Richard Butler of Kilcash


Richard Butler of Kilcash was an Irish landowner, the third son of Thomas Butler, Viscount Thurles and brother of James, 1st Duke of Ormonde. Richard's descendants would succeed to the earldom of Ormond following the failure in 1658 of the senior branch of the family.

Birth and origins

Richard was born in 1615, probably at Thurles Castle. He was one of six children, and the third son, of Thomas Butler and his wife Elizabeth Pointz. His father, who was styled Viscount Thurles, was the eldest son and heir apparent of Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormond, called "Walter of the rosary beads". The Butlers were an Old English family that played an important role in southern Ireland since the Norman invasion of that country. Richard's mother was English but Catholic, a daughter of Sir John Pointz of Iron Acton in Gloucestershire and his second wife Elizabeth Sydenham.

Career

In 1639 Mr Richard Butler was confirmed in the ownership of the lands of Kilcash, Garryricken, and many others in the counties of Tipperary and Kilkenny by the Commission of Grace with special remainder to the heirs male of his grandