John Burke, Baron Leitrim

rdf:langString John Burke, Baron Leitrim

rdf:langString Baron Leitrim

rdf:langString John "na Seamar" Burke

rdf:langString Baron Leitrim

rdf:langString John "na Seamar" Burke

rdf:langString Arms of de Burgh/Burke of Clanricarde:

rdf:langString Or, a cross gules in the first quarter a lion rampant sable

rdf:langString Irish

rdf:langString Seán mac an Iarla a Búrc

rdf:langString Irish

rdf:langString John "na Seamer" Burke, Baron Leitrim (Irish: Seán mac an Iarla a Búrc; /ˈliːtrəm/; LEE-trəm; died 1583), also known as John of the Shamrocks, was one of the notorious half-brothers called the meic an Iarla ('sons of the earl'), whose conflicts with each other and their father, Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde, caused devastation to south Connacht several times between the late 1560s and early 1580s. Richard's eldest son from his first marriage was Ulick. John was the son of one of Richard's later marriages, which were valid in Gaelic law but not English common law. He was his father's chosen heir, but his being illegitimate in the Irish Peerage meant the Earldom of Clanricarde would fall to Ullick. Richard's son William from a third marriage was another rival. The Tudor reconquest of Ireland, the Composition of Connacht, and the Irish Reformation provided a wider background of shifting alliances and conflicts to the family rivalry. One of John Burke's most notorious acts was the destruction of Athenry in 1572, after which he demolished most of the castles in Clanricarde, afterwards plundering south County Galway, County Roscommon, and crossed the Shannon into County Westmeath, where he burned Mullingar, and Athlone. Following this, he led his army west, attacked Galway, and plundered Connemara.