Oliver Óge French
Encyclopedia
Sir Oliver Óge French was an Irish merchant and mayor of Galway
.
French was a member of the Tribes of Galway
. During the 1640s he held a number of civic appointments in the town (burgess, councilor, sheriff). He was an agent for the Irish Confederation
to the United Provinces
in May 1648, making a speech to the states general in The Hague
. His speech outlined the reasons for the war in Ireland, the justness of the Irish cause and their many disadvantages. That October, he petitioned Prince Charles (later Charles II
) to intercede with James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
in an effort to retain his lands. Because of his loyalty, Charles reccomened his case to Ormond.
While Mayor of Galway (1650–51), French was knighted by Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde
. The town was just recovering from an outbreack of the plague, and warfare was endemic in the county. He sought terms for the town's surrender from Henry Ireton
. His property was seized after the surrender in 1652 and he was transplanted to Mayo.
French was married twice. His first wife's name appears to be unknown, but his second was Eveline Brown, whom he married after 1648. She was the widow of Robert French of Monivea
.
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...
.
French 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,...
. During the 1640s he held a number of civic appointments in the town (burgess, councilor, sheriff). He was an agent for the Irish Confederation
Irish Confederation
The Irish Confederation was an Irish nationalist independence movement, established on 13 January 1847 by members of the Young Ireland movement who had seceded from Daniel O'Connell's Repeal Association. Historian T. W...
to the United Provinces
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
in May 1648, making a speech to the states general in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. His speech outlined the reasons for the war in Ireland, the justness of the Irish cause and their many disadvantages. That October, he petitioned Prince Charles (later Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
) to intercede with James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde PC was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the second of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom. He was the friend of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who appointeed him commander of the Cavalier forces in Ireland. From 1641 to 1647, he...
in an effort to retain his lands. Because of his loyalty, Charles reccomened his case to Ormond.
While Mayor of Galway (1650–51), French was knighted by Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde
Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde
Ulick Burke, 1st Marquess of Clanricarde , was an Irish nobleman and figure in English Civil War....
. The town was just recovering from an outbreack of the plague, and warfare was endemic in the county. He sought terms for the town's surrender from Henry Ireton
Henry Ireton
Henry Ireton was an English general in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War. He was the son-in-law of Oliver Cromwell.-Early life:...
. His property was seized after the surrender in 1652 and he was transplanted to Mayo.
French was married twice. His first wife's name appears to be unknown, but his second was Eveline Brown, whom he married after 1648. She was the widow of Robert French of Monivea
Monivea
Monivea It was formerly part of the kingdom of the Soghain of Connacht. It is located approximately 30 km from Galway City and 9 km from Athenry. Monivea is known for its sizable forest, Monivea Castle which now lies in partial ruins, and a well-preserved mausoleum...
.