John de Bermingham was the first Earl of Louth and held the title until his murder in 1329. He was the commander of the Anglo-Irish army in the Battle of Faughart, the decisive battle in the Irish Bruce Wars 1315–1318. In this battle, Edward Bruce was killed, and Bermingham had Bruce's severed head 'salted in a chest' and transported to England to be put on display before Edward II. He was murdered in 1329, and the Earldom of Louth ended. The title was held once more by Thomas Bermingham, Baron of Athenry, in 1749, and again became extinct upon his death in 1799.