Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde
Encyclopedia
Richard Sassanach Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde, died 1582.
He was the son of Ulick nagCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde and Grace O'Carroll. He married: 1) Margaret O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond
and Eleanor FitzGerald, before 6 October 1548; 2) Margaret O'Brien, daughter of Donough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond
and Helen Butler, on 24 November 1553; and 3) Julia MacCarthy, daughter of Cormac 'Oge' MacCarthy, in 1568. He and his first wife, Margaret O'Brien (daughter of Murrough) were divorced after he claimed that she worked witchcraft against him.
As a result of his father's multiple marriages and relationships there were a number of candidates contending for title Earl of Clanricarde
. Richard, the oldest legitimate son, was the eventual successor. He was sporadically opposed by his brothers and half-brothers, including John, who claimed the title in 1568.
Richard extended his influence at the expense of the O 'Kelly's and the O'Madden's in the east of County Galway
, overlordship over the O'Shaughnessey in the south, while allying himself with the O'Conor Don and the O'Brien of Thomond. Other minor allies included the MacCostelloe and MacMorris, who acknowledged him in order to avoid encroachment from the Bourkes of Mayo.
From around 1570 his sons rebelled against him and the Anglo-Irish government. That decade wittnessed regular warfare across the county which devastated towns such as Galway
, Athenry
and Loughrea
. At the time of his death Burke had endured imprisonment in Dublin, and repeated treachery by his sons. After his death, further warfare was avoided when Ulick Burke
killed his brother, John of the Shamrocks, and was acknowledged as the 3rd Earl of Clanricarde
.
He was called Sassanach (Saxon, or Englishman), because of his association with the Anglo-Irish. He died on 24 July 1582.
Richard had affairs with several women including Honora O'Brien, daughter of Turlogh O'Brien (by whom he had an illegitimate daughter, Margaret de Burgh); also Sawny 'Oge' Burke, and Julia Brown.
He was the son of Ulick nagCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde and Grace O'Carroll. He married: 1) Margaret O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond
Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond
Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond was the last King of Thomond.A member of the Irish nobility, he was the son of Turlough O'Brien, King of Thomond and Raghnailt McNamara and also brother of Connor O'Brien, King of Thomond, who was inaugurated King of Thomond in 1528...
and Eleanor FitzGerald, before 6 October 1548; 2) Margaret O'Brien, daughter of Donough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond
Donough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond
Donough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond , also known as "the fat", was the son of Connor O'Brien, King of Thomond and Annabell Burke.O'Brien married Helen Butler, daughter of Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormonde and Lady Margaret Fitzgerald. Donough O'Brien died on 1 April 1553, after being attacked by...
and Helen Butler, on 24 November 1553; and 3) Julia MacCarthy, daughter of Cormac 'Oge' MacCarthy, in 1568. He and his first wife, Margaret O'Brien (daughter of Murrough) were divorced after he claimed that she worked witchcraft against him.
As a result of his father's multiple marriages and relationships there were a number of candidates contending for title Earl of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, first in 1543 and again in 1800. The former creation became extinct in 1916 while the 1800 creation is still extant and held by the Marquess of Sligo since 1916....
. Richard, the oldest legitimate son, was the eventual successor. He was sporadically opposed by his brothers and half-brothers, including John, who claimed the title in 1568.
Richard extended his influence at the expense of the O 'Kelly's and the O'Madden's in the east of County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, overlordship over the O'Shaughnessey in the south, while allying himself with the O'Conor Don and the O'Brien of Thomond. Other minor allies included the MacCostelloe and MacMorris, who acknowledged him in order to avoid encroachment from the Bourkes of Mayo.
From around 1570 his sons rebelled against him and the Anglo-Irish government. That decade wittnessed regular warfare across the county which devastated towns such as Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, Athenry
Athenry
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
and Loughrea
Loughrea
Loughrea is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The town lies north of a range of wooded hills, the Slieve Aughty Mountains.The town expanded in recent years as it increasingly becomes a commuter town for the city of Galway.- Name :...
