Loughrea

The town dates from 1236, when the Anglo-Norman Knight Richard Mór de Burgh “The Great Lord of Connaught” built a castle there. Loughrea, like most of Connaught, is linked with the fortunes of the powerful de Burgh family. The founder of this house, William de Burgh or ‘William the Conqueror’ as he became known had obtained a grant of land in Munster. During the reign of Richard 1, Prince John made a speculative grant of the whole or part of Connaught to William de Burgh. At the time it was the property of Roderic O’Connor, the High King of Ireland and so the de Burghs had first to conquer and then fight to retain the land.

William’s son Richard enclosed the town of Galway and under him it was settled by the Norman families, the ‘Tribes’ of Galway. While he had castles at Meelick on the Shannon, Galway and Portumna, his principal manor was at Loughrea.

1236 A.D. Shortly after this Richard asked the help of Maurice Fitzgerald and a expeditionary force was set up, it included Hugh de Lacy,Walter de Ridelesfort and John Cogan, the Birminghams, the Prendergasts, the Fitzgriffins and the Botillers. Other Normans mentioned are Staunton, Roche, de Barry, Barret, Cusack, Flemming and de Exeter.The Irish taken by surprise made a last minute alliance of the O’Connors, O’Flahertys, O’Briens, O’Heynes and some minor clans and chieftains. The Normans first plundered Roscommon and Sligo, then turned southward to meet the Irish forces who were easily defeated. At that point the O’Flahertys and the O’Heynes changed side. The invasion forces then turned north once again and went to Westport via Tuam and Ballinrobe where they broke up a tribal rally. Felhim O’Connor was captured and brought to Boyle, the Irish crushed. The Normans left the countryside wasted, Connacht “without food or clothing in church or territory, without peace or quiet or prosperity.”. Parishes suffered again from war and famine this time accompanied by “great rain and bad weather”. Richard built a castle in Loughrea then left for England.

There followed the distribution of Connaught amongst the Normans.

5 cantred were reserved to the king of Connacht, who had to pay tributes to the crown of England.

Richard de Burgh acquired the baronies of Loughrea, Leitrim and Longford plus some large track of lands. He was also the overlord for Connaught.

Hugh de Lacy 5 cantred in north Mayo, which he sold or exchanged.

Maurice Fitzgerald The western half of Conmhaicne Cuile and the baronies of Ross and Sligo. He later purchased two baronies from de Lacy and the eastern half of Conmhaicne Cuile from Stephen Roche.

Walter de Ridelisford Admekin and Corofin

John de Coghan South Claregalway

Prendergast Claremorris and the eastern half of Conmhaicne Cuile. He sold that half to Roche who in turn sold it to Fitzgerald.

Staunton got Carra,

Bermingham got Dunmore, Botiller Burrishoole,

4 cantred went to the O’Kellys,

the rest was divided between Joedan, Nangle, Dillon, Roche, Petit, Carew, Barrett, Fleming.

Following the invasion the native chieftains were banished and their estates went derelict, in some cases the Normans used the existing Celtic defences as in Ballisnahiney where the castle is build on top of a ring fort.

The annals of Connacht describe that year as follow

“ This was a year of wet and storm and war, of hunger and scarcity of food and clothing, armed band and evil doers without reverence for church or privilege, being excommunicated by the hand of bishops; the reverent clerics of the catholic church in fear and dread every day and night; frequent routs and escaping from Gael and Gall to the churches, and churches used as dormitories, this year and for the space of twelve years ever since O’Niell’s war; Galls and Gaels plundering by turns, no lordship or government, but Connacht lying open for the Galls to ruin whenever they came into it, and it’s king and eligible princes plundering and violating church and countryside in their wake.”

The Annals of the four masters shows that the practice of keeping the harvest stored in the church ground is still common at this time, and this might be the reason for so many churches being plundered as it would have being a good source of supply for the armies.

“ William Burke left neither rick nor basket of corn in the large churchyard of Mayo or in the yard of the church of St. Michael the Archangel, and carried away eighty baskets out of the churches themselves. They afterward went to Turlagh, on which they inflicted similar calamities.”