Bermingham

Bermingham, a family particularly prominent in the early 14th century. Robert de Bermingham, probably from the English west midlands, had been granted by Strongbow lands in Offaly, where the Berminghams held Tethmoy and Carbury on the Meath border. They participated in the conquest of Connacht, and by the late 13th century had divided into Athenry and Tethmoy branches. William de Bermingham was archbishop of Tuam from 1289 to 1312, and Richard de Bermingham, lord of Athenry (d. 1322), won a great victory there against the Irish in 1316 during the Bruce invasion. Their kinsman Peter de Bermingham of Tethmoy (d. 1308) murdered the O'Connors of Offaly in 1305. This deed was celebrated in one of the Middle English Kildare Poems, but was denounced in the 1317 Remonstrance. His son John (d. 1329) was made earl of Louth in 1319. William, John's brother, an associate of the Ist earl of Desmond, was executed by the justiciar in 1332. His son Walter became justiciar of Ireland in 1346. Although under English law Walter's lands passed to heiresses after 1361, male cadet lines resisted their claims and retained Tethmoy and Carbury. Both branches of the family, considerably Gaelicized, remained locally significant into the 16th century.

Robin Frame