History of the Butlers- MacRichard line

The MacRichard line, descendants of Richard of Knocktopher, 2^nd son of James 3^rd Earl of Ormond

Piers the 8^th Earl of Ormond, was the son of Sir James Butler (great grandson of the 3^rd Earl of Ormonde through his second son Richard of Knocktopher, and Richard’s son Edmund MacRichard), and Sadbh Kavanagh, the sister of Art Bui Kavanagh of Enniscorthy known as the MacMurrough or King of Leinster, and daughter of Donnell Reagh Kavanagh eldest son of Gerald, Lord of Ferns.[i]

Piers, great great grandson of the 3^rd Earl of Ormond, eventually inherited the Ormond title several decades after the death of his 3^rd cousin the 7^th Earl who left no male heirs. This branch of the Butlers was known as the ‘MacRichard’ line.

The ancestry of the MacRichard Butlers:

The 3^rd Earl of Ormond, James, built the castle at Gowran and then purchased Kilkenny Castle from the heirs of Hugh Despenser on 12^th September 1391, where he entertained King Richard II. He was appointed governor of Ireland several times. He had several legitimate and illegitimate sons, all of whom would hold powerful positions, as would their heirs: James, his heir; Richard of Knocktopher; and illegitimate sons James “Galda” ancestor of the Cahir line; and Thomas, Prior of Kilmainham.

James’s heir, James the 4^th Earl, known as the White Earl, had three sons, James, John and Thomas who successively became the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th earls, all of whom left no legitimate male heirs, although the 7^th Earl’s grandson Thomas Boleyn, (by his daughter Margaret who married William Boleyn), held the title for a while until his daughter Ann Boleyn fell out of favour with her husband Henry VIII and was beheaded.

The White Earl and his successors were continuously absent from Ireland, preferring the English Court, which resulted in the disintegration of the earl’s authority and the growing influence of the junior branches.

The White Earl gave the deputyship in 1462 to Edmund MacRichard, his brother Richard Butler of Knocktopher’s son- his line was known as MacRichard for a period before reverting back to Butler. Sir Richard’s sons “were not brought up after the English fashion”. Edmund MacRichard, referred to as ‘MacRichard’, was renowned for his knightly exploits.

The White Earl also gave the keepership of his kern (household troops) to his half-brother, James Galda, lord of Cahir; and, very probably, the seneschalship of the liberty of Tipperary to the Butlers, lords of Dunboyne and Kiltinan. Yet such a solution merely intensified existing rivalries. When Edmund MacRichard’s grandson Piers succeeded to his father’s inheritance in 1487 he inherited not only the deputyship (held by his father James, and grandfather Edmund), but historic rivalries as well, the most bitter undoubtedly being the conflict, now in the third generation, with the descendants of James Galda (Barons of Cahir). When the White Earl’s successors, James , John and Thomas, absented themselves for more than half a century (1452-1515) the junior branches were given free rein to indulge their rivalries unchecked.” [ii]

MacRichard’s exploits were often recalled in the ‘Annuls of the Four Masters’ [iii], which contain records of events between 550 AD and 1616 AD.

In 1464, the Annuls recorded:

 “MacRichard Butler, the most illustrious and renowned of the English of Ireland in his time, died.”

He was succeeded in the deputyship by his son James Butler of Pottlerath.

1486 A.D.- “James, the son of MacRichard Butler, the representative of the Earl of Ormond, died.”

Sir James Butler had two sons with Sadbh Kavanagh, before they had received the necessary papal dispensation for their marriage. When they eventually married in 1465, these two sons, Edmund and Theobald “lay under a cloak at their parents wedding”. Edmund’s line became known as the Butlers of Neigham and his granddaughter would marry his younger brother Piers’ second son Richard, 1^st Viscount Mountgarrett. At one stage, his son Theobald would claim the Ormond Earldom on grounds that his father was not illegitimate and therefore, as the eldest, should have inherited the earldom instead of younger brother Piers.

Piers 8th Earl of Ormond, born c.1466, was James and Sadbh’s first ‘legitimate’ child, and was known as Piers Roe, which means ‘Red’ due to his colouring, and it was he who eventually inherited the Earldom, to become the 8^th Earl of Ormond. His succession to this title would be a long and difficult road.

The powerful Fitzgerald family (two factions- Earls of Kildare and Earls of Desmond), known as the Geraldines, became increasingly involved in Butler affairs.

 “ The Geraldine dominated Irish administration did everything it could to frustrate the restoration of the earldom of Ormond as an effective political force; lower down the political scale the lords of Cahir appear to have been involved with the earls of Desmond, while the MacRichard Butlers leaned towards the earls of Kildare. This became a political minefield. Although in theory, Thomas 7^th  Earl of Ormond was in control of the earldom in Ireland, in practice his kinsmen were in complete authority of the Tipperary-Kilkenny heartland.”

