Walter Butler of Roscrea
Encyclopedia
Walter Butler of Ballinakill Castle, Roscrea was a descendant of the Butler family - the Earls of Ormond. He was the son of Peter Butler of Roscrea
. The "Roscrea" cadet branch of the family is in turn descended from the "Polestown" cadet branch.
, North Tipperary
were confiscated in 1616, he became a soldier of fortune. He entered the Imperial Army and served with distinction as a Colonel in the Thirty Years’ War. He and his Irish officers fought against MacKay's Regiment at Frankfurt-an-der-Oder. The commander of the Imperial Army at the time was Wallenstein who threatened to make peace with the King of Sweden without the consent of the Emperor
. When Wallenstein’s treachery was discovered in 1632, it was Butler who saved the Empire and arranged his execution. Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
created him a Count of the Empire, bestowed on him the domain of Friedberg
and presented him with the Imperial Gold Chain. The Count died at Schorndorf in 1634.
. The ruins can now be seen on the main Dublin-Limerick road (N7) about six kilometers on the Nenagh side of Roscrea. It is more of a fortified house than a true castle, similar to Cloncourse Castle. The exact date of the fortification is uncertain but is no earlier than 1580 when Pierce Butler of Paulstown bought land there. The three story fortified house has long been gutted and only the shell remains of this large building. What is most impressive about the site however, is not the house but the impressive bawn around it. A bawn is very similar to the curtain walls of a castle. The bawn at Ballinakill is still one of the finest in the country.
The castle was acquired by Sir Richard Stephens, who sold it in 1680 to a former Cromwellian soldier, Col. Charles Minchin. His descendants, two of whom were High Sheriffs of Tipperary, added a house at the southern end. Humphrey Minchin moved to England in 1760.
Peter Butler of Roscrea
Peter Butler of Roscrea, North Tipperary, was a descendant of the Butler family - the Earls of Ormond. He was the second son of Edmond Butler of Polestown...
. The "Roscrea" cadet branch of the family is in turn descended from the "Polestown" cadet branch.
Ancestry
- James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond
- Sir Richard Butler of PolestownSir Richard Butler of PolestownSir Richard Butler of Polestown, County Kilkenny was the second son of James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond and Anne Welles. His older brother James inherited the earldom...
, the second son of the 3rd Earl.
-
-
- Sir Edmund MacRichard ButlerEdmund MacRichard ButlerSir Edmund MacRichard Butler of Polestown was the eldest son of Sir Richard Butler of Polestown and adopted the Gaelic title of The MacRichard of Ossory.-Career:...
, the eldest son of Sir Richard.
-
- Walter Butler of PolestownWalter Butler of PolestownWalter Butler of Polestown was the second son of Sir Edmund MacRichard Butler. His nephew Piers would become the 8th Earl of Ormond.-Issue:* Edmond Butler of Polestown, who had four sons, Walter, Peter, Theobald, and Richard....
, second son of Edmund MacRichard.
-
- Edmond Butler of Polestown, son of Walter.
-
- Peter Butler of RoscreaPeter Butler of RoscreaPeter Butler of Roscrea, North Tipperary, was a descendant of the Butler family - the Earls of Ormond. He was the second son of Edmond Butler of Polestown...
, second son of Edmond.
- Peter Butler of Roscrea
- Walter Butler of Polestown
- Sir Edmund MacRichard Butler
-
Career
Walter became a celebrated figure in European history in the first quarter of the 17th century. When his family estates in RoscreaRoscrea
Roscrea is a small heritage town in North Tipperary, Ireland. The town has a population of 4,910. Its main industries include meat processing and pharmaceuticals. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ikerrin...
, North Tipperary
North Tipperary
North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
were confiscated in 1616, he became a soldier of fortune. He entered the Imperial Army and served with distinction as a Colonel in the Thirty Years’ War. He and his Irish officers fought against MacKay's Regiment at Frankfurt-an-der-Oder. The commander of the Imperial Army at the time was Wallenstein who threatened to make peace with the King of Sweden without the consent of the Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
. When Wallenstein’s treachery was discovered in 1632, it was Butler who saved the Empire and arranged his execution. Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
created him a Count of the Empire, bestowed on him the domain of Friedberg
Friedberg
- Places :* Friedberg, Bavaria, Germany* Friedberg, Hesse, Germany** University of Applied Sciences Giessen-Friedberg* Aichach-Friedberg, Bavaria, Germany* Friedberg, Bad Saulgau, a district of Bad Saulgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany* Friedberg, Styria, Austria...
and presented him with the Imperial Gold Chain. The Count died at Schorndorf in 1634.
Ballinakill Castle
Ballinakill Castle lies between Roscrea and DunkerrinDunkerrin
Dunkerrin is a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. It is located in County Offaly, Ireland on the main N7 road from Dublin to Limerick. The parish has 300 inhabitants as of the 2006 census....
. The ruins can now be seen on the main Dublin-Limerick road (N7) about six kilometers on the Nenagh side of Roscrea. It is more of a fortified house than a true castle, similar to Cloncourse Castle. The exact date of the fortification is uncertain but is no earlier than 1580 when Pierce Butler of Paulstown bought land there. The three story fortified house has long been gutted and only the shell remains of this large building. What is most impressive about the site however, is not the house but the impressive bawn around it. A bawn is very similar to the curtain walls of a castle. The bawn at Ballinakill is still one of the finest in the country.
The castle was acquired by Sir Richard Stephens, who sold it in 1680 to a former Cromwellian soldier, Col. Charles Minchin. His descendants, two of whom were High Sheriffs of Tipperary, added a house at the southern end. Humphrey Minchin moved to England in 1760.