Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Baron of Connaught

Background

De Burgh was the eldest son of William de Burgh and his wife who was a daughter of Domnall Mór Ua Briain, King of Thomond. De Burgh's principal estate was in the barony of Loughrea where he built a castle in 1236 and a town was founded. He also founded Galway town and Ballinasloe. The islands on Lough Mask and Lough Orben were also part of his demesne.

From the death of his father in 1206 to 1214, Richard was a ward of the crown of England until he received his inheritance. In 1215 he briefly served in the household of his uncle Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent. In 1223 and again in 1225 he was appointed seneschal of Munster and keeper of Limerick castle.

Connacht

In 1224, Richard claimed Connacht, which had been granted to his father but never, in fact, conquered by him. He asserted that the grant to Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair, the Gaelic king, after his father's death had been on condition of faithful service, and that his son Aedh mac Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair, who succeeded Cathal that year, had forfeited it. He had the favour of the justiciar of England, Hubert de Burgh, and was awarded Connacht in May 1227. Having been given custody of the counties of Cork and Waterford and all the crown lands of Decies and Desmond, he was appointed Justiciar of Ireland from 1228 to 1232.

When in 1232 Hubert de Burgh fell from grace, Richard was able to distance himself and avoid being campaigned against by the king of England, Henry III. It was only in 1235 when he summoned the whole feudal host of the English lords and magnates to aid him that he expelled Felim mac Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair, the Gaelic king, from Connacht. He and his lieutenants received great shares of land, while Felim was obliged to do homage and was allowed only to keep five cantreds Roscommon from the Crown. Richard de Burgh held the remaining 25 cantreds of Connacht in chief of the crown of England. De Burgh took the title of "Lord of Connacht".

Wife and children

Before 1225 he married Egidia de Lacy, daughter of Walter de Lacy, and Margaret de Braose. With this alliance he acquired the cantred of Eóghanacht Caisil with the castle of Ardmayle in Tipperary.

Richard de Burgh had three sons and may have had four daughters:

Sir Richard de Burgh, Lord of Connaught, Constable of Montgomery Castle, married a relative of Eleanor of Provence, but died without issue in Poitou in 1248.

Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster, Lord of Connaught, died 1271.

William Óg de Burgh, who was the ancestor of the Mac William family, died 1270.

Aleys married Muirchertach O Briain.

Margery de Burgh (? – after March 1253), married Theobald Butler, 3rd Chief Butler of Ireland

Unnamed daughter who married Sir Gerald de Prendergast of Beauvoir, by whom she had a daughter, Maud.

Unnamed daughter who married Hamon de Valoynes and had a daughter, Mabel de Valoynes.

Richard died on 17 February 1241/42.

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 lord of Connaught Hubert de Burgh, Bishop of Limerick, died 1250. Richard Óge de Burgh | (Burke of Clanricarde) |________________________________________________________________ | | | | Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster William Óg de Burgh | | | | Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster William Liath 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