 “Piers, who married Margaret Fitzgerald, second daughter of the 8^th Earl of Kildare, was heir to the MacRichard estates in right of his father. They included Paulstown (co Carlow), Callan, (Co Kilkenny), and Carrick-on-Suir. The MacRichard family also had interests in northern Tipperary and more importantly, Piers’ father bequeathed him ‘the custody and defence of the lands of my lord the earl of Ormond’, which meant in effect that as deputy he controlled the demesne manors in County Kilkenny, including the castle of Kilkenny itself. There were limits to his influence, most notable in the liberty of Tipperary, where the earl exercised a viceregal authority. Here the junior branches reigned supreme, including the two most important families, Cahir and Dunboyne, neither of which was prepared to submit easily to the scion of the house of MacRichard.”[iv]

The Butler of  Ormond  arms on the tomb of Piers 8th Earl of Ormond and wife Margaret Fitzgerald, in St Canice's Cathedral Kilkenny

Notably, the second heraldic symbol of a rose inside a rose was the symbol used by the House of  Tudor to represent the joining of the Red Rose of Lancaster and the White Rose of York. However, this particular symbol has three roses and the meaning and relevance to Piers and Margaret is uncertain.

Also, strangely, the Ormond Coat of Arms on the tomb contains a crescent in the centre which usually denotes a second son as on the tomb of their son Richard 1st Viscount Mountgarrett- why it should be on Piers' tomb is also a mystery.

In his earlier years, after his marriage to Margaret Fitzgerald in c.1495, they were ‘reduced to penury’ by Sir James Ormond (bastard son of the 6^th Earl), and at one time were forced ‘to lurk in the woods’.

Sir James Ormond had been appointed by his uncle Thomas 7^th Earl of Ormond and Henry VII when the Earl of Kildare and his protégé Piers, fell out of favour with the king who suspected them for supporting Henry’s enemies. In 1491 Henry commissioned Sir James Ormond to go to Ireland and “he was given command of a small force with additional power to array the men of Tipperary and Kilkenny, to arrest and imprison, and to act without reference to the lieutenant (Kildare) ‘for the time being’. On the following day, the earl of Ormond made James his deputy and special attorney in Ireland to command the castles of Kilkenny and Carrick, administer the earl’s manors, lead his tenants in war, and direct his officers and kinsmen. The most likely target for his attack was the MacRichard camp and their Irish allies in Leinster (the MacMurrough/Kavanagh connection). Piers was later to complain to the earl that Sir James Ormond ‘took and kept me in prison by a long season contrary to his oath and promise made upon the holy Cross and other great relics… til my lord of Desmond by his great instant labour had gotten me to my liberty’. [v]

“The king arranged for a cessation of the enmity between the ‘two noble bloods’ at a meeting in Salisbury in 1496, attended by the earls of Kildare and Ormond. Sir James had outlived his usefulness. The effect was therefore to declare an open season on Sir James.  Piers with Lady Margaret ‘being great with child and upon necessity constrained to use a spare diet’, was ‘so eagerly pursued by the usurper (Sir James), as he durst not bear up head, but was forced to hover and lurk in woods and forests’. Margaret ‘was not able any longer to endure so straight a life’. Whereupon Piers swore that ‘he never would return before he did relieve her grief’. He set out to scour the countryside around Dunmore (near Kilkenny) for a cask of wine, when whom should he meet but “Black James” whose thoughts at that moment were directed towards ‘a fair and beautiful gentlewoman called Rose Barre, which he promised to have seen the morrow after.’ Not one to miss an opportunity, Piers ‘with a courageous charge gored the Bastard through with his speare.’[vi]  Writing to the earl on 7 Sept, 1497. Piers explained how he had endeavoured to save the earl from the machinations of that ‘great and ancient Rebel’ Sir James. He even managed to suggest that although James fell by his hand he was acting only as an agent of God’s grace ‘which would that every ill deed should be punished’. Piers implied that he would like to be appointed as the earl’s deputy. The earl however, did not appoint Piers as his deputy, preferring instead to run his lordship through his agents. Piers seems still to have been out in the cold as late as 17 May 1504.” [vii]

When Thomas 7^th Earl of Ormond died without a male heir, Piers embarked on a course to deliver the earldom into his hand. He would have to prove that the earldom was entailed and that the MacRichard Butlers were the true heirs through his great grandfather Richard of Knocktopher brother to the 4^th Earl. He would also have to prove that his elder brothers were illegitimate despite an act of the Irish Parliament legitimizing them in 1468, and that his own birth was legitimate. His mother, Sadbh/Sabina MacMurrough Kavangh, had required a dispensation to legalise her marriage (which contravened the ‘Statutes of Kilkenny’ laws against unions between English and Irish) and Piers had a ten year battle to prove that the dispensation had been legitimately granted and that consequently his claim to the Ormond title was valid. Some eighteen witnesses testified that Piers was born after his parents had obtained a dispensation to marry in the parish church of Listerlin, and that his brothers were present at the ceremony ‘laying under a cloak’. As late as 1521, Piers was petitioning the king to repeal the act of 1468. His brother Theobald was still laying claim to the earldom in the 1530’s. [viii]

Piers appointed himself Earl of Ormond on the death of Earl Thomas in 1515 and the claim was generally recognized in Ireland, especially after he made peace with the two rival Butler branches, the Lords Cahir and Dunboyne.