. At the time of his death Burke had endured imprisonment in Dublin, and repeated treachery by his sons. After his death, further warfare was avoided when Ulick Burke
Ulick Burke
Ulick Burke, Bourk or Burgh is the name of:* Ulick Burke of Umhaill , founder of the Bourkes of the Owles* Ulick Burke of Annaghkeen , first head of the Clanricarde* Ulick Burke, 3rd Earl of Clanricarde...
killed his brother, John of the Shamrocks, and was acknowledged as the 3rd Earl of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, first in 1543 and again in 1800. The former creation became extinct in 1916 while the 1800 creation is still extant and held by the Marquess of Sligo since 1916....
.
He was called Sassanach (Saxon, or Englishman), because of his association with the Anglo-Irish. He died on 24 July 1582.
Annalistic references
- M1558.5. The Earl of Clanrickard gave a great defeat to the Scots. This Earl was Rickard, son of Ulick-na-gCeann, son of Rickard, son of Ulick of Cnoc-tuagh, son of Ulick Meodhanach, son of Ulick of the Wine; and the Scots who sustained that defeat were Donnell, the son of Dowell, son of Gillespick Mac Allen Campbell, and Dowell, the son of Donough, son of Gillespick Mac Allen, two brave young constables of gallowglasses, who had been a long time before hired into the service of the Ultonians, but more particularly in the service of Tirconnell. They had agreed among themselves, stimulated by extraordinary vigour and bravery, to leave those districts, and to proceed through Connaught, to render their names famous. They first passed through the territory of Carbry, the son of Niall, through the lower part of Tirerrill, by the territory of Gaileang (where Cormac Gaileang, the son of Teige, son of Kian, son of Oilioll Olum, settled after having violated the guarantee of his father), and into the country of Awley of Fiachra Tirawley. In this last mentioned territory Mac William (Richard-an-iarrainn, the son of David, son of Edmond, son of Ulick) came to meet them; and he promised to support them for plundering his neighbours and harassing his enemies. When the Earl of Clanrickard heard that this foreign host had arrived in his neighbourhood, he collected the greatest number that he was able of mail-clad warriors and ordnance, and did not halt till he arrived at the place where those Scots were, by the Moy. He was the better of attacking them there, for he routed this foreign band of fiercely-rapacious warriors, who did not consider their distance from their native country and their kindred, for they suffered their enemies to slaughter them on the spot. Donnell and Dowell were slain there; but the victory would have been greater if they had been taken prisoners, instead of being slain, for an equivalent ransom in any kind of riches would have been received for them. The power of the Scots was enfeebled in Connaught for a considerable time after this attack.
- M1568.1. The Countess of Clanrickard, i.e. Margaret, daughter of Donough, son of Conor, son of Turlough, the most famous woman in Ireland, and the supporter of her friends and relations, died.
Issue
Richard had several children (possibly five sons and three daughters) including:- Ulick Burke, 3rd Earl of ClanricardeUlick Burke, 3rd Earl of ClanricardeUlick Burke, 3rd Earl of Clanricarde, Irish peer, died 1601. He was the son of Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde and Margaret O'Brien. He married Honora Burke, daughter of John Burke, on 25 November 1564 at Anthenry, County Galway, Ireland....
, died 1602. - John na Seamar Burke, 1st Baron of Leitrim, murdered 1583.
- William mac an Iarla BurkeWilliam mac an Iarla BurkeWilliam mac an Iarla Burke, Irish lord, executed 1580.Under the year 1581, the Annals of the Four Masters relate the story of Burke:The son of the Earl of Clanrickard, i.e...
, executed 1580.
Richard had affairs with several women including Honora O'Brien, daughter of Turlogh O'Brien (by whom he had an illegitimate daughter, Margaret de Burgh); also Sawny 'Oge' Burke, and Julia Brown.