Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde

The Earl of Clanricarde
Ricard de Búrca
Member of the Irish House of Lords
Hereditary Peerage
March 1544 – 24 July 1582
Preceded byUlick na gCeann Burke
Succeeded byUlick Burke
Personal details
Born
Richard Burke
Died24 July 1582
NationalityIrish
Spouses
  • Margaret O'Brien
    (m. 1548, divorced)
  • Margaret O'Brien
    (m. 1553)
  • Julia MacCarthy
    (m. 1568)
Domestic partnerHonora O'Brien
Children
Parents

Richard Sassanach Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde (English: /klænˈrɪkɑːrd/; klan-RIK-ard; died 24 July 1582), styled Lord Dunkellin (/dʌnˈkɛlɪn/; dun-KELL-in) until 1544, was an Irish noble who succeeded his father Ulick na gCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde as chief of a Gaelicised Norman family with authority over much of what is now County Galway. Richard's nickname was Sassanach "Englishman", because he took the English part during the Tudor reconquest of Ireland.

Richard's mother, Grace O'Carroll, was one of several putative wives of Ulick na gCeann, such that there were rival candidates to succeed to the Earldom. Richard, the oldest legitimate son in English law, was the eventual successor. He was sporadically opposed by his brothers and half-brothers, including John, whose mother was of Maire Lynch, and who claimed the title in 1568.

Richard extended his influence at the expense of the Ó Ceallaigh and the O'Maddens in the east of County Galway, gaining overlordship over the O'Shaughnessy in the south, while allying himself with the O'Conor Don and the O'Briens of Thomond. Other minor allies included the MacCostelloe and MacMorris, who acknowledged him to avoid encroachment from the Bourkes of Mayo. In 1559 Clanricarde fought on the losing side at the Battle of Spancel Hill during an O'Brien succession dispute.