Corner, Richard de la
Contributed by
Mac Shamhráin, Ailbhe
Corner, Richard de la (d. 1252), bishop of Meath, belonged to an aristocratic Anglo-Norman family, the main line of which, descended from Philip de Angulo (qv), included the barons of Navan. Richard was a canon of St Patrick's, Dublin, and seneschal of the liberty of St Sepulchre, before he was elected in 1231 to succeed Ralph le Petit in the bishopric of Meath.
Even before his consecration (which took place at St Peter's church, Drogheda, in 1231) Richard had already proven himself ‘an uncompromising vindicator of the rights of his see’ (Cogan); while still bishop elect, he engaged in lawsuits with the Cistercian community of St Mary's Abbey, Dublin, and with the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. In his dispute with St Mary's, Richard challenged the right of the family of Adam de Feypo to have granted the churches of Skryne (Skreen) away from the diocese. Similarly, he contested the right of patronage claimed by the friars of St John's over some ten churches, mainly in the north of the diocese. In formulating his arguments, Richard provided a list of thirteenth-century churches which complements other surviving sources. The case, having been referred to Pope Gregory IX, was settled at court in Dublin in July 1233, where the findings were for the most part against Bishop Richard. The Cistercian claims to the Skryne churches were upheld, but St Mary's was to pay an annuity of 20 silver pounds. Richard did recover four churches, including Kells and Ardmulchan, from St John's and the friars were to pay an annuity of 40 silver marks for three years (Pontificia, §203). Parallel to these actions, Richard unsuccessfully pursued claims against the priory of Llanthony Prima in Wales and St Thomas's Abbey, Dublin, concerning churches in the vicinity of Rathconnell and Kilbixy respectively.
Richard's persistent legal battling may have been one of the factors that prompted the archbishop of Armagh to accept Richard's resignation in 1235 (Pontificia, §227), the latter feeling unworthy having consented when a simple clerk to the death of a malefactor; however Richard did not resign. In the same year Richard convened a diocesan synod in which he reallocated the possessions of the vicars within the diocese. Two years later he and Archbishop Luke (qv) of Dublin were apparently instructed by the pope (Pontificia, §233) to help ensure the peace that Henry III had arranged between the barons of Ireland and Gilbert Marshal (qv) (d. 1241). Richard features as a benefactor of the Augustinian canons and nuns; he granted the church of Leny to the abbey of Tristernagh and generously endowed Lismullin, the foundation of his sister Alicia Corner (qv). It would appear that he also spent considerable time and resources renovating the cathedral at Newtown Trim.
Richard died sometime before 29 June 1252. Richard had a son, William, who was canon and prebendary of Newcastle, Co. Dublin (also of Salisbury and Exeter), and both a crown servant and papal chaplain. Following the death of Archbishop Fulk de Sandford (qv) in May 1271, William de la Corner was elected to the see of Dublin by the chapter of St Patrick's. However, as a rival candidate was advanced by the chapter of the Holy Trinity, the pope provided John of Darlington to the archdiocese; William became bishop of Salisbury in 1289.
Sources
A. Cogan, The diocese of Meath: ancient and modern (3 vols, 1862–70), 72–3; Chartul. St Mary's, Dublin, i, 165; Reg. St Thomas, Dublin, 37; Ir. chartul. Llanthony, 275–81; J. P. Kelly, ‘The parish of Lismullin’, Ríocht na Midhe, ii, no. 3 (1961), 53 ff; M. P. Sheehy (ed.), Pontificia Hibernica: medieval papal chancery documents concerning Ireland, 640–1261 (2 vols, 1962–5), ii, 40, 65, 72, 259 n.; F. J. Byrne, ‘Succession lists’, NHI, ix, 285; Hickey, Skryne, esp. 56, 86, 108
My Research as follows, Richard was named after one of the original MacOistelbh, ie Sons of Gausslyn, or Joceyn as it is written in Norman French. They are recordedin the Annals in 1193 as attacking Inis Clotherain, possibly to rescue Hostages or Sons of Cathal OConor Maonmoy, who had be killed the previous year by O Conor family embers over dispute of replcing Roderick Rhuari OConor, h ARd Ri of Ireland, who had retired to the Monastery of Cong. Richard the namesake of Richard de La Corner was KIA in Cashel with O Donavan, annals 1200. His nephew Ricahrd founded the Nagle clan of Ballynamona in the Blackwater Valley. Richards son Thomas de la Corner was Bishop of Salisbury in 1290.
