The Headlands beginning on the east are Knockadoon, south of Youghal; Power Head and Robert’s Head at the entrance to Cork Harbour; the Old Head of Kinsale west of Kinsale Harbour; Seven Heads east of Clonakilty Bay, and Galley Head on its west; Toe Head west of Castlehaven; Cape Clear on the south of the island with the same name; Mizen Head is the most southerly point of the Irish mainland; Muntervary or Sheep Head is the extreme point of the peninsula between the Bays of Bantry and Dunmanus; Dursey, west of Dursey island; and Crow Head on the adjacent mainland. Cod’s Head and Kilcatherine mark Coulagh Bay on the Kenmare river estuary.

In the Barony of Duhallow, there was at Dromagh, 3 miles south-west of Kanturk an extensive coal field; Copper ore was found in various places, the chief mines being those of Allhies near Castletown Berehaven, and the Cappagh mine on the west coast of Roaring Water bay near Skibbereen. North of Bantry Bay are the Caha mountains on the boundary of Cork and Kerry; the Miskish extending thence to the western point of the peninsula. Their most remarkable summits are Hungry Hill (2,251), near Berehaven; and Sugarloaf (1,187) west of Glengariff. East of these are mountains encircling the Pass of Keimaneigh, and the lake of Gougane Barra. The highest point is Shey Hill (1,797) at the head of Owvane Valley.

 

In the 8th century, the tribe of Cenél Láoghaire increased its dominion southward and westward to Bantry, Schull, and Ballydehob, and northward to the Derrynasaggart Mountains. A portion of the Uíbh Láoghaire from Kinneigh to Dunmanway was called Coill t Sealbaig, and the tribe itself sometimes called Clann t Sealbaig.

The Lee rises in Gougane Barra lake, and in its course forms Inchigeela Lake, and eventually below Cork City forms Lough Mahon and enters the sea between Poewr Head and Robert’s head. The tributaries of the Lee are the Gullane and Laney; the Martin and its tributary the Blarney River;; the Glashaboy; and the Owenacurra. Another Bride river enters the Lee seven miles above Cork.

The Bandon rises at Owen Hill west of Dunmanway, and flowing by Dunmanway, Bandon and Inishannon enters Kinsale harbour. Its tributaries are the Caha, another Blackwater and the Brinny. Other rivers in the county are the Adrigeen which enters Courtmacsharry Bay, and the Ilen river into Baltimore Bay; the Coomhola,the Owvane, and the mEalagh flow into Bantry Bay; and the Four Mile Water into Dunmanus Bay.