Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde facts for kids

Richard Sassanach Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde (English: /klænˈrɪkɑːrd/; klan-RIK-ard; died 24 July 1582) was an Irish noble who succeeded his father Ulick na gCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde as chief of a Gaelicised Norman family with authority over much of what is now County Galway. Richard's nickname was Sassanach "Englishman", because he took the English part during the Tudor reconquest of Ireland.

Richard's mother, Grace O'Carroll, was one of several putative wives of Ulick na gCeann, such that there were rival candidates to succeed to the Earldom. Richard, the oldest legitimate son in English law, was the eventual successor. He was sporadically opposed by his brothers and half-brothers, including John, whose mother was of Maire Lynch, and who claimed the title in 1568.

Richard extended his influence at the expense of the Ó Ceallaigh and the O'Maddens in the east of County Galway, gaining overlordship over the O'Shaughnessy in the south, while allying himself with the O'Conor Don and the O'Briens of Thomond. Other minor allies included the MacCostelloe and MacMorris, who acknowledged him to avoid encroachment from the Bourkes of Mayo. In 1559 Clanricarde fought on the losing side at the Battle of Spancel Hill during an O'Brien succession dispute.

Mac an Iarla War

The North Gate, Athenry.

From around 1570 his sons (Mac an Iarla "son of the earl") rebelled against him and the Anglo-Irish government. That decade witnessed regular warfare across the county which devastated towns such as Galway, Athenry and Loughrea. Major engagements included:

• 1572 – First Sack of Athenry
• 1573 – Beal an Chip
• 1577 – Second Sack of Athenry
• 1577 – Siege of Loughrea
• 1579 – Lisdalon
• 1580 – Sack of Loughrea
• 1580 – Cill Tuathail

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 killed his brother John and was acknowledged as the 3rd Earl of Clanricarde.

Family

Richard married three times and had several children (possibly five sons and three daughters): Firstly, he married Margaret O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond and Eleanor FitzGerald, before 6 October 1548. They were divorced after he claimed that she worked witchcraft against him. Their children were:

• Ulick Burke, later 3rd Earl of Clanricarde (died 1602)
• Mary Burke (c.1560 – c.1627)

Secondly, he married Margaret O'Brien, daughter of Donough O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond and Helen Butler, on 24 November 1553. Their children were:

• John of the Shamrocks (murdered 1583)
• Unknown son
• Unknown son
• Unknown daughter
• Mary de Burgh

Thirdly, he married Julia MacCarthy, daughter of Cormac 'Oge' MacCarthy, in 1568. Their son was:

• William mac an Iarla Burke (executed 1580)

Richard had liaisons with several other women including Honora O'Brien, daughter of Turlogh O'Brien, with whom he had children:

• Margaret de Burgh who married (1) Richard Burke; and (2) Theobald Bourke, 1st Lord Bourke, Baron of Brittas (d.1654)
• Richard 'Og' Bourke

He also had liaisons with Sawny 'Oge' Burke and Julia Brown.

Arms

Arms of Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde

Crest A Cat-a-Mountain sejant guardant proper, collared and chained Or. Escutcheon Or, a cross gules in the first quarter a lion rampant sable. Supporters Two Cats-a-Mountain sejant guardant proper, collared and chained Or. Motto UNG ROY, UNG FOY, UNG LOY (One king, one faith, one law)

Sources

• Portumna Castle and its Lords, Michael Mac Mahon, 1983.
• Burke:People and Places, Eamon Bourke, Dublin, 1995.
• From Warlords to Landlords:Political and Social Change in Galway 1540–1640, Bernadette Cunningham, in "Galway:History and Society", 1996.
• Burke (de Burgh), Richard, Terry Clavin, in Dictionary of Irish Biography ... to the Year 2002, pp. 48–53, Cambridge, 2010