O'Byrne family
Encyclopedia
The O'Byrne family is an Irish
clann that descend from Bran mac Máelmórda, King of Leinster, of the Uí Faelain of the Uí Dúnlainge
. During the Norman invasion of Ireland
they lost their ancestral lands around Kildare
and settled in south Wicklow
in the late 12th century.
The seat of the junior sept of the Ó Broin (Uí Broin or Branaigh) was at Ballinacor and controlled the surrounding lands, known as Crioch Branach.
During the Desmond Rebellions
, the chief Hugh O'Byrne gave support to the Earl of Desmond
, and died during the second rebellion. His son Fiach McHugh O'Byrne
took over the cheiftainship and together with the Pale
lord James Eustace, 3rd Viscount Baltinglass
, continued hostilities to the English administration. A large English force under the Lord Deputy of Ireland
Earl Grey de Wilton
was sent to subdue them, only to be ambushed and defeated at the battle of Glenmalure
on 25 August 1580, losing over 800 dead. Fiach also helped in the escape of Hugh Roe O'Donnell
from Dublin Castle
in 1591 and Hugh Roe stayed with O'Byrne at Ballinacor, Glenmalure
.
In 1595, Ballinacor was occupied by an Anglo-Irish garrison, with Fiach later expelling the garrison, and destroying the fort. Fiach was killed in a skirmish with the forces of the Lord Deputy of Ireland at Fananerin on 8 May 1597. He was drawn and quartered and his head was sent to Dublin Castle and placed on a spike. The head was later pickled and sent to England.
Felim McFiach O'Byrne
, Fiach's son, was confirmed in his fathers lands by patent of Queen Elizabeth
after submitting to her authority, however these were lost under patent of King James I
. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for County Wicklow in 1613 and died in 1630.
The O'Byrnes have long been close to their kinsmen the O'Toole family.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
clann that descend from Bran mac Máelmórda, King of Leinster, of the Uí Faelain of the Uí Dúnlainge
Uí Dúnlainge
The Uí Dúnlainge, from the Old Irish "grandsons of Dúnlaing", were an Irish dynasty of Leinster kings who traced their descent from Dúnlaing mac Énda Niada. He was said to be a cousin of Énnae Cennsalach, eponymous ancestor of the rival Uí Chennselaig....
. During the Norman invasion of Ireland
Norman Invasion of Ireland
The Norman invasion of Ireland was a two-stage process, which began on 1 May 1169 when a force of loosely associated Norman knights landed near Bannow, County Wexford...
they lost their ancestral lands around Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
and settled in south Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
in the late 12th century.
The seat of the junior sept of the Ó Broin (Uí Broin or Branaigh) was at Ballinacor and controlled the surrounding lands, known as Crioch Branach.
During the Desmond Rebellions
Desmond Rebellions
The Desmond Rebellions occurred in 1569-1573 and 1579-1583 in the Irish province of Munster.They were rebellions by the Earl of Desmond – head of the FitzGerald dynasty in Munster – and his followers, the Geraldines and their allies against the threat of the extension of Elizabethan English...
, the chief Hugh O'Byrne gave support to the Earl of Desmond
Earl of Desmond
The title of Earl of Desmond has been held historically by lords in Ireland, first as a title outside of the peerage system and later as part of the Peerage of Ireland....
, and died during the second rebellion. His son Fiach McHugh O'Byrne
Fiach McHugh O'Byrne
Fiach mac Aodh Ó Broin was Lord of Ranelagh and sometime leader of the Clann Uí Bhroin, or the O'Byrne clan, during the Elizabethan conquest of Ireland.-Background:...
took over the cheiftainship and together with the Pale
The Pale
The Pale or the English Pale , was the part of Ireland that was directly under the control of the English government in the late Middle Ages. It had reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast stretching from Dalkey, south of Dublin, to the garrison town of Dundalk...
lord James Eustace, 3rd Viscount Baltinglass
James Eustace, 3rd Viscount Baltinglass
James Eustace of Harristown, 3rd Viscount BaltinglassJames FitzEustace, the eldest son of Roland FitzEustace, the 2nd Viscount of Baltinglass and Joan, daughter of James Butler, 8th Baron Dunboyne. He was born in 1530 and died in Spain in 1585...
, continued hostilities to the English administration. A large English force under the Lord Deputy of Ireland
Lord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
Earl Grey de Wilton
Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton
Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton was a baron in the Peerage of England, remembered mainly for his memoir of his father, and for participating in the last defence of Calais.-Life:...
was sent to subdue them, only to be ambushed and defeated at the battle of Glenmalure
Battle of Glenmalure
The Battle of Glenmalure took place in Ireland in 1580 during the Desmond Rebellions. An Irish Catholic force made up of the Gaelic clans from the Wicklow Mountains led by Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne and James Eustace, Viscount Baltinglas of the Pale, defeated an English army under Arthur Grey, 14th...
on 25 August 1580, losing over 800 dead. Fiach also helped in the escape of Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Aodh Rua Ó Dónaill, anglicised as either Hugh Roe O'Donnell or Red Hugh O'Donnell , was An Ó Domhnaill and Rí of Tir Chonaill . He led the Irish forces against the English conquest of Ireland from 1593 and helped to lead the Nine Years' War from 1595 to 1603...
from Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
in 1591 and Hugh Roe stayed with O'Byrne at Ballinacor, Glenmalure
Glenmalure
Glenmalure is a valley in the Wicklow Mountains in eastern Ireland. It is a u-shaped glacial valley, with only one road leading into it, which connects to the 'Military Road' at the mouth of the valley....
.
In 1595, Ballinacor was occupied by an Anglo-Irish garrison, with Fiach later expelling the garrison, and destroying the fort. Fiach was killed in a skirmish with the forces of the Lord Deputy of Ireland at Fananerin on 8 May 1597. He was drawn and quartered and his head was sent to Dublin Castle and placed on a spike. The head was later pickled and sent to England.
Felim McFiach O'Byrne
Felim McFiach O'Byrne
Féilim mac Fiach Ó Broin was the son of Fiach mac Aodh Ó Broin and Rose O'Toole. He was a Gaelic chieftain who in 1600 submitted to Elizabeth I of England therefore ending the long lasting reignof the O'Byrne clan over County Wicklow...
, Fiach's son, was confirmed in his fathers lands by patent of Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
after submitting to her authority, however these were lost under patent of King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for County Wicklow in 1613 and died in 1630.
The O'Byrnes have long been close to their kinsmen the O'Toole family.
Heraldry
- Arms: Gules a chevron between three dexter hands couped at the wrist Argent.
- Crest: A mermaid with comb and mirror proper.
- Motto: Latin:certavi et vici (I have fought and I conquered).