Burke is generally accepted to have been the son of Richard an Fhorbhair mac William de Burgh, who was himself a grandson of Richard Óge de Burgh, an illegitimate son of William de Burgh, the founder of the family. According to A New History of Ireland (p. 170, volume IX), "The origins of the Clanricard line are not absolutely proven, but the descent given" (see Family Tree, below) "is that in the best Irish genealogical sources and is not contradicted by contemporary sources."
He possessed an unusual nickname — Bod-an-Balcuigh, which translated to "Penis of Power".
Upon the death of William Donn de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster, a Burke Civil War broke out. The Earl's heir-general, his infant daughter, Elizabeth de Burgh, 4th Countess of Ulster, had been taken to England on her father's death and lost control over her lands. Warfare broke out among the Gaelic-Irish tenants of the late Earl - many of whom expelled the Anglo-Irish - and among the three principal members of the de Burgh family:
Edmond de Burgh of Castleconnell (now in County Limerick)
Edmond Albanach de Burgh of north Connacht (mainly County Mayo)
Ulick Burke of Annaghkeen in south Connacht (mainly east County Galway)
By 1340, the family had divided into three separate, independent lordships:
Clan William Burke of County Limerick
Mac William Íochtar of County Mayo
Clanricarde of County Galway
He was succeeded upon his death in 1343 by his son, Richard Óg Burke.
Walter de Burgh
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William de Burgh, died 1205. Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent, d. 1243.
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Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Baron of Connaught Hubert de Burgh, Bishop of Limerick, d. 1250. Richard Óge de Burgh
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de Burgh Earl of Ulster, | | |
Burke of Castleconnell, County Limerick | | |
Mac William Iochtar Bourke of County Mayo. Hubert William Richard
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Clan Mac Hubert? Richard an Fhorbhair | |
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_______________________________________________________________| Sir David Donn Sir William Ruad
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Ulick Burke of Annaghkeen, d. 1343. Raymond Walter Óge
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Richard Óg Burke, d. 1387. Edmund, d. 1410
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Ulick an Fhiona Burke, d. 1423. William mac Ulick Burke, d. 1430.
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Ulick Ruadh Burke, d. 1485. Ricard, d. 1466.
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Burke of Clanricarde
