Burke, Uilleag (‘Uilleag an Fhiona’) (Ulick de Burgh)

Burke, Uilleag (‘Uilleag an Fhiona’) (Ulick de Burgh) (d. 1423), 3rd lord of Clanricard, was eldest son of Richard Óg de Burgh (qv), 2nd lord of Clanricard. From Clanricard's central location in Galway, Uilleag Burke was able to influence events in both Munster and Connacht and had regular dealings with the Dublin administration. Even before he succeeded his father he was granted permission to enter the lands of Walter de Bermingham of Athenry (October 1386). When Richard II (qv) came to Ireland in 1394–5, Burke travelled to Waterford, submitted to the king on 20 April 1395, and was knighted by him on 1 May. He seized control of the city of Galway in 1400, and although the administration ordered a fleet to remove him, he was still in possession in 1403. The futility of opposing him was recognised, and he was named first a justice of the county and lordship of Connacht (November 1403), and then custodian of the lordship during the minority of Roger Mortimer (qv), 5th earl of March. Later administrations, especially that of James Butler (qv), 4th earl of Ormond, were prepared to make grants of money from the customs of Galway and Sligo to maintain de Burke's good will. He was recognised as the senior MacWilliam by Walter Burke (qv) (d. 1440), son of Thomas Burke (qv), in 1401, and in the next year both MacWilliams went into Munster to aid James Butler (qv), 3rd earl of Ormond, against the earl of Desmond. His relations with the earls of Ormond were not always friendly. In 1417 he invaded Ormond's lordship with Tadhg O'Brien (qv) (d. 1444), although he was probably more interested in aiding his O'Brien allies than opposing Ormond. He remained a powerful force in the politics of Connacht. In 1396 both MacWilliam Burkes and both O'Connors intervened in the succession disputes among the O'Connors of Sligo. He campaigned in Uí Maine in 1403 with Toirdhealbhach Óg O'Connor Don (qv) (d. 1406) and against MacDermot the next year. Although he lost a battle against O'Connor Roe and O'Kelly in 1407, his crushing victory over MacWilliam Burke of Mayo and the son of O'Connor Roe in 1419 ensured that the Clanricard dominance of southern Connacht would continue after his death in 1423.