The name Desmond itself means "South Munster", in an Anglicized form. Desmond was created when the Kingdom of Munster fractured into the Kingdoms of Desmond and Thomond, in 1118, meaning South Munster and North Munster, respectively. The leaders of the kingdom were the powerful MacCarty Mor (i.e. Great MacCarthy) clan. During the Norman Invasion of Ireland, the Kingdom of Desmond suffered heavily to the Norman adventurers headed by Maurice FitzGerald in the area. The original Kingdom shrank to the far southwestern corner of the isle, with the rest of their old holdings held by the newly-formed Barony of Desmond under England, with the FitzGeralds at their helm.