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Baron Athenry is one of the oldest titles in the Peerage of Ireland, but the date of its creation is thoroughly uncertain; each of the first four Berminghams listed below is claimed by some writers to have been Lord Athenry, but the evidence is disputed. The title appears to have been given to the de Birmingham family of Birmingham, Warks, England as a reward for their help in the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1172. Both Sir William de Birmingham, and his son Robert de Birmingham, are variously claimed to have been involved in the invasion, but it is probable that, after the invasion, William returned to his home in England and left Robert their new lands in Ireland.
Rickard de Bermingham, otherwise Rickard Mac Fheorais, was Anglo-Irish lord of Athenry.
Bermingham is the Gaelicised version of 'De Birmingham' and is descended from the family of Warwickshire, England. The Irish version of the name MacFeorais/MacPheorais is derived from Pierce de Bermingham. The first recorded Bermingham in Ireland, Robert de Bermingham accompanied Richard de Clare or 'Strongbow' in Henry II's conquest of Ireland in 1172. On arrival he received: "an ancient monument, valued at 200 pounds, on which was represented in brass the landing of the first ancestor of the family of Birmingham in Ireland."
John de Bermingham, 1st and last Earl of Louth was an Irish peer. 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 briefly Viceroy of Ireland in 1321.
Meyler de Bermingham was an Anglo-Irish lord, founder of Athenry.
Thomas de Bermingham was an Anglo-Irish lord who died in 1375.
Walter de Bermingham was an Anglo-Irish lord who died in 1428.
Thomas II de Bermingham was an Anglo-Irish lord who died in 1473.
Thomas III de Bermingham was an Anglo-Irish lord who died in 1500.
Meiler de Bermingham was a Norman-Irish lord who died in 1529.
Edmond de Bermingham was an Anglo-Irish lord, alive in 1645.
Thomas Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth was an Anglo-Irish politician and peer. He was also the last man to be summoned to parliament as Baron Athenry.
Francis de Bermingham, 14th Baron Athenry, was an Anglo-Irish peer.
John de Bermingham was an Anglo-Irish lord.
Richard II de Bermingham was an Anglo-Irish lord.
Edmond I de Bermingham was an Anglo-Irish lord.
Edmond I de Bermingham, Anglo-Irish lord, born 1570, died 1645.
Francis de Bermingham was an Anglo-Irish lord of Athenry and Dunmore, County Galway.
Edward de Bermingham, Anglo-Irish lord of Athenry and Dunmore, County Galway, died 1709, was the son of Francis de Bermingham, 12th Baron Athenry and Bridget, daughter of Sir Lucas Dillon. He succeeded as 13th Baron Athenry in 1677.
There are numerous Bermingham monuments in Ireland particularly in counties Kildare, Offaly, Galway, and Dublin. Most are now in a poor state. Athenry Castle in Galway has been restored, using building techniques similar to those employed when it was originally built.
References
- "The Abbey of Athenry", Martin J. Blake, Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society , volume II, part ii, 1902
- "The Birmingham Family of Athenry", H. T. Knox, J.G.A.H.S., volume ten, numbers iii and iv, 1916–17.
- "The Birmingham Chalice", J. Rabbitte, J.G.A.H.S., volume 17, i and ii, 1936-27[ clarification needed ]
- "The Second Battle of Athenry", Adrian James Martyn, East Galway News & Views, September 2008 – April 2009
