Richard Og de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster

Richard Og de Burgh, 2nd earl of Ulster, the Red Earl. (1259 – July 29, 1326) was one of the most powerful Irish nobles of the late 13th and early 14th centuries, a son of Walter de Burgh, the 1st Earl of Ulster (of the second creation). His name, "Richard Og" meant Richard the Young, probably a reference to his youth when he became earl in 1271, or to differentiate him from his grandfather, Richard Mor. He was also known as the Red Earl.

Richard Og was the most powerful of the de Burgh Earls of Ulster. He was a friend of King Edward I of England, and ranked first among the Earls of Ireland. Richard's wife Marguerite de Guines was the cousin of King Edward's queen. He pursued expansionist policies that often left him at odds with fellow Anglo-Irish lords. In 1286 he led a ferocious attack on Connacht and reestablished his family's power base, deposing Brian O'Neill as the chief native king and substituting a nominee of his own. He successfully defeated the King Felim mac Aedh Ua Conchobair of Connacht at the Second Battle of Athenry in 1316.

He led his forces from Ireland to support England's King Edward I in his Scottish campaigns and when the forces of Edward Bruce invaded Ulster in 1315, the Earl led a force against him.

He died July 29, 1326 at Athassel Monastery, near Cashel, County Tipperary.

Children and family

• Aveline de Burgh (b. c. 1280), married John de Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth
• Eleanor de Burgh (1282 – aft. August 1324)
• Elizabeth de Burgh (c. 1284 – 26 October 1327), married Robert I of Scotland
• Walter de Burgh (c. 1285–1304)
• John de Burgh (c. 1286 – 18 January 1313)
• Matilda de Burgh (c. 1288–1320), married Gilbert de Clare, 8th Earl of Hertford
• Thomas de Burgh (c. 1288–1316)
• Catherine de Burgh (c. 1296 – 1 November 1331), married Maurice Fitzgerald, 1st Earl of Desmond
• Edmond de Burgh (b. c. 1298)
• Joan de Burgh (c. 1300 – 23 April 1359), married Maurice FitzThomas FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Kildare

Cousins of Richard de Burgh were the De Mandeville's who ruled the Route from their seat at Dunluce Castle, they are believed to have been descendant from William de Mandeville, the Earl of Essex.

There is also a link between the De Mandeville's, Dunluce Castle and the McQuillen's clan. The chief of the McQuillen's was also a Lord of the Route and believed to have lived at Dunluce Castle. One theory suggest the MacQuillen's came from the De Mandeville's line and gaelicized their name to MacUighilin or MacHugelin and that MacQuillen is a derivative of that. It was common for Anglo Normans who settled in Ireland to gaelicize their names. Many became, as an old saying goes 'more Irish than the Irish' - a fact that seems to go hand in hand with many Anglo-Irish people.

Preceded by: Walter de Burgh

Earl of Ulster 1271–1326

Succeeded by: William Donn de Burgh