County Cork Ancient Geography
The oldest source of information that we possess regarding the ancient geography of Ireland is contained in the work of the second-century Alexandrian, Ptolemy. The following are the geographical names which he gives for the region now called the province of Munster : on the West Coast, the River Dour, probably one of the inlets of the sea (such as the Kenmare river) at the south-west of Ireland. South of this is the Hiernos Potamos-another of these estuaries. This south-west corner of the island was, according to 
Ptolemy, inhabited by a tribe called the Vellabroi, of whom we hear again in the fifth century historian Orosius, but apparently nowhere certainly in Irish traditional history. At the angle was the Notion Akron, which perhaps it is hopeless to identify with certainty among the headlands of that complicated coast-line. Turning to the south coast, we meet the Dabrona river, with a town Ivernis upon it, inhabited by people called Ivemoi. The position identifies these with the River Lee (Sabhrannl in Irish), Cork, and the people there dwelling. The only other place-name is the River Birgos, whose name and position identify it with the Barrow (or rather the estuary of the Barrow and Suir). The sea west of Ireland Ptolemy calls the Okeanos Dutikos; that to the south, the Okeanos Vergionos.
The ancient territorial name Berre survives in the modern barony of Bear, Co. Cork (Bed and Breakfasts, Cork, Ireland). Other peoples were the Mnintear Bdire in West Carbury, Co. Cork (Holiday Cottages, Cork, Ireland) ; the Corcu Laighde (to which the sept of 
the. ODriscolls belong) in the baronies of Carbury, Bearc, and Bantry ; the Ceneal mBeice, in the modern barony of Kinalmeaky (the name of which fairly re- presents the old pronunciation), the Ui Liathdin, the descendants of Eochu Liathanach, in the baronies of Barrymore and Kinatalloon, and the Ui Fothaid, the descendants of Fothad, in the barony of Iffa and Offa, Co. Tippcrary. The Fir Mnighe Feine, or men of the plain of Fene, are still remembered in the name of the town of Fermoy. An important people was the Musc- raighe, the descendants of Coirpre Muse, son of Conaire Mor : these held various territories in Co. Cork (Self Catering, Cork, Ireland), and the baronies of Muskerry preserve their name. We may also mention Eile, a territory in the south of Offaly, and north of Tipperary, the Corcu Athrach in Tipperary, and the Deisi in the baronies of Decies, Co. Waterford.