David de Barry, 5th Viscount Buttevant facts for kids

David de Barry (1550–1617) was an important Irish leader. He held the title of the 5th Viscount Buttevant. At first, he joined a rebellion against the English Crown, but then he switched sides and fought against the rebels. He also fought for the English during a big war known as the Nine Years' War.

Early Life and Family

David was born in 1550. His father was James de Barry, the 4th Viscount Buttevant. His family, the de Barrys, were known as "Old English." This means they were descendants of the Normans who came to Ireland many centuries ago. They owned a lot of land in southern County Cork.

David's mother was Ellen MacCarthy Reagh. Her family, the MacCarthy Reagh, were a powerful "Gaelic Irish" family. This means they were native Irish rulers.

David had four brothers and five sisters. He became the 5th Viscount Buttevant even though he had an older brother named Richard. Richard could not hear or speak, so David took over the family title and lands instead.

Marriages and Children

David de Barry married twice. His first wife was Ellen Roche. She was the daughter of David Roche, who was the 5th Viscount Roche of Fermoy.

David and Ellen had one son and six daughters:

• David (died around 1604): He married Elizabeth Power. Sadly, he died before his father. But he had a son who was born after his death. This grandson later became the 1st Earl of Barrymore.
• Honora: She married Gerald FitzGerald and later Patrick Browne.
• Helen: She married John "Oge" Power, then Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormonde, and later Thomas Somerset, 1st Viscount Somerset.
• A daughter: Her name is not known, but she married James Tobin.
• Ellen: She married John Fitzgerald.
• Catherine: She married Richard Burke.
• Margaret: She married Sir Dermot O'Shaughnessy and later Robert Dillon, 2nd Earl of Roscommon.

David's second wife was Julia MacCarthy, also called Sheelagh. She was the daughter of Cormac MacDermot MacCarthy, who was the 16th Lord of Muskerry. David and Julia had three sons and four daughters, but we don't know their names.

Role in Rebellions

When the First Desmond Rebellion started in 1569, David's father, the 4th Viscount Buttevant, supported the rebels. These rebellions were a series of fights between Irish lords and the English Crown.

The rebellion ended in 1573 when the rebel leader, James FitzMaurice FitzGerald, gave up.

Becoming Viscount

David became the Viscount Buttevant in 1581 after his father passed away.

Later Conflicts

After the rebellions, some lands were taken by the English Crown. For example, a religious building called the friary in Buttevant was given to the famous poet, Edmund Spenser.

Viscount Buttevant was known for a long and difficult disagreement with Sir Florence MacCarthy. Sir Florence was a powerful Irish leader whose loyalty to the English Crown was often doubted. Buttevant spread rumors that MacCarthy was planning to betray the Crown. He even linked MacCarthy to a man named Patrick O'Collun, who was executed for planning to kill Queen Elizabeth I. Because of these rumors, MacCarthy spent much of his later life in prison.

In 1601, during the Nine Years War, Buttevant sided with the English leader, Sir George Carew. After a big battle called the Battle of Kinsale, Buttevant was given large estates (lands) in Munster. These lands had been taken from the MacCarthy Reagh family.

Death

Viscount Buttevant died at Barryscourt Castle on April 10, 1617. His title and lands went to his grandson, who later became the 1st Earl of Barrymore in 1628.