However, Piers had to surrender his hard won prize in 1529 to Thomas Boleyn, father of Ann Boleyn and grandson of the 7^th Earl of Ormond through the Earl’s daughter who married William Boleyn. In compensation, Piers was created Earl of Ossory in 1527 and made governor of Ireland. The fall from grace of the Boleyns provided Piers with the opportunity to recover his lost titles and estates. He had retained influence at the English Court through his close friendship with Cardinal Wolsey and when the titles and estates were declared forfeit to the Crown, Piers was granted the estate,s and the title as 8^th Earl of Ormond in February 1538.

Piers and Margaret were a formidable team, establishing a weaving trade by “bringing out of Flanders and other countries, artificers who …make diaper, tapestry, turkey-carpetts, cushion, and other workes”, and founding Kilkenny College “out of which schoole have sprouted such proper ympes” and as having “planted great civility in the countyes of Tipperary and Kilkenny”. The city of Kilkenny was in a thriving condition and Piers encouraged trade and industry.[ix]

Margaret was known as “a ladie of such port that all estates of the realm crouch unto her”.

Margaret favoured Ballyraggett Castle in northern county Kilkenny as her favourite residence and is said to have “ frequently issued from the castle at the head of her armed retainers to ravage the property of such of the neighbouring families as she deemed to be her enemies.” Ballyraggett Lodge was described as a “fine mansion”. Margaret’s favourite property at Ballyraggett was inherited by her second son Richard Butler.[x]

According to Art Kavanagh’s book “The Landed Gentry and Aristocracy of Kilkenny” [xi]:

 “Piers was given a Gaelic upbringing by his Kavanagh mother but his FitzGerald wife, the famous Lady Margaret soon brought him back to ‘civility’. She was the daughter of the Great Earl of Kildare but when she married Piers she soon became a dedicated Butler and used her not inconsiderable talents and influences to further her interests of that family. Her eldest son was James who became 9^th Earl of Ormond, and Richard was her second son. She strove with all her maternal instincts to ensure that Richard became a powerful lord also.” The article also makes the vague implication that “It might be possible that Henry VII had an affair with Margaret FitzGerald the wife of Piers Roe, the 8^th Earl but if this is the case it is certainly not information that is in the public domain, while it may have been part of the family lore. It is well known that Margaret made every effort to advance her son Richard, but from what we know of her character this was to be expected.” (Notably, there is a striking resemblance between James, Piers’ heir, and Henry VIII, as seen in their respective portraits painted by Holbein, however, this may be purely artist’s license.)

Piers and Margaret made a series of powerful alliances through the arranged marriages of their children, thereby securing his position of power and influence in Ireland. His six daughters were married to Barnaby FitzPatrick lord of Upper Ossory, Richard le Poer of Curraghmore 1^st Lord Power, James Butler lord of Dunboyne, Gerald Fitzgerald lord of Decies, Thomas Butler lord of Cahir, and the earl of Thomond. His son and heir James married the daughter of the Earl of Desmond, and his second son Richard would marry four times, to the daughters of powerful men.

The following descendant tree shows how the various Butler lines were linked through the descendants of Piers.

Prendergast in his book “The Cromwellian Settlement”, [xii] noted that the Irish had accepted the Old English as their leaders and had forgiven the robbery of their lands.

 “The Fitzgeralds and the Butlers soon became to them as much their natural leaders and captains as the O’Briens, the McCathys and O’Neills. The English lived unharmed among the Irish, as secure of their castles and lands as native Irish, and in fact, their devotion to them was unbounded. And the love of lord and tenant was reciprocal.”

Piers died only eighteen months after the restoration of his title, on 26 August 1539, and was the first of the earls to be buried at St. Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny. His legacy was the survival of the lordship of Ormond. Piers was succeeded by his eldest son James, the 9^th Earl of Ormond.

St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny

Tomb of Piers 8th Earl of Ormond and wife Margaret

Thomas Viscount Thurles, father of 1st Duke of Ormonde on far side

Margaret's head-dress

(Photos courtesy of Annabelle Taylor)

The Mountgarrett Line from 1^st Viscount Mountgarrett, son of Piers Butler 8^th Earl of Ormond

Richard Butler, born c.1500-06, was the second son of Piers Butler 8^th Earl of Ormond and Margaret Fitzgerald, daughter of the 8^th Earl of Kildare.

Richard would become a very powerful lord, and, following the premature death of his brother James the 9^th Earl of Ormond in 1546 due to food [poisoning at a banquet at Holburn, London, and during his nephew’s minority, would continue to keep the MacRichard Butler power base in Ireland, alive and well. He was knighted in 1546/7 and created Viscount Mountgarrett 23 October 1550.

