A Compendium of Irish Biography/Bermingham, Sir John
Bermingham, Sir John, Earl of Louth. He inherited large estates from his ancestors, who came over with Strongbow. In 1318 he was appointed general of the Anglo-Irish forces raised to check the advance of Edward Bruce. The memorable battle that ensued, and which resulted in the death of Bruce at the hands of John de Maupas, an Anglo-Irish knight, and the overthrow of his army, was fought at Faughart, near Dundalk, 14th October 1318. Sir John sent Bruce's head to Edward II., and was for his services created Earl of Louth, and granted estates at Ardee. Next year we find him marching into Connaught against the O'Conors and MacKellys. In 1321 he was appointed Lord-Justice, and in 1322 conducted a force of 300 men-at-arms, 1,000 hobellars, and 6,000 foot into England, to aid the King against the Scots. In 1325 he founded a Franciscan friary at Monasteroris (so called from his Irish name, MacFeorais.) On 10th June 1329 he fell, with 200 of his kindred and retainers, at Braganstown, County of Louth, in a feud with the Gernons, Verdons, and others of the ancient Anglo-Irish families of Louth. He was incomparably the ablest Anglo-Irish leader of his day. [1]
- Authorities
- ↑ Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, Revised and Enlarged by Mervyn Archdall. 7 vols. Dublin, 1789.