Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond and Baron Ibrickan,
PC (Ire) (died 1624), was a Protestant Irish nobleman and soldier, and Chief of Clan
O'Brien. He fought for
Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elisabeth or Elizabeth the Queen may refer to:
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* Elizabeth I (1533–1603; ), Queen of England and Ireland
* Elizabeth II (1926–2022; ), Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms
* Queen B ...
during
Tyrone's Rebellion and participated in the
Siege of Kinsale
The siege of Kinsale (), also known as the battle of Kinsale, was the ultimate battle in England's conquest of Gaelic Ireland, commencing in October 1601, near the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and at the climax of the Nine Years' War� ...
. He obtained the transfer of
County Clare
County Clare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster in the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern part of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Clare County Council ...
, where most of his lands lay, from the Province of
Connacht
Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...
to that of
Munster
Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...
. He was made
president of Munster in 1605.
Birth and origins
Donogh was born in the 1560s. He was the eldest son of
Conor O'Brien, and his second wife, Una O'Brien-Arra. His father was the 3rd
Earl of Thomond
Earl of Thomond was an hereditary title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created twice for the O'Brien dynasty which is an ancient Irish sept native to north Munster.
History and background
First creation
Under the Crown of Ireland Act 1542, K ...
. His father's first wife had died in 1560. His father's family, the
O'Briens
The O'Brien dynasty (; ; genitive ''Uí Bhriain'' ) was an Irish Clan and nobility, noble house of Munster, founded in the 10th century by Brian Boru of the Dál gCais (Dalcassians). After becoming King of Munster, through conquest he establi ...
, were a Gaelic Irish dynasty that descended from
Brian Boru
Brian Boru (; modern ; 23 April 1014) was the High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014. He ended the domination of the High King of Ireland, High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill, and is likely responsible for ending Vikings, Viking invasio ...
, medieval
high king of Ireland
High King of Ireland ( ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and was later sometimes assigned anachronously or to leg ...
.
Donogh's mother was a daughter of Turlough O'Brien of Arra, County Tipperary. This Arra is in the north of the
Owney and Arra barony around the
Arra Hills. His mother's family was a cadet branch of his father's family. His parents married in or after 1560 as his father's first wife died in that year.
Donogh had two brothers and three sisters,
who are listed in his father's article.
Early life
O'Brien was brought up at
Elizabeth's court and therefore became a Protestant. He was already living there when he was mentioned as Baron Ibrickan in the patent granted to his father on 7 October 1577.
First marriage and daughter
O'Brien married, first, Ellen, or Any, or Eveleen, daughter of
Maurice Roche, 6th
Viscount Fermoy
A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. The status and any domain held by a viscount is a viscounty.
In the case of French viscounts, the title is so ...
. Her family was
Old English
Old English ( or , or ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. It developed from the languages brought to Great Britain by Anglo-S ...
and Catholic.
Donogh and Ellen had one daughter:
*Margaret, married
Charles MacCarthy, 1st Viscount Muskerry
Sir Charles MacCarthy, 1st Viscount of Muskerry (died 1641), also called Cormac Oge, especially in Irish, was from a family of Irish chieftains who were the Lords of Muskerry, related to the Old English through maternal lines. He became th ...
and was mother of
Donough MacCarty, 1st Earl of Clancarty
Sir Donough MacCarty, 1st Earl of Clancarty (1594–1665), was an Irish soldier and politician. He succeeded his father as 2nd Viscount Muskerry in 1641. He rebelled against the government and joined the Irish Catholic Confederation, deman ...
His first wife died in 1583.
Thomond
On his father's death in 1581 he succeeded as 4th Earl of Thomond. By 1582 Thomond, as he now was, had returned to Ireland.
Thomond was assiduous in his attendance upon the lord-deputy in 1583 and 1584. In 1584 he was one of the commissioners who established the agreement that
tanistry
Tanistry is a Gaelic system for passing on titles and lands. In this system the Tanist (; ; ) is the office of heir-apparent, or second-in-command, among the (royal) Gaelic patrilineal dynasties of Ireland, Scotland and Mann, to succeed to ...
and the law of
partible succession should be abolished in Connaught, and a tax of ten shillings a quarter be paid on land.
He attended the
Irish parliament 1585–1586 where he quarrelled with
Ulick Burke, 3rd Earl of Clanricarde over precedence.
Second marriage and children
In or before 1588 Thomond married secondly Elizabeth, fourth daughter of
Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare
Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare (1525 – 16 November 1585), also known as the "Wizard Earl" (a sobriquet also given to Henry Percy), was an Irish peer. He was the son of Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare and his second wife Eli ...
and his wife Mabel Brown.
Donogh and Elizabeth had two sons:
#
Henry
Henry may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters
* Henry (surname)
* Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone
Arts and entertainmen ...