Prior to being created Viscount Mountgarrett, Richard was made keeper of the Castle of Ferns in Co. Wexford in 1538 in place of the MacMurrough (Kavanagh, King of Leinster). This was a significant step in the introduction of English rule in the Irish dominated County of Wexford and the decline of the powerful Kavanagh clan. Richard Butler was the last Anglo-Irishman, or Old English, to hold the position as after him the constableship was always granted to a ‘New English’ soldier by the crown.

Richard was appointed to two commissions for the preservation of the peace in the Counties of Tipperary, Kilkenny and Wexford. In 1541 Richard Butler was given leases of lands in Kilkenny and Wexford. Two years later, in 1543 he got a grant of all the Augustinian lands in and near New Ross in Co. Wexford.

He was created Viscount Mountgarrett and Baron Kells in 1550 in direct response to his plea to be given a title that would outshine that of the McMurrough. (ie. Kavanagh, King of Leinster, who was classed as “the Irish enemy”).

He was already installed in Mountgarrett Manor and castle, on the outskirts of New Ross, and it was from this that the name Mountgarrett derived. The Manor was formerly Church lands and the castle was the home of the famous Bishop Barrett. In addition Mountgarrett bought the lands of Kayer (Davidstown to Glynn) from Foulks Denn (ie. Furlong), in 1556. The Kayer lands were later demised to Piers Butler his son.

The following entry from “The Peerage of Ireland” [xiii] on the Mountgarrett Viscountcy:

“Richard 1^st Viscount Mountgarrett: Richard, the second son is described to have been a Knight of goodly personage, and as comely a man as could be seen; he was a very honourable and worthy gentleman, and performed many great services to the Crown of England. Created Viscount Mountgarrett on 5 August 1550 and by patent on 23 October 1550. In the Reigns of King Edward and Queen Mary, he was keeper of the castle of Fernes; and 20 Mar 1558 (Eliz I) joined in a commission of martial law with Sir Nicholas Devereux for the territories of Fassaghbentry and Le-Moroes country. 13 April 1559 was in several commissions for the preservation of the peace in the counties of Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford, during the absence of the Lord Deputy Sussex in the North, upon his expedition against Shane O’Neile; and 12 Jan following was present in the Parliament, then opened by the said L.D. He departed this life in 1571 and was buried in the Cathedral Church of St Canice, Kilkenny, in a tomb, whereon is engraven his effigies in armour with his feet resting against a dog and a circumscription now defaced, what remained legible being

Ricardus Butler, Vicecomes Montgarrett - Qui obut 20 Dece bris 1571.

P. Hore’s book “History of the Town and County of Wexford”  has the following entries:

 “In October 1552, Richard Butler, Viscount Mountgarrett, was granted a lease of the lands of St. Johns by Enniscorthy and the Rectory of Kilcorbrey. To hold for 21 years from 1563 at the rent of 43s.” [xiv]

 “c.1555- The Earl of Kildare claimed, amongst other Manors and lands, the Manor of ‘Inskorthy’ (Enniscorthy). In the Parish of Chaple and in Ballymacar 8 plowe lands within the Barony of Cayre (Kayer) etc.”

 “Again in 1562 we find the Manor of Ferns applied for to the Privy Council in England by Lord Mountgarrett, who declares he is “willing to kepe the same as all Captaines doth with the appurtenances. [xv]

Richard Viscount Mountgarrett continued to wield considerable power after the premature death of his brother James the 9^th Earl or Ormond, as the heir Thomas was still a minor.

Richard married his uncle’s grand-daughter Eleanor/Ellen Butler (ie. the daughter of Theobald Butler and granddaughter of Edmund Butler of Neigham, Piers’s eldest brother), by whom he had six sons, (NB. Eleanor still living 4 June 1575, according to Burke), one of four marriages:

1.) Edmund (his heir, who married Grizel/Grainy FitzPatrick dau. of Baron of Upper Ossory), b.c.1540

2.) Pierce (of Kayer; who married Margaret Devereux dau. of Sir Nicholas Devereux of Balmagir, co Wexford)

3.) John (of New Ross, married _ O’Meagher),

4.) Thomas (of Castlecomer and Coolnaheen in Co. Kilkenny, who married Eleanor Power),

5.) James

6.) Theobald, d.s.p.

and daughters:

Margaret (married Nicholas Devereux Jnr of Balmagir);

Eleanor (married secondly Thomas Butler, 2^nd Baron Cahir);

Ellice (married Walter Walsh of Castlehoel, High Sheriff of Co. Kilkenny- Burkes Peerage. NB Lord Dunboyne has name as Mary);

Ellen (married Sir Oliver Shortall of Ballylarkin);

Catherine (married Marcus FitzHarris of Macmine Castle- Burkes Peerage. NB. Lord Dunboyne has name as Joan).

