Sir Edmund MacRichard O'Reilly Butler, of Polestown

From Dictionary of Irish Biography https://www.dib.ie/ - Contributed by Beresford, David -

'Butler, Edmund (‘MacRichard’) (c.1420–1464), and James (c.1440–1487), father and son, were successively head of the Polestown Butlers, one of the minor branches of the family. Edmund, usually called MacRichard, was eldest son of Richard Butler, younger brother of James Butler (qv), 4th earl of Ormond. Fostered by Richard O'Hedian (qv), archbishop of Cashel, Edmund MacRichard was politically active from the early 1440s and generally served as his uncle's deputy within the earldom of Ormond, a post he also held for his cousins after the earl's death (1452).

His career serves to underline the chaotic nature of politics in the lordship in the mid-fifteenth century. While he acted to protect the Ormond lordship from external threats, Gaelic or Anglo-Irish, he showed little hesitation in allying himself with Gaelic lords when the need arose, as when he raided into Wexford (1454) in the company of Domhnall Riabhach (MacMurrough) (qv) or when he raided Meath (1461) with Conn Ó Conchobhair Failghe (O' Connor Faly) (qv). His branch of the Butler family was prepared to make marriage alliances with Gaelic lords to secure the lordship: MacRichard married a daughter of Maolruanaidh Ó Cearbhaill (O' Carroll) (qv), and his son James married Sadbh, a daughter of Domhnall Riabhach Caomhánach.

When John Butler (qv), 6th earl of Ormond, came to Ireland in 1462, Edmund MacRichard led the Butlers to support him. MacRichard's defeat at the battle of Pilltown (in which he fought, contrary to the wishes of the earl) ended the earl's pro-Lancastrian revolt, and cost MacRichard the Psalter of Cashel, an heirloom that he was forced to give to Thomas fitz James (qv), 8th earl of Desmond, as part of his ransom. MacRichard was attainted (October 1462) by the Irish parliament for his part in the rebellion and died in the summer of 1464, before the attainder was lifted. Deeply interested in Gaelic literature, Edmund MacRichard in 1453 had commissioned scribes to copy out Irish literary and historical texts (Bodl., Laud miscellanea 610), a treasure which he had to surrender as part of his ransom to the earl of Desmond, along with the Psalter of Cashel.'

Pedigree from http://www.thepeerage.com/p3317.htm#i33161

Sir Edmund Butler

M, #33161, d. 13 June 1464

Sir Edmund Butler|d. 13 Jun 1464|p3317.htm#i33161|Richard Butler||p3317.htm#i33164|Catherine O'Reilly||p3317.htm#i33165|James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde|d. 6 Sep 1405|p3317.htm#i33167|Anne Welles|d. a 1396|p3317.htm#i33168|Gildas O'Reilly, Lord of East Breffny||p3317.htm#i33166||||

Last Edited=13 Apr 2008

    Sir Edmund Butler was the son of Richard Butler and Catherine O'Reilly.1 He married Giles O'Carroll, daughter of Maolruanaidh O'Carroll.1 He died on 13 June 1464.1

Sir Edmund Butler was also known as Edmond ‘MacRichard' Butler.2 He was invested as a Knight.
Children of Sir Edmund Butler and Giles O'Carroll

   * Sir James Butler+ d. 16 Apr 1467

* Catherine Butler+ 2
Citations

  1. [S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 2, page 2808. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.

2. [S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 1211.

Edmund MacRichard BUTLER of Polestown (Sir)

Died: 13 Jun 1464

Father: Richard BUTLER of Knocktopher (Sir)

Mother: Catherine O'REILLY

Married: Catherine O'CARROLL

Children:

1. James BUTLER (Sir)

2. Richard (Edmund) BUTLER

3. Walter (Theobald) BUTLER

Sir Edmund Butler

M, #33161, d. 13 June 1464

Last Edited=13 Apr 2008

    Sir Edmund Butler was the son of Richard Butler and Catherine O'Reilly.1 He married Giles O'Carroll, daughter of Maolruanaidh O'Carroll.1 He died on 13 June 1464.1

Sir Edmund Butler was also known as Edmond ‘MacRichard' Butler.2 He was invested as a Knight.
Children of Sir Edmund Butler and Giles O'Carroll

Sir James Butler+ d. 16 Apr 1467

Catherine Butler+ 2

Citations

[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 2, page 2808. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.

[S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, volume 1, page 1211.

The MacRichard of Ossory

ID: I17402

Name: Edmund Butler

Surname: Butler

Given Name: Edmund

Sex: M

Birth: 1415

Death: 1464

_UID: 67E1F6C7FBFD73488554FBC363F624D9A58B

Change Date: 1 Mar 2007 at 21:33:25

Father: Living Butler

Mother: Living O'Reilly

Marriage 1 Living O'Carroll

Children

James Butler b: 1437 in Callan,Kilkenny,Ireland