(1588–1639), succeeded his father as the 5th Earl of Thomond
#
Barnabas
Barnabas (; ; ), born Joseph () or Joses (), was according to tradition an early Christians, Christian, one of the prominent Disciple (Christianity), Christian disciples in Jerusalem. According to Acts 4:36, Barnabas was a Cypriot Jews, Cyprio ...
(died 1657), succeeded his brother as the 6th Earl of Thomond
His second wife died on 12 January 1617.
Tyrone's Rebellion
In 1595
Tyrone's rebellion, also called the
Nine Years' War
The Nine Years' War was a European great power conflict from 1688 to 1697 between Kingdom of France, France and the Grand Alliance (League of Augsburg), Grand Alliance. Although largely concentrated in Europe, fighting spread to colonial poss ...
, broke out. Thomond played a major part in its suppression. In command of a large force, he passed the
River Erne
The River Erne ( , or ''An Éirne'') in the northwest of the island of Ireland, is the second-longest river in Ulster, flowing through Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and forming part of their border.
Course
The Erne rises on ...
in July and invaded
Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Hugh Roe O'Donnell II (; 20 October 1572 – 30 August 1602), also known as Red Hugh O'Donnell, was an Irish Chief of the Name, clan chief and senior leader of the Irish confederacy during the Nine Years' War (Ireland), Nine Years' War. He was ...
's country, but retreated in August when a truce was signed. In September he was detached by
Sir William Russell, Lord Deputy of Ireland since 16 May 1594, with five companies of foot and 145 horse, for the defence of
Newry
Newry (; ) is a City status in Ireland, city in Northern Ireland, standing on the Newry River, Clanrye river in counties County Down, Down and County Armagh, Armagh. It is near Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border, the border with the ...
. Russel was succeeded in March 1597 as lord deputy by
Thomas Burgh, 5th Baron Borough and Thomond served in 1597 in his campaign, but early next year went to England, arriving in London on 19 January 1598; where he stayed most of the year at Queen Elizabeth's court.
He therefore was absent at the
Battle of Yellow Ford in August 1598, where
Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone
Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone (; – 20 July 1616) was an Irish lord and key figure of the Nine Years' War. Known as the "Great Earl", he led the confederacy of Irish lords against the English Crown in resistance to the Tudor conquest of Ir ...
defeated and mortally wounded Sir
Henry Bagenal
Sir Henry Bagenal PC (c. 1556 – 14 August 1598) was marshal of the Royal Irish Army during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Life
Henry Bagenal was born in England, the eldest son of Staffordshire soldier Nicholas Bagenal and his Welsh wif ...
, marshal of the
Royal Irish Army
Royal may refer to:
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* Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name
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* Royal, Illinois, a village
* Royal, ...
. The defeat was followed by the spread of disaffection into Thomond's country. Teige O'Brien, Thomond's next brother, entered into communication with Tyrone's son, and joined the rebels. This left the defence of the land in the hands of the youngest brother
Daniel. In 1599 O'Donnell invaded Clare, ravaging the country, capturing most of the castles, and taking Daniel prisoner. Thomond's second brother, Teige, was long imprisoned in
Limerick
Limerick ( ; ) is a city in western Ireland, in County Limerick. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and is in the Mid-West Region, Ireland, Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. W ...
on account of his rebellion, but was released on protesting his loyalty; after another imprisonment he joined in
Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Hugh Roe O'Donnell II (; 20 October 1572 – 30 August 1602), also known as Red Hugh O'Donnell, was an Irish Chief of the Name, clan chief and senior leader of the Irish confederacy during the Nine Years' War (Ireland), Nine Years' War. He was ...
's second invasion of Clare in 1599, and was killed during Thomond's pursuit of the rebels.
Thomond returned from England, and after spending three months with his kinsman, the
Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond
Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond and 3rd Earl of Ossory PC (Ire) (; – 1614), was an influential courtier in London at the court of Elizabeth I. He was Lord Treasurer of Ireland from 1559 to his death. He fought for the crown in th ...
, in collecting forces, he invaded Clare to revenge his brother's imprisonment and recover his possessions. He procured ordnance from
Limerick
Limerick ( ; ) is a city in western Ireland, in County Limerick. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and is in the Mid-West Region, Ireland, Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. W ...
, and laid siege to the castles that resisted, capturing them after a few days' fighting; at
Dunbeg
Dunbeg (), formerly known as Dunstaffnage ( or ''Dùn Staidhinis''), is a village about outside of Oban, Scotland. It has a population of just under 1,000. It is home to the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), one of the primary m ...
, which surrendered immediately, he hanged the garrison in couples on trees. The invaders were completely driven out of Clare and the neighbouring country, and the loyalists had their strongholds restored to them. During the rest of 1599 Thomond accompanied
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (; 10 November 1565 – 25 February 1601) was an English nobleman and a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during th ...
on his
progress through Munster, but left him at
Dungarvan
Dungarvan () is a coastal town and harbour in County Waterford, on the south-east coast of Ireland. Prior to the merger of Waterford County Council with Waterford City Council in 2014, Dungarvan was the county town and administrative centre of ...
and returned to Limerick, being appointed governor of Clare on 15 August, and made a member of the privy council on 22 September.