Richard’s other marriages:

1. Catherine Barnewall, dau & heiress of Peter Barnewall- issue a son who died young and unmarried;

2. Married 1541 (divorced 1541) Anne Plunkett, dau of 4^th Lord Killeen (she m. 2^nd William Fleming);

3. Married (divorced 1546) Eleanor Fitzgerald. dau of John, Earl of Desmond, and widow of Thomas Tobin of Killaghy, feudal Lord of Cumphinsagh. Co Tipperary (she m. 3^rd John Og Fitzgibbon the White Knight).

4. Ellen/Eleanor Butler (Burkes Peerage) NB. The Peerage of Ireland 1789 has Richard’s marriage to Eleanor Butler as his first marriage.

Richard died in 20 December 1571 and his elaborate tomb is in St. Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny, along with many other members of the Ormond line.

Tomb of Richard 1st Viscount Mountgarrett

in St Canice's Cathedral Kilkenny

Dog at Mountgarrett's feet

Mountgarrett coat of arms on side of tomb

viz. Ormonde arms with crescent to denote 2nd son

(photos courtesy of Annabelle Taylor)

 Richard 1^st Viscount Mountgarrett c.1506-1571 (married to Eleanor Butler d/o Theobald Butler of Neigham, s/o Edmond of Neigham);

second s/o Piers 8^th Earl of Ormond 1466-1539 (brother of Edmond of Neigham) (married to Margaret Fitzgerald, d/o Gerald 8^th Earl of Kildare);

s/o James Butler of Pottlerath/Callan d.1487 (married to Sadbh Kavanagh sister of King of Leinster and d/o Donnel Reagh, Lord of Ferns);

s/o Edmund MacRichard (Butler) of Polestown and Knocktopher d.1464 (married to Catherine/Gylys O’Carroll d/o Mulroney O’Carroll);

s/o Richard Butler of Knocktopher 1395-c.1440 (married to Catherine O’Reilly d/o Gildas O’Reilly, Lord of East Breffny, co Cavan);

s/o James 3^rd Earl of Ormond 1360-1405 (married to Anne Welles, d/o John de Welles 4^th Lord Welles);

s/o James 2^nd Earl of Ormond 1331-1382 (married to Elizabeth Darcy d/o John 1^st Lord Darcy);

s/o James 1^st Earl of Ormond 1305-1338 (married to Eleanor de Bohun d/o Humphrey de Bohun 6^th Earl of Hereford High Constable of England, and Princess Elizabeth d/o of King Edward I);

s/o Edmond Butler of Roscrea 6^th Chief Butler of Ireland 1270-1321 (married to Joan FitzGerald d/o John 1^st Earl of Kildare);

s/o Theobald le Botelier 4^th Chief Butler c.1242-1285 (married to Joan FitzGeoffrey g/do Earl of Essex Justiciar of England);

s/o Theobald le Botelier 3^rd Chief Butler of Ireland b.c.1210 (married to Margery de Burgh d/o Richard, Lord Deputy of Ireland);

s/o Theobald le Botelier 2^nd Chief Butler b.c.1180 (married to Joan du Marreis d/o Geoffrey du Marreis, Justiciar of Ireland;

s/o Theobald fitzWalter 1^st Chief Butler of Ireland d.1205 ( married to Maud Vavasour d/o William le Vavasour, Justiciar of England);

s/o Hervey Walter d.1189 (married to Maud de Valognes);

s/o Hervey Walter b.c. 1090/1100- d.1168, (probable son of ‘Walter’).

See Blog on Richard 1st Viscount Mountgarrett:
http://butlerancestryireland.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/butlers-co-wexford-ch1-richard-1stviscount-mountgarrett.html

© B.A. Butler  
 email contact: butler1802 @hotmail.com (no spaces)

Link back to first chapter
http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/history-of-butlers-earls-of-ormond-and.html 


Links to other chapters on this blog:

The Butler Pedigree:
http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/the-butler-pedigree.html

The Genealogical History of Irish Butlers
http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/genealogical-history-of-irish-butlers.html

ANCESTRY OF THEOBALD WALTER

Part 1: The Ancestral Origins of Theobald Walter, Ancestor of the Butlers of Ireland

 http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com/2022/05/Butlers-of-Ireland-chapter-1%20%20%20%20%20%20%20.html

Part 2: Possible candidates for the Walter surname named 'Walter' in the Domesday Book

 http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com/2022/05/part-2-of-ancestral-origins-of-theobald.html

Part 3: Analysis of the various theories of the origins of the Walter family

 http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com/2022/05/part-3-ancestral-origins-of-theobald.html

Part 4: Lands of the Walter family

http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com/2022/05/part-4-ancestral-origins-of-theobald.html

---

[i]  the Kavanagh family  had a close association with the  Butlers through the centuries- [ii] C.A. Empey, From Rags to Riches: Piers Butler earl of Ormond, 1515-39, Journal of the Butler Society Vol 2 No.3, p.301

[iii] Annuls of the Four Masters [iii] (http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100005B/index.html

[iv] C.A. Empey, From Rags to Riches: Piers Butler earl of Ormond, 1515-39, Journal of the Butler Society Vol 2 No.3, p.302

