Earl of Clanricarde is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, first in 1543 and again in 1800. The former creation became extinct in 1916 while the 1800 creation is still extant and held by the Marquess of Sligo since 1916.
In 1543 Ulick na gCeann Burke was created Baron of Dunkellin and Earl of Clanricarde in the Peerage of Ireland. His great-grandson, the fourth Earl, was created Baron of Somerhill and Viscount Tunbridge in 1624 and Baron of Imanney, Viscount Galway and Earl of St Albans in 1628, all in the Peerage of England. His son, the fifth Earl, was a prominent Royalist during the Civil War. In 1646 he was created Marquess of Clanricarde in the Peerage of Ireland. In c. 1650 he also succeeded his cousin as third Viscount Bourke according to a special remainder in the letters patent (see below). On his death in 1657 the marquessate and the English titles became extinct. However, he was succeeded in the Irish titles by his second cousin, the sixth Earl. He was the son of the Hon. Sir William Bourke, third son of the third Earl. He died without male issue and was succeeded by his younger brother, the seventh Earl.
His younger son, the ninth Earl (who succeeded his elder brother), fought in the army of James II of England (VII of Scotland) and was taken prisoner at the Battle of Aughrim in 1691. He was outlawed and attainted with his estates forfeited. However, in 1701 Lord Clanricarde was acquitted by Act of Parliament and restored to his estates. His grandson, the eleventh Earl, assumed the ancient surname of de Burgh in lieu of Bourke (or Burke). His eldest son, the twelfth Earl, was created Marquess of Clanricarde in the Peerage of Ireland in 1789. He was childless and on his death the marquessate became extinct. He was succeeded in the other titles by his younger brother, the thirteenth Earl. He was a general in the British Army. Lord Clanricarde was elected as one of the 28 original Irish Representative Peers in 1800. The same year he was granted a second earldom of Clanricarde in the Peerage of Ireland, with remainder, failing male issue of his own, to his daughters Lady Hester Catherine de Burgh, wife of Howe Browne, 2nd Marquess of Sligo, and Lady Emily de Burgh, and the heirs male of their bodies according to priority of birth.
His son, the fourteenth Earl, was a noted politician. He was created Marquess of Clanricarde in the Peerage of Ireland in 1825. In 1826 he was also made Baron Somerhill, of Somerhill in the County of Kent, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. This title gave the Marquesses an automatic seat in the House of Lords. Lord Clanricarde married the Hon. Harriet Canning, daughter of Prime Minister George Canning and his wife Joan Canning, 1st Viscountess Canning. His son, the second Marquess, assumed by Royal license the additional surname of Canning in 1862 as heir of his maternal uncle Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning. Lord Clanricarde later represented County Galway in Parliament as a Liberal. On his death in 1916 all the titles became extinct, except the 1800 creation of the earldom of Clanricarde, which passed according to the special remainder to his cousin George Browne, 6th Marquess of Sligo. He was the grandson of the aforementioned Howe Browne, 2nd Marquess of Sligo and Lady Hester Catherine de Burgh.
The title of Viscount Bourke, of Clanmories in the County of Mayo, was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1629 for the Hon. John Bourke, fourth son of the third Earl of Clanricarde. The peerage was created with remainder to the heirs male of his father. Lord Bourke was succeeded by his son, the second Viscount. On his death around 1650, he was succeeded according to the special remainder by his cousin the fifth Earl of Clanricarde. The titles remained united until their extinction in 1916.
see above for further Viscounts Bourke