My wife's ancestors - Butler - Contents

Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond

• References:
  • MOUNTGARRET in [Burkes Peerage]

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • 8th Earl in [DIB]

Effigies of 8th Earl of Ormond and Margaret Fitzgerald, St.Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny.
From exhibition at NMI.
See larger.
See low-light image. Posted by Simon Dowling.

Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond (see here), born 1467,
"Red Piers", 1st Earl of Ossory.
He mar 1485 to Margaret Fitzgerald [descendant of Edward I].
He built Neigham Castle, Co.Kilkenny, c.1487.
His father died 1487. He had older brothers, but they could not inherit the Earldom.
In 1498, asserting his claim as heir to the Earldom, he seized Kilkenny Castle.
He succ as Earl of Ormond when his relative the 7th Earl died at an advanced age in 1515.
Lord Deputy of Ireland 1523-1524.

In Feb 1528 (regarded at the time as the end of 1527) he was forced to give up the Earldom of Ormond to his relation Thomas Boleyn, father of Anne Boleyn, after Henry VIII fell for Anne.
In return, Butler was created Earl of Ossory.
After the fall of Anne Boleyn 1536, he succeeded in regaining Earldom of Ormond 1538.
He is numbered as 8th Earl (Boleyn not counted).

He set up original Kilkenny College 1538, one of Ireland's oldest surviving schools.
He died 26 August 1539,
bur St.Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny, SE corner, impressive effigy.
Margaret died 1542, bur impressive effigy beside husband.
They had issue:

1. James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond, born 1496.

   
   

2. Richard Butler, 1st Viscount Mountgarret, born 1500,
   died 1571,
   bur St.Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny, SC wall, effigy.
   Ancestor of Viscounts Mountgarret.
   This line is the likely heir to the Earldom of Ormond (dormant 1997).

1. Joan Butler,
   mar James Butler, 10th Baron of Dunboyne and had issue.

   
   

2. Helen Butler, Ellena,
   mar Donnchadh O'Brien, 2nd Earl of Thomond and had issue.

(Foreground) Effigies of 8th Earl of Ormond and Margaret Fitzgerald, St.Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny.
(Background) Supposed to be effigy of 9th Earl of Ormond.
Photo 2004. See full size. See other shot.

(Foreground) Effigies of 8th Earl of Ormond and Margaret Fitzgerald.
Photo 2007. See full size.
From here. Creative Commons.

Effigy of Margaret Fitzgerald.
From Irish Archaeology, which notes: "angels defaced by 17th century iconoclasts".

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Tomb of Richard Butler, 1st Viscount Mountgarret

Effigy of 1st Viscount Mountgarret, St.Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny.
Photo 2004. See full size.

Other view of above.
Photo 2004. See full size.

Inscription above effigy of 1st Viscount Mountgarret, St.Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny.
Lists his parents, Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond, and Margaret Fitzgerald, dau of 8th Earl of Kildare.
Photo 2004. Light adjusted. See full size.

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Neigham Castle, Co.Kilkenny

Neigham Castle, near Gowran, Co.Kilkenny.
Built by the 8th Earl of Ormond, c.1487.

Neigham Castle.
From 1887 to 1913 map.
See modern satellite view.

Neigham Castle.
Screenshot from Google street view.

Distance shot of Neigham Castle.
Photo 2007. See full size.

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• Ancestry of Butlers of County Wexford Ireland. Descendants of 1st Viscount Mountgarret.