Over the centuries a number of junior titles were granted to various younger sons of the Chief Butlers and the Earls of Ormond, and even to their illegitimate children, and these aristocratic lines were granted large areas of land throughout southern Ireland and intermarried with the senior Ormond line. These Butler families helped the Earl protect and retain his vast holdings against attacks from indigenous Irish clans who resented the loss of their lands. Some of the Butlers formed alliances with some of the more prominent Irish clan leaders such as the Kavanaghs, fitzPatricks, and O’Briens through marriage with their daughters.
The most prominent junior Butler lines were:
the Viscounts Mountgarrett from Richard, the second son of Piers the 8th Earl of Ormond- later, this line also held the title Earl of Kilkenny for a brief time. (The current Viscount Mountgarrett looks likely to inherit the vacant Earldom of Ormonde.);
the Barons of Dunboyne from Thomas, the third son of Theobald the 4th Chief Butler, (and brother of Edmund, the 6th Chief Butler and Earl of Karrick, whose son James became the 1st Earl of Ormond);
the Viscounts Ikerrin (including Butlers of Callan), who later became the Earls of Carrick, from John the second son of Edmund 6th Chief Butler and Earl of Karrick, (and brother of the 1st Earl of Ormond);
the Barons of Cahir who later held the title of Earl of Glengall, from James “Galda”, the illegitimate son of the 3rd Earl of Ormond;
the Viscounts Galmoy from Edward son of Piers of Duiske the illegitimate son of Thomas 10th Earl of Ormond.
There are also various other titles that are not quite as prominent in the family heritage.
The titles of Mountgarrett, Dunboyne and Carrick continue today- the other titles have either expired, or are unclaimed, or extinct.
There were many non-titled but closely related Butler lines that were prominent, and referred to by Lord Dunboyne in his extensive Butler genealogical research viz.
Butlers of Neigham co. Kilkenny descended from Edmund illegitimate elder brother of Piers 8th Earl of Ormond (born pre marriage, to James Butler & Sabhn Kavanagh);
Butlers of Paulstown/Polestown co. Kilkenny also descended from Richard of Knocktopher 2nd son of 3rd Earl of Ormond.
Butlers of Callan co. Kilkenny descended from Pierce of Lismalin (as were the Viscounts Ikerrin/ Earls of Carrick), descendant of Edmund 6th Chief Butler;
Butlers of Boytonrath/Grallagh/Derrycloney/Garranlea/Grange, co.Tipperary, and Butlers of Co. Clare, all descendants of 9th and 10th Lords Dunboyne;
Butlers of Cloughgrennan/Ballintemple/Garryhundon, co.Carlow descended from Thomas (Baronet), illegitimate son of Edmond, second son of 9th Earl of Ormond;
Butlers of Grantstown/Kilmoyler/Bansha, co.Tipperary from Pierce, youngest son of 9th Earl of Ormond;
Butlers of Nodstown (Ardmayle) co. Tipperary, from Walter, fourth son of 9th Earl of Ormond;
Butler descendants of Thomas Prior of Kilmainham, base son of 3rd Earl of Ormond;
Butlers of Ballyraggett co. Kilkenny, descendants of Viscount Mountgarrett;
Butlers of Carlow and Butlers of Wexford, including the Kayer/Munphin branch (which will be discussed in detail later) descendants of Viscount Mountgarrett;
plus many other lines.
The Ormond line and these junior lines intermarried with each other, and with many other titled and gentry families in Ireland and England.
The Viscounts Mountgarrett held vast lands in Counties Wexford, Carlow, Queens, Nth Kilkenny and Nth Tipperary- the 1st Viscount (created in 1550) was appointed Governor of Wexford in 1538.
Richard, 1st Viscount Mountgarrett, was the second son of Piers 8th Earl of Ormond, and brother to James 9th Earl of Ormond. Richard inherited the Castle of Ballyraggett in North Kilkenny from his mother, and owned 20,000 acres in northern Kilkenny.
The Mountgarrett Butlers lived in Ballyraggett Lodge, a “fine mansion”. The 1st Viscount Mountgarrett’s mother, Margaret Fitzgerald, Countess of Ormond, (daughter of the Earl of Kildare, and married to the 8th Earl of Ormond) favoured Ballyraggett Castle as her favourite residence. [1] They also held considerable property in County Wexford.
The Barons of Dunboyne held lands in Counties Meath, Tipperary, and then Clare (after the plantation).
The Viscounts Ikerrin/Earls of Carrick held lands in County Kilkenny, in particular Lismalin, Callan and eventually at Mt. Juliet (Ballylinch Castle).
The Barons of Cahir were based in County Tipperary at their magnificent castle, Cahir Castle. [2]
Untitled but related Butlers also held lands in the above counties as well as in Wicklow, Waterford, Cork, Kildare, Cavan and Dublin, and counties in the province of Connaught (after the plantation). And of course, the Ormonds possessed vast areas of land, as discussed.
© B.A. Butler
contact butler1802 @hotmail.com (no spaces)
Link back to Introduction
http://butlerfamilyhistoryaus1.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/lawrence-butler-jnr-introduction.html
http://butlerfamilyhistoryaus1.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/lawrence-butler-jnr-introduction.html
