.
1165, a Diarmait Mac Artáin head of Clainne-Fogartaigh and all Uí Echach died.
1178, Cinaeth Mac Cartain is mentioned as head of Ceneil Fogartaigh.
1370-5, Mac Artain uirrí of Cenel Fhagartoigh, was killed by his own kinsman, Mac Gilla Ternaind.
By the Elizabethan era, Kinelarty was simultaneously known under variations of "MacCarton's country", and during the reign of James I simultaneously under variations of "Killenarten", before once again becoming simply known as variations of Kinelarty. In 1575 Kinelarty was assigned by the Crown to a Captain Malby, who left very soon after, complaining that it was: ".. all desolate and waste, full of thieves, outlaws and unreclaimed people". By the 1660s the area from Seaforde towards Slieve Croob belonged to the Forde family, the first of whom had married a daughter of the last McCartan chief,
