Boetius Clancy facts for kids
Boetius Clancy (died April 1598) was an important Irish landowner and politician in the 1500s. He also held the role of High Sheriff. He was born in County Clare and came from a famous family of lawyers called the MacClancys. Boetius was well-educated and could speak both Latin and English fluently. He lived at his family's home, a castle in Knockfin, which was near a well-known law school.
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Boetius Clancy's Life
Early Life and Family
Boetius Clancy was the son of Hugh Clancy. His family, the MacClancys, were known as the hereditary lawyers, or brehons, of Thomond. This meant they were legal experts who advised local rulers and settled disputes. Boetius inherited the family castle at Knockfin, near the parish of Killilagh in County Clare.
Political Career
In 1585, Boetius Clancy became a representative for the newly formed County Clare in the Parliament of Ireland. This meant he helped make laws and decisions for the region. In 1588, he was given the important job of High Sheriff of Clare. The High Sheriff was responsible for keeping law and order in the county.
The Spanish Armada and Its Aftermath
In 1588, a large fleet of Spanish ships, known as the Spanish Armada, was trying to sail home. They faced huge storms off the west coast of Ireland, and many ships were destroyed or left behind. Two large Spanish galleons, the San Marcos and the San Esteban, were wrecked on the coast of Clare.
Boetius Clancy was given orders by the Lord Deputy, William Fitzwilliam, to find any Spanish sailors who survived. He was also told to collect any valuable items from the wrecked ships. About 70 to 170 Spanish crew members survived the shipwrecks. Clancy's men quickly gathered them and put them in prison. These survivors were later executed on a nearby hill, which is now called Cnoc na Crocaire, or Hangman's Hill. Their bodies were buried in a mass grave close by.
Clancy also managed to save a special, beautifully carved table from one of the wrecked ships. It is now known as the Armada table and is displayed at Bunratty Castle.
Family and Death
Boetius Clancy married Margaret, who was the daughter of Donough O'Brien. He died in April 1598, leaving behind a son named Murtough Clancy.
Images for kids
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Doonagore Castle is a historic tower house in County Clare, Ireland.
