Donnchadh ramhar O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond

Recognized by the Petworth House Archives as second earl, succeeding Murchadh O Briain. Rather than "The Fat," he is regarded as "The Great Earl" by the English, who he supported:

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/history/images/Thomond_Pap...

As a chief dynastic family of north Munster since medieval times, the Uí Bhriain retained their prominence and independence as the ruling family of the Thomond Gaelic lordship until Murchadh Ó Briain renounced his claim to kingship and was created first earl of Thomond and first baron Inchiquin, in 1543.[8] It was not until Donough O’Brien, known to the English as the ‘Great Earl’,[9] firmly allied himself as a loyalist and supporter of English law and administration and commander of royal forces during the Nine Years War (1595–1603), that the former kingdom of Thomond underwent anglicisation.

Footnotes:

• 8. John Ainsworth (ed.), The Inchiquin Manuscripts (Dublin, 1961), no.885 [1 July, 1543], p. 272.
• 9. Brian Ó Dálaigh, ‘From Gaelic Warlords to English Country Gentlemen: The O’Briens of Thomond 1543–1741’ in The Other Clare, xxv (2001), pp 40–42, p. 41.

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Donough or Donnchadh O'Brien, Second Earl of Thomond, ‘The Fat.’ died 1 April 1553

Parents: son of Conor O'Brien, Prince of Thomond and Annabell de Burgh.

Married:

1. Helen Butler, daughter of Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormonde and Lady Margaret FitzGerald, circa 1533.

Child of Donough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond

1. Mary O'Brien+ 1

Children of Donough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond and Helen Butler

1. Margaret O'Brien+ d. 1568 2
2. Conor O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond+ b. c 1535, d. 1581

Notes

Donough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond gained the title of 2nd Earl of Thomond.1 Donough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond also went by the nick-name of 'The Fat'. He was created 1st Earl of Thomond [Ireland] on 7 January 1551/52.

Links

• Biography from http://www.harrymclaughlin.com/Descent_From_King_Edward_I_.pdf
• Pedigree from http://www.thepeerage.com/p3316.htm#i33152

Citations

1. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume II, page 252. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.
2. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume III, page 229.