[v] C.A. Empey, From Rags to Riches: Piers Butler earl of Ormond, 1515-39, Journal of the Butler Society Vol 2 No.3, p305

[vi] Ibid, p306

[vii] Ibid, p307

[viii] C.A. Empey, From Rags to Riches: Piers Butler earl of Ormond, 1515-39, Journal of the Butler Society Vol 2 No.3, p.308

[ix] Lord Dunboyne,  “Butler Family History” 7^th Ed 1991, p14; and W. Nolan and K. Whelan (Eds) Kilkenny, History and Society, 1990- Ch 6 The Ormond Butlers of Co Kilkenny, p111

[x] Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1830

[xi] Art Kavanagh, The Landed Gentry and Aristocracy of Kilkenny, Dublin, 2004, p61

[xii] John P. Prendergast, The Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland, 3^rd Ed, Mellifont Press Dublin 1922 (1^st Ed 1865), p.40

[xiii] John Lodge and Mervyn Archdall, The Peerage of Ireland, Volume IV, pub 1798

[xiv] P.H. Hore, History of the Town and County of Wexford, pub 1900-1910, Volume 6, p.366

[xv] Ibid, p40

History of Irish Butlers- various Butler Branches

The Various Butler Branches

Over the centuries a number of junior titles were granted to various younger sons of the Chief Butlers and the Earls of Ormond, and even to their illegitimate children, and these aristocratic lines were granted large areas of land throughout southern Ireland and intermarried with the senior Ormond line. These Butler families helped the Earl protect and retain his vast holdings against attacks from indigenous Irish clans who resented the loss of their lands. Some of the Butlers formed alliances with some of the more prominent Irish clan leaders such as the Kavanaghs, fitzPatricks, and O’Briens through marriage with their daughters.

The most prominent junior Butler lines were:

the Viscounts Mountgarrett from Richard, the second son of Piers the 8^th Earl of Ormond- later, this line also held the title Earl of Kilkenny for a brief time. (The current Viscount Mountgarrett looks likely to inherit the vacant Earldom of Ormonde.);

the Barons of Dunboyne from Thomas, the third son of Theobald the 4th Chief Butler, (and brother of Edmund, the 6^th Chief Butler and Earl of Karrick, whose son James became the 1^st Earl of Ormond);

the Viscounts Ikerrin (including Butlers of Callan), who later became the Earls of Carrick, from John the second son of Edmund 6^th Chief Butler and Earl of Karrick, (and brother of the 1^st Earl of Ormond);

the Barons of Cahir who later held the title of Earl of Glengall, from James “Galda”, the illegitimate son of the 3^rd Earl of Ormond;

the Viscounts Galmoye from Edward son of Piers of Duiske the illegitimate son of Thomas 10^th Earl of Ormond.

There are also various other titles that are not quite as prominent in the family heritage.

The titles of Mountgarrett, Dunboyne and Carrick continue today- the other titles have either expired, or are unclaimed, or extinct.

There were many non-titled but closely related Butler lines that were prominent, and referred to by Lord Dunboyne in his extensive Butler genealogical research viz.

the Butlers of Neigham co. Kilkenny descended from Edmund illegitimate elder brother of Piers 8^th Earl of Ormond (born pre marriage, to James Butler & Sabhn Kavanagh);

Butlers of Paulstown/Polestown co. Kilkenny also descended from Richard of Knocktopher 2^nd son of 3^rd Earl of Ormond.

Butlers of Callan co. Kilkenny descended from Pierce of Lismalin (as were the Viscounts Ikerrin/ Earls of Carrick), descendant of Edmund 6^th Chief Butler;

Butlers of Boytonrath/Grallagh/Derrycloney/Garranlea/Grange, co.Tipperary, and Butlers of Co. Clare, all descendants of 9^th and 10^th Lords Dunboyne;

Butlers of Cloughgrennan/Ballintemple/Garryhundon, co.Carlow descended from Thomas (Baronet), illegitimate son of Edmond, second son of 9^th Earl of Ormond;

Butlers of Grantstown/Kilmoyler/Bansha, co.Tipperary from Pierce, youngest son of 9^th Earl of Ormond;

Butlers of Nodstown (Ardmayle) co. Tipperary, from Walter, fourth son of 9^th Earl of Ormond;

Butler descendants of Thomas Prior of Kilmainham, base son of 3^rd Earl of Ormond;

Butlers of Ballyraggett co. Kilkenny, descendants of Viscount Mountgarrett;

Butlers of Carlow and Butlers of Wexford, including the Kayer/Munphin branch,  descendants of Viscount Mountgarrett;

plus many other lines.

The Ormond line and these junior lines intermarried with each other, and with many other titled and gentry families in Ireland and England.

The Viscounts Mountgarrett held vast lands in Counties Wexford, Carlow, Queens, Nth Kilkenny and Nth Tipperary- the 1^st Viscount (created in 1550) was appointed Governor of Wexford in 1538.

