On this day… 29 July

By Ian Brophy, Galway Civic Trust

On this day, 29 July, 1326, Richard de Burgo, the ‘Red Earl’, died at Athassel Priory in Co. Tipperary, and was buried there.

Athassel Priory was founded by the Augustinians under the patronage of William de Burgo, sometime in the late 1100’s. William de Burgo was the first of that clan to come to Ireland, circa 1169/1170. The priory was burned twice; once in 1329 by Brian, King of Thomond, and again in 1581 by John Fitzgerald of Desmond. A large town had grown up around the priory but was destroyed during the two raids. The priory was finally dissolved in 1537 and the lands given to Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond; who neglected the abbey, and it subsequently fell into ruin.

Richard de Burgo, the 3rd Lord of Connaught and the 2nd Earl of Ulster, was possibly the most powerful man in Ireland during his lifetime. Known as the ‘Red Earl’, possibly because of his hair; he controlled huge swathes of land from Ulster through Connacht to Munster.

Richard (Mor) de Burgo is regarded as the founder of the town of Galway, having built the first castle there in 1232. His grandson, the Red Earl, was too young to take control of his father’s territory after his death, being only 12 years of age. The age of adulthood in the medieval period was 21 years. On gaining control, he built the Hall of the Red Earl close to the castle of Galway, around 1281. In 1283, he married his cousin, Margaret de Burgh. Their daughter Elizabeth became the 2nd wife of Robert the Bruce, who was crowned king of Scotland in 1306; Elizabeth becoming Queen of Scotland. Their son was David II, King of Scotland, who reigned from 1329 until his death in 1371.

In 1315, Edward the Bruce, the brother of Robert the Bruce, invaded Ireland. The armies of Edward the Bruce and Richard de Burgo fought each other at the battle of Connor in Antrim. The Red Earl was heavily defeated.

On this day, 29 July, 1326, Richard de Burgo, the Red Earl, died at Athassel Priory and was buried there.