Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster

Early life

Richard's father was Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster (of the second creation) & Lord of Connacht., who was the second son of Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Lord of Connaught and Egidia de Lacy. "Richard Óg", means "Richard the Young", which may be a reference to his youth when he became earl in 1271, or to differentiate him from his grandfather, Richard Mór.

Earl of Ulster

Richard Óg was the most powerful of the de Burgh Earls of Ulster, succeeding his father in Ulster and Connacht upon reaching his majority in 1280. He was a friend of King Edward I of England, and ranked first among the Earls of Ireland. Richard married Margaret, the daughter of his cousin John de Burgh (also spelled de Borough) and Cecily Baillol. He pursued expansionist policies that often left him at odds with fellow Norman lords.

His daughter Elizabeth was to become the second wife of King Robert the Bruce of Scotland. However, this did not stop him leading his forces from Ireland to support England's King Edward I in his Scottish campaigns and when the forces of Edward Bruce invaded Ulster in 1315, the Earl led a force against him, but was beaten at Connor in Antrim. The invasion of Bruce and the uprising of Felim Ó Conchúir in Connacht left him virtually without authority in his lands, but Ó Conchúir was killed in 1316 at the Second Battle of Athenry, and he was able to recover Ulster after the defeat of Bruce at Faughart.

He died on 29 July 1326 at Athassel Priory, near Cashel, County Tipperary.

Children and family

Aveline de Burgh (b. c. 1280), married John de Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth

Eleanor de Burgh (1282 – aft. August 1324), married Lord Thomas de Multon of Burghs-on-Sands

Elizabeth de Burgh (c. 1284 – 26 October 1327), Queen consort of Scotland, married Robert the Bruce as his second wife, and was the mother of David II of Scotland

Walter de Burgh (c. 1285–1304)

John de Burgh (c. 1286 – 18 June 1313)

Matilda de Burgh (c. 1288–1320), married Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford

Thomas de Burgh (c. 1292–1316)

Catherine de Burgh (c. 1296 – 1 November 1331), married Maurice Fitzgerald, 1st Earl of Desmond

Edmond de Burgh (b. c. 1298)

Joan de Burgh (c. 1300 – 23 April 1359), married firstly, Thomas FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Kildare, by whom she had issue, and secondly, Sir John Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Knayth, by whom she had issue, including Elizabeth Darcy who married James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond

Family tree

Walter de Burgh of Burgh Castle, Norfolk. =Alice | |_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | | William de Burgh, died 1205. Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent, died 1243. Geoffrey de Burgh, died 1228. Thomas de Burgh | (issue; John and Hubert) |____________________________________________________________________________ | | | | Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Baron of Connaught Richard Óge de Burgh | (ancestor of Ulick Burke of Annaghkeen) |__________________________________________________________________ | | | | Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster William Óg de Burgh | | | | Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster Edmond Albanach de Burgh | |___________________________________________________________________ | | | | John de Burgh Edmond de Burgh, 1298-1338. | | | |_______________________ William Donn de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster | | | | | | Sir Richard, fl. 1387. Sir David, fl. 1387. Elizabeth de Burgh, 4th Countess of Ulster | | | | | | Burke of Castleconnell Burke of Muskerryquirk Philippa, 5th Countess of Ulster Burke of Brittas | | Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March