Baron Athenry
Baron Athenry is one of the oldest titles in the Peerage of Ireland, but the date of its creation is thoroughly uncertain; each of the first four Berminghams listed below is claimed by some writers to be Lord Athenry, but the evidence is disputed.[1] The title appears to have been given to the de Birmingham family of Birmingham, Warks, England as a reward for their help in the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1172. Both Sir William de Birmingham, and his son Robert de Birmingham, are variously claimed to have been involved in the invasion,[1] but it is probable that, after the invasion, William returned to his home in England and left Robert their new lands in Ireland.
Peter Bermingham was fined for not attending Parliament in 1284, and is enrolled as Lord Athenry in the Parliament of 1295. The title Earl of Louth was created in 1319 as a reward to John de Bermingham for his victory over Edward de Bruce in the Battle of Faughart in 1318.
The last Baron was created Earl of Louth in the Peerage of Ireland in 1749, but died in 1799. Since he had three daughters, the Earldom of Louth became extinct at his death; the Barony of Athenry became dormant. Part of the problem has been whether the Barony properly can descend through the female line, in which case it is in abeyance between the heirs of his daughters; or whether it passes through the male line. A descendant of the younger brother of the Richard, Lord Athenry, who died in 1645, claimed the Barony as heir male in 1827, and Thomas Denman, the Attorney General for England and Wales, agreed that he was heir male, but he was not recognized by the House of Lords.
Barons Athenry
- Meyler de Bermingham, fl. 1212–1262
- Piers de Bermingham, died 1307
- Richard I de Bermingham, died 1322
- Thomas de Bermingham, died 1374
- Walter de Bermingham, died 1428
- Thomas II de Bermingham, died 1473
- Thomas III de Bermingham, died 1500
- Meiler de Bermingham, died 1529
- John de Bermingham, died 1547
- Richard II de Bermingham, died 1580
- Edmond I de Bermingham, 1580–1612
- Richard III de Bermingham, 1612–1645
- Edmond II de Bermingham, resigned 1645 in favour of his brother
- Francis de Bermingham, died 1677
- Edward de Bermingham, died 1709
- Francis II de Bermingham, died 1692–1749
- Thomas IV de Bermingham, 1717–1799
Earl of Louth; First creation (1319)
- John de Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth (d. 1329)
- Richard de Bermingham, Lord Atherdee (d. 1322)
Earl of Louth; Second creation (1749)
- Thomas Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth (1717–1799)
See also
References
- Complete Peerage, sub "Athenry".
- Bermingham: Origins and History of the Family Name - 1060 to 1830, Douglas P Bermingham, Kildare. 2012.