Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Baron of Connaught
Richard Mor de Burgh (c. 1194 – 1242).[1] was the eldest son of William de Burgh and founder of the towns of Ballinasloe, Loughrea and Galway.
In 1224, Richard claimed the land of Connacht, which had been granted to his father but never, in fact, handed over. He asserted that the grant to Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair, the native 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 him that year, had forfeited it. He had the favor of the justiciar, Hubert de Burgh (who may have been his uncle), and was awarded Connacht in May 1227. From 1228 to 1232, he was the Justiciar of Ireland. He was not immediately able to take possession, but in 1235, he summoned the whole feudal host of the Norman barons to aid him and expelled Felim mac Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair, the native king, from Connacht. He and his lieutenants received great shares of land, while Felim was obliged to do homage and was allowed only to rent the five Royal cantreds of Athlone from the Crown. De Burgh took the title of "Lord of Connacht".[1] He married Egidia de Lacy, daughter of Walter de Lacy, and Margaret de Braose, and had seven children:
- Richard (? - 1248), Lord of Connaught
- Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster
- William (? - 1270)
- Margery (? - after March 1253), married Theobald Butler
- Unnamed daughter who married as second wife to Gerald de Prendergast
- Alice
- Unnamed daughter who married Hamon de Valoynes and had issue.
Richard was succeeded by his son, Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster.
References
- Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis; Lines 73-30, 177B-8, 177B-9.
- FMG on Richard Mor de Burgh, son of William, Lord of Connaught and his decendants
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