Maire Lynch
Encyclopedia
Maire Lynch, Countess of Clanricarde
, fl. 1547.
Lynch was a member of the Tribes of Galway
who married, prior to his death in 1544, Ulick na gCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde
. The reason for the marriage was to aid Burke's assimilation into Old English society and learn English.
However, Lynch was only one of three wives that Burke was simultaneously married to (see Early Irish Law). Upon his death, she claimed that their son, John Burke, should become 2nd Earl. A commission established that the legitimate heir was Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde
, son of Burke's first marriage to Grainne Ni Cearbaill of Ely O'Carroll. Lynch was in compensation granted £300.00.
Her son, John, would nevertheless challenge his half-brother for the earldom in the 1550's. In 1553, the Annals of the Four Masters
state that John Burke was besieged at his castle of Binmore (Beann-mor) by Earl Richard, but the latter had been drived off by Donnell O'Brien. The same annals record, sub anno 1598, that the two sons of William, son of John Burke of Rinn-Mhil (near Oranmore
) were killed during an invasion of Galway by Hugh Roe Ó Donnell.
By 1547, Maire Lynch had remarried to Piers Martin of Galway (fl. 1547-60). Adrian Martyn (2005) believed the couple to be grandparents of Walter Martyn, Mayor of Galway
for the term 1613-14. He accounts among her descendants Patrick Martyn fitz Walter (Mayor 1622-23), George Martyn fitz Walter (Mayor 1631-32), as well as other sheriffs and merchants of the town. He further states that his research indicates that Maire and Piers are ancestors to a large section of the Martyn family of Galway, whom he terms the Clan Walter. He places the clan in south-west Galway, in an area from Loughrea to Kilcolgan and bounded by Gort
in the south.
The year of Lynch's death is unknown. She would have been buried in the town of Galway.
Clanricarde
Clanricarde was a term meaning both a territory and a title in Ireland between the 13th and early 20th centuries.-Territory:The territory, in what is now County Galway, Ireland, stretched from the barony of County Clare in the north-west along the borders of County Mayo, to the River Shannon in the...
, fl. 1547.
Lynch was a member of the Tribes of Galway
Tribes of Galway
The Tribes of Galway were fourteen merchant families who dominated the political, commercial, and social life of the city of Galway in western Ireland between the mid-13th and late-19th centuries. They were the families of Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D'Arcy, Deane, Font, Ffrench, Joyce, Kirwan,...
who married, prior to his death in 1544, Ulick na gCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde
Ulick na gCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde
Ulick na gCeann Burke , 12th Clanricarde and 1st Earl of Clanricarde , was the son of Richard Mór Burke the 9th Clanricarde.-Biography:Born to Richard Mór Burke by a daughter of Madden of Portumna, Ulick succeeded to the...
. The reason for the marriage was to aid Burke's assimilation into Old English society and learn English.
However, Lynch was only one of three wives that Burke was simultaneously married to (see Early Irish Law). Upon his death, she claimed that their son, John Burke, should become 2nd Earl. A commission established that the legitimate heir was Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde
Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde
Richard Sassanach Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde, died 1582.He was the son of Ulick nagCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde and Grace O'Carroll...
, son of Burke's first marriage to Grainne Ni Cearbaill of Ely O'Carroll. Lynch was in compensation granted £300.00.
Her son, John, would nevertheless challenge his half-brother for the earldom in the 1550's. In 1553, the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
state that John Burke was besieged at his castle of Binmore (Beann-mor) by Earl Richard, but the latter had been drived off by Donnell O'Brien. The same annals record, sub anno 1598, that the two sons of William, son of John Burke of Rinn-Mhil (near Oranmore
Oranmore
Oranmore is a village in County Galway on the outskirts of Galway city in Ireland. With its major housing developments, Oranmore is rapidly becoming a part of Galway's commuter or suburban belt...
) were killed during an invasion of Galway by Hugh Roe Ó Donnell.
By 1547, Maire Lynch had remarried to Piers Martin of Galway (fl. 1547-60). Adrian Martyn (2005) believed the couple to be grandparents of Walter Martyn, Mayor of Galway
Mayor of Galway
The office of Mayor of Galway is an honorific title used by the of Galway City Council. The Council has jurisdiction throughout its administrative area which is the city of Galway – the largest city in the province of Connacht, in the Republic of Ireland. The office was originally established by a...
for the term 1613-14. He accounts among her descendants Patrick Martyn fitz Walter (Mayor 1622-23), George Martyn fitz Walter (Mayor 1631-32), as well as other sheriffs and merchants of the town. He further states that his research indicates that Maire and Piers are ancestors to a large section of the Martyn family of Galway, whom he terms the Clan Walter. He places the clan in south-west Galway, in an area from Loughrea to Kilcolgan and bounded by Gort
Gort
Gort is a town in south County Galway in the west of Ireland. An Gort is the official Irish name for the town, as defined by the Placenames Commission. In spoken Irish, however, the town is known by its traditional name Gort Inse Guaire. It lies just north of the border with County Clare on the...
in the south.
The year of Lynch's death is unknown. She would have been buried in the town of Galway.
See also
- Burke (name)Burke (name)Burke is an English variant of the English and Irish surname originating from the Anglo-Normans.In Old English, the name means "fortified hill". Variants include Bourke, de Burgo, Burgh, and De Burgh. Many Irish and English emigrants to Quebec and other francophone regions of Canada chose to change...
- Lynch (surname)Lynch (surname)Lynch is a surname of Irish origin.-Gaelic-Irish families:In Gaelic, its original forms included* Ó Loingsigh – now Lynch, Lynchy Lynskey, Lindsey.* Mac Loingsigh – Clynch, Lynch, Mac Glinchy, MacClintock, McClinton...
- Peirce LynchPeirce LynchPeirce Lynch, alias Peter Lynch, Mayor of Galway, fl. 1485-1486.The son of John Lynch fitz Edmond and a brother of Dominick Dubh Lynch and a member of one of The Tribes of Galway, Peirce became the first Mayor of Galway in August 1485, being succeeded by his brother Dominck in August 1486...
- The Tribes of Galway
- Earl of ClanricardeEarl of ClanricardeEarl of Clanricarde is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, first in 1543 and again in 1800. The former creation became extinct in 1916 while the 1800 creation is still extant and held by the Marquess of Sligo since 1916....