Edmond Albanach de Burgh, 1st Mac William Íochtar (born before 1315; died 1375) was an Irish chieftain and noble who established himself as the most powerful lord in Connacht west of the Shannon.

Early life

Edmond Albanach was the son of Sir William Liath de Burgh (d.1324). He acquired his nickname from the time he spent in Scotland from the spring of 1316 as a hostage for his father, after the latter's release by Robert the Bruce.

Mac William Íochtar

The murder of his brother, Walter Liath de Burgh, in 1332, directly led to the destruction of the de Burgh Earldom of Ulster and Lordship of Connacht. Warfare between the de Burgh factions climaxed with the murder of a cousin, Edmond de Burgh of Clanwilliam by Albanach at Lough Mask in 1338. Albanch was driven from Connacht for this, but gathered a fleet which harassed the coast of Connacht till he was delivered a royal pardon in March 1340. He was able to maintain himself as the most powerful lord west of the Shannon, over the O'Conor's and Clanricardes'.

Annals of the Four Masters

From the Annals of the Four Masters: ''M1335.4. The entire of the West of Connaught was desolated by Edmond Burke. Great evils were also wrought by him, both by burning and slaying, upon the son of the Earl and the race of Richard Burke. They afterwards made peace with one another.''

Family and descendants

De Burgh had two wives, Sadhbh Ní Mháille, daughter of Diarmuid mac Owen Ó Máille, with whom he had one son: and Finola Ní Cellaigh with whom he may have fathered: Thomas de Burgh (d.1402) had five sons, each of whom succeeded each other in the Lordship of the Lower MacWilliam. The Fourth son was ancestor to the Earls of Mayo. His eldest son:- his eldest son:- his eldest son:- his eldest son:- who had three sons:-

Arms

Genealogy

Citations