Richard "the Iron" Bourke


Richard "the Iron" Bourke, 18th Mac William Íochtar, was an Irish chieftain and noble.

Background

Bourke was a son of David de Búrca, 15th Mac William Íochtar, by his second wife, Finola Ni Flaithbertaigh. He succeeded his cousin, Seaán mac Oliver (John) Bourke, 17th Mac William Íochtar, a great-grandson of Ricard Ó Cuairsge Bourke, 7th Mac William Íochtar.
In English, he was known as Richard Bourke, or "Iron Richard". In medieval Ireland, Richard was a rare name, most found in Norman-origin families like the Bourkes. Richard was second husband to Grace O'Malley. He was the father of several children, including Tibbot ne Long Bourke, 1st Viscount Mayo and Nora Bourke, a lay Dominican Sister who founded a convent close to Burrishoole Friary, County Mayo. Honoria died while attempting to escape from Cromwellian soldiers in 1652.
During the uneven anglicisation of Ireland in the 16th century, by the policy of "Surrender and regrant", Richard signed an agreement with the Crown in 1581 which uniquely left him in autonomous control of his part of County Mayo.
Richard was succeeded, as Mac William Íochtar, by his predecessor's brother, Richard Bourke, 19th Mac William Íochtar.

Genealogy