During 1600 Thomond was constantly occupied in the war. In April he,
Sir George Carew, and Ormond attended a parly with Owen McRory O'More, the son of
Rory O'More
Rory Oge O'More (; – 30 June 1578) was an Irish noble and chief of the O'More clan. As the Lord of Laois, he rebelled against the Tudors' sixteenth-century conquest of Gaelic Ireland.
Irish nationalists Patrick Pearse and Philip O'Su ...
. A quarrel broke out. He and Carew narrowly escaped capture while Ormond was taken captive. Thomond saved Carew's life and cut a way for both of them through their enemies, though he was wounded.
He was present at an encounter with
Florence MacCarthy Reagh and assisted at his submission in May. In June he was commanding in Clare and opposing O'Donnell's raids. He entertained the lord-deputy at
Bunratty
Bunratty (, meaning "mouth of the Raite") is a village in County Clare, Ireland, near Bunratty Castle. It is connected by the N18 road to Limerick and Galway. The Raite river defines the parish's eastern boundary and flows into the Shannon E ...
and marched out to oppose Tyrone's progress southwards, but no battle was fought, and Tyrone returned without having even seen an enemy. Next year, after holding an assize at Limerick in February, at which sixteen men were hanged, Thomond again went to England, probably with the object of obtaining the governorship of Connaught and of securing the union of Clare with Munster. He delayed there, then set out by
Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
, and, landing at
Castlehaven on 11 November 1601, proceeded to
Kinsale
Kinsale ( ; ) is a historic port and fishing town in County Cork, Ireland. Located approximately south of Cork (city), Cork City on the southeast coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon, and has a populatio ...
, where he took a prominent part in the
siege
A siege () . is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or by well-prepared assault. Siege warfare (also called siegecrafts or poliorcetics) is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict charact ...
. After the surrender of Kinsale he proceeded through Munster, and established himself in
Bere Island
Bere Island or Bear Island (, although officially called ''An tOileán Mór'' meaning "the big island") is an island in Bantry Bay off the Beara Peninsula in County Cork, Ireland. It spans roughly 10 km x 3 km, with an area of 17.68&n ...
. He was in command at the
siege of Dunboy and hanged fifty-eight of the survivors.
Until June 1602 Thomond was constantly with the army. He then again visited England, and, as a recompense for his services, his request for the transfer of Clare was granted, though the lord-deputy and privy council of Ireland were opposed to the measure. He returned in October. In 1603 he became a member of the Irish Privy Council. On 30 July 1604 he was appointed constable of
Carlow
Carlow ( ; ) is the county town of County Carlow, in the south-east of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, from Dublin. At the 2022 census of Ireland, 2022 census, it had a population of 27,351, the List of urban areas in the Republic of Ireland, ...
, and on 6 May 1605 he became
President of Munster.
Late life, death, and timeline
In 1613 Thomond attended the
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...
of the
Irish Parliament of 1613–1615. He strongly upheld the Protestant party in its opposition to the
recusants
Recusancy (from ) was the state of those who remained loyal to the Catholic Church and refused to attend Church of England services after the English Reformation.
The 1558 Recusancy Acts passed in the reign of Elizabeth I, and temporarily repea ...
in the disputes about the election of the speaker of the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
.
On 17 May 1619 he was reappointed governor of Clare. He became one of the sureties for
Florence MacCarthy Reagh, who had been imprisoned since his surrender in 1600, and who dedicated to Thomond his work on the antiquity and history of Ireland.
He died on 5 September 1624, at
Clonmel
Clonmel () is the county town and largest settlement of County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, Cromwellian army which sacked the towns of Dro ...
, and was buried in
Limerick Cathedral, where a monument with an inscription was erected to his memory.
Pollard (1895b) concludes that he was one of the most influential and vigorous of the Irish loyalists; and, though his devotion and motives were sometimes suspected, Carew wrote that "his services hath proceeded out of a true nobleness of mind and from no great encouragement received" from the court.
Notes
References
Citations
Sources
* – (for timeline)
*
* – L to M (for Muskerry)
* – S to T (for Thomond)
* – Canonteign to Cutts (for Clancarty)
*
*
*
* – (for timeline)
* – 1534–1691
*
*
*
*
* – Irish stem
*
*
Attribution
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomond, Donogh Obrien, 4th Earl of
16th-century births
1624 deaths
16th-century Irish military personnel
16th-century soldiers
17th-century Irish people
Earls of Thomond
Irish chiefs of the name
Irish soldiers
Donogh
People from County Clare
People of Elizabethan Ireland