Myles (Milo) (Miles) De Courcy 1st Baron of Kinsale

  General Notes:

There is some dispute as to whether John DeCourcy, Earl of Ulster, had issue. Whether or not he did, it is clear that Myles DeCourcy (or possibly Patrick) did succeed to his rights and did become the first Baron of Kingsale.

The most authoritative source I could find, a text printed by the Cork Historical and Archeological Society, does state that Myles is the son of John and Affreca. (Tuckey's "Cork Remembrancer," under the date 1553). Though Myles attempted to reclaim the Earldom of Ulster after John's death, Hugh De Lacy refused to comply stating that he had a grant of it from King John and only John DeCourcy could have attempted to reclaim it. As De Lacy was quite powerful and a favorite of the king, Myles never pursued his claim - but was able to have some of the lesser properties (outside of Ulster) granted to him. Among these was Kinsale; he was created as Baron of Kinsale by Patent dated May 29, 1223. The "right to remain covered" was also ascribed to be part of his succession rights.

Myles is said to have been one of the bails or sureties for his father's release from the Tower of London in order to fight the French champion (see John DeCourcy story). This was supposedly noted in the Records of the 4th year of King John in the Tower of London. This would make 1203 the year of the famous story. This would coincide with the capture of John DeCourcy by Hugh DeLacy on Good Friday in the year 1203. He was immediately sent to England and imprisoned in the tower.


Myles (Milo) married a daughter of Miles De Cogan. He constructed the castle on the Old Head of Kinsale and another at Ringrone , where he and De Cogan slew Reann roin or Ringrone Mac Carthy. Milo was succeeded by his grandson. (Source: Munster Journal February, 1890)

"A Margaret de Cogan married Myles de Courcy, the son of the very famous Norman invader and the lord of the province of Ulster, John de Courcy. They had a son, Patrick de Courcy, who would become the progenitor of the de Courcy family of Kinsale. The de Courcys later claimed the inheritance of Milo’s half of the kingdom of Cork."

"There does not, however, appear to have been any settlement in Kinsale until the coming of the Normans. In the early 1170s, one of the Norman adventurers, Milo de Cogan, was granted a large tract of land south of Cork city by Henry II. De Cogan, in turn gave the western portion of his territory as a dowry to his daughter on her marriage to Myles de Courcy. This area, which included Ballinspittle, Garretstown, and the Old Head of Kinsale, was often subsequently referred to as De Courcey country. Myles de Courcy was created the first Baron of Kinsale in 1223." (from the History of Kinsale - http://www.geocities.com/eomahony/Kinsale.htm)

Nothwithstanding what Giraldus Cambrensis asserts, in the 2nd book if his History, Chapter 2, that John DeCourcy, Earl of Ulster, had no issue, there is a record extant in the Tower of London (Rot. Pat. 6, Johan M. Dors) that Milo DeCourcey, son of John DeCourcey, was a hostage for his father upon his enlargement from the Tower to fight the french champion.
- p210 of The Ancient and Present State of the County and City of Cork. 1749

Many suggest John had no issue, solely on the Giraldus comment. However, it is speculated that Giruldus was writing this no later than 1186 - which provides ample opprotunity for children near and beyond that date.

Notes on the 1295 Battle of Callann suggest that Miles De Courcy was the grandson of John DeCourcy

Tuckey in "The County & City of Cork Rembembrances" lists Myles as son of John Earl of Ulster who was granted the Barony of Kinsale by letters patent May 29, 1223.


Other Sources:
History of Kinsale: http://www.geocities.ws/eomahony/Kinsale.htm
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/Members/tom.paterson/courcy1.htm
http://mccarthy.montana.com/Articles/BattleOfCallann.html
http://home.swbell.net/barney9/
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/cairney/135.htm
Ireland under the Normans Vol II (Orpen)

Myles married Margaret (Margery) De Cogan, daughter of Miles (Milo) De Cogan and Christina Paynel. (Margaret (Margery) De Cogan was born in 1177 in Cork and died in 1221.)