Richard, 1^st Viscount Mountgarrett, was the second son of Piers 8^th Earl of Ormond, and brother to James 9^th Earl of Ormond. Richard inherited the Castle of Ballyraggett in North Kilkenny from his mother, and owned 20,000 acres in northern Kilkenny.

The Mountgarrett Butlers lived in Ballyraggett Lodge, a “fine mansion”. The 1^st Viscount Mountgarrett’s mother, Margaret Fitzgerald, Countess of Ormond, (daughter of the Earl of Kildare, and married to the 8^th Earl of Ormond) favoured Ballyraggett Castle as her favourite residence. [1] They also held considerable property in County Wexford.

The Barons of Dunboyne held lands in Counties Meath, Tipperary, and then Clare (after the plantation).

The Viscounts Ikerrin/Earls of Carrick held lands in County Kilkenny, in particular Lismalin, Callan and eventually at Mt. Juliet (Ballylinch Castle).

The Barons of Cahir were based in County Tipperary at their magnificent castle, Cahir Castle. [2]

Cahir Castle Co Tipperary

Untitled but related Butlers also held lands in the above counties as well as in Wicklow, Waterford, Cork, Kildare, Cavan and Dublin, and counties in the province of Connaught (after the plantation). And of course, the Ormonds possessed vast areas of land, as discussed.

The origins of the Cahir Line:

The Cahir line descended from James “Galda”, illegitimate son of James 3^rd Earl of Ormonde, and the following story about the origin of this line was written in 1722 and is a very entertaining tale. How much of it is true, and how much fiction is debatable:

History of the Butlers written in 1722 by Shane O'Cahane

The story of James "Galda's" conception:

To return to James, earl of Gowran [ and the fair Earl's father; he had the earl of Desmond's daughter (his own near-allied relative) to wife, overhead the Saxon Countess; and the manner in which he came to have her was as follows:

The girl at home had had laid to her charge overfamiliarity with a close relation; in consequence of which she was seized with anger and resentful perturbation, and sought out the earl of Ormond, her kinsman, with whom now for a length of time she had been staying.  At Carrick subsequently some trifling ailment attacked the earl, and he retired to his 'sleeping-house': the countess and the earl of Desmond's daughter following him, and a great bevy of other ladies accompanying them both.

They had been for a long space with the earl when at last the countess got up and went away, taking with her a certain number of her women; but the earl of Desmond's daughter tarried within beside her kinsman, a very large company of the women abiding with her; and in this way they indulged in mirthful dialogue and noisy chatter of words as they discoursed together. Now it was the Saxon countess's suits of English apparel that were in the room, and one of these the earl of Desmond's daughter put on herself. When the women that were with her saw that, and perceived her to be in that suit, they fell to mockery and to jeering of her.The earl [who only heard their noise] said: "fie fie on it all!" and enquired of the women the cause of their jeering and manner of going on. The young woman from Desmond answered him and said: "at me it is that the women aim all this ridicule, because they see on me this foreign raiment. And now, my lord, if by virtue of these English duds indeed it be that Saxon women are made pretty and are smartened up, methinks that now at any rate I too am such.  For ye the earls of Ireland (as I opine) deem that in Ireland ye find not women to suit yourselves; whereas I hold that, in the way of a countess, I myself am better than you Geraldine hag whom thou hast". Upon hearing which, the earl burst into a pleasant good-humoured laugh. No long time after was it when the earl was whole again. He had treasured up the damsel's words, and in his own mind meditated to make his won of her whensoever that should be feasible; all this through evil appetite and in defiance of his own 'friendship' [consanquinity with her]. There came a time which found the maid off her guard, with but a very few women about her; and the earl when he caught her so made the most of his opportunity, in her despite took all his desire, and thereafter at his pleasure frequented her.

So soon as the Saxon countess perceived the thing, she was angered hugely and in sad dudgeon betook herself to Waterford. At the time, she had had two children by the earl, a son and a daughter: Richard was the son's name, but what name the daughter bore we know not.

To revert to the earl of Desmond's daughter: throughout the regions in close proximity not to herself alone but to her father more especially, the fact was published openly. The story thus having reached the earl of Desmond it misliked him and, for that this deed was done, his bodily and mental senses both were all disordered; therefore of the best of his people he enquired what he should do in the matter. As with one man's voice all said that forthwith, and before the act should be recognised as his, it were just to accuse the earl of Ormond and to bring him to book.

So was it done, and the earl of Ormond's answer to those the earl of Desmond's missive was favourable. He said that in regard to that which he had done he would execute whatever should be the earl of Desmond's will; and between them a trysting day was set for Aylenamearogue over the bank of green-flowing Suir, and within brief space of time.

The two earls, as of Desmond and of Ormond, met in that appointed place, and there they were: one on either bank of the Suir. To the earl of Desmond he of Ormond sent word, telling him to cross over to that side of the Suir on which he was. Now Aylenamearogue is a little ways westwards from the abbey of Innishlounacht, and close on the Suir. The earl of Desmond with his folk proceeded to join the earl of Ormond; and he had ridden at a walk but so far as it needed to hit the ford, when his horse being come to it bent hi head to drink water therefrom. But as he drank the bridle dropped out over his ears and got under his feet whereby the horse very violently was thrown and the earl fell into the ford. Then the impetuous current swept him away under the deep of the abyss and the river's turbulence, in which wise was drowned the earl of Desmond, who was John.

The Saxon countess's affairs are they, which now for another while we relate.

On the very day in which the earl of Desmond was drowned, that daughter of his had put down poison to make ready for her, and the time being come, this is how she managed: she took a bottle of choicest wine of Zante, and into it she dropped that poison.  Next: a domestic chaplain that she had, who was from Munster, to whom she was dear and who was in her confidence, him with the bottle she dismissed to Waterford to seek out the Saxon countess.  Also she procured the earl's signet, which as a token from him to the countess she gave to the priest, and told him (for fear lest otherwise she might not accept the wine from him) to exhibit the same to her.

The priest goes his way and being in the countess's presence, spoke according as he had been told:  he declared that he had a good wine of Zante which from Youghal newly was come to the earl, but which he was loath to drink without sending her a share of it.  The priest added that the earl thought her displeasure at him to have endured more than long enough, and that after a very short interval, he would come to fetch her. These words ended, he filled to the countess a measure of the wine and put it into her hand; she drank a draught of it and passed it on to her daughter, who took the same.  The boy-child, Richard, was sporting and frolicking through the house; he came to the priest and craved of him a drink of the wine.  The priest gave the child a box of his palm, said that for him it was not good to have any such wine, nor let a single drop go his way. Then the priest bade the countess farewell, and neither stayed nor tarried in the city, but struck out straight before him for the ferryboat.  No more than half way across the river had he won out, when he heard the city bells a-ringing.  He went on across the river, and again he halted on the landing shore until other folk from the city came by him at that spot.  He asked for news, and what it might be that caused that great bell-pealing that he heard.  "The Saxon countess and her daughter that, even now are dead."

When the priest had confirmation of those tidings he went on again, and stayed not until he got to Carrick, to his lady that was the earl of Desmond's daughter. From first to last he told her his tale: how that the countess and her daughter were dead; and she esteemed it right pleasant and joyful to hear those tidings to which she listened.

We now must revert for a little to the earl of Desmond, i.e., to the sequel of his death.  After his drowning in the Suir, the earl of Ormond in silence sought his own hold and fair town: the Carrick.  To all his people he issued a gathering-call and a summons, and proclaimed that under penalty of their lives, every man of them, deepest secrecy must for that night be kept as touching the earl of Desmond's death, nor (for that night especially must the same be suffered to reach his daughter). The earl now being come to the town, not long had he rested when the earl of Desmond's daughter came to look for him; she spoke to him and what she said was: "were I to have a fee for it, I would tell thee some news." "Thou shalt have it" quoth he.  "Well then," she went on, "the Saxon countess and her daughter are no more."  Upon the earl's hearing this, very great melancholy filled him and he said: "young woman, if I also tell thee some news, wilt thou give me another fee?"  She said: "thou shalt have it indeed."  "Well then," he answered, "to-day thy father the earl of Desmond, was drowned in the Suir." When she heard that, she made great outcry of grief and a weary weeping, so that her breast and bosom all were wet; and for long after that she was afflicted with heavy sickness and dejection of spirit.  Now this daughter of the earl of Desmond it was that to the earl of Ormond bore James gallda; of which James gallda's race are the Butlers of Cahir upon the Suir.  The earl put her from him, and afterwards Mac Thomas had her.”

© B.A. Butler

Link back to first chapter
http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/history-of-butlers-earls-of-ormond-and.html 


Links to other chapters on this blog:

The Butler Pedigree:
http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/the-butler-pedigree.html

The Genealogical History of Irish Butlers
http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/genealogical-history-of-irish-butlers.html

The MacRichard Line
http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/history-of-butlers-macrichard-line.html

see blog on Richard Butler 1st Viscount Mountgarrett:
http://butlerancestryireland.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/butlers-co-wexford-ch1-richard-1stviscount-mountgarrett.html

ANCESTRY OF THEOBALD WALTER

Part 1: The Ancestral Origins of Theobald Walter, Ancestor of the Butlers of Ireland

http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com/2022/05/Butlers-of-Ireland-chapter-1%20%20%20%20%20%20%20.html

Part 2: Possible candidates for the Walter surname named 'Walter' in the Domesday Book

http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com/2022/05/part-2-of-ancestral-origins-of-theobald.html 

Part 3: Analysis of the various theories of the origins of the Walter family

 http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com/2022/05/part-3-ancestral-origins-of-theobald.html

Part 4: Lands of the Walter family

http://butlergenealogyireland.blogspot.com/2022/05/part-4-ancestral-origins-of-theobald.html

---

[1] Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1830

[2] For a great story on the circumstances of James “Galda’s”  birth (Cahir line) read the 1722 story written by Shane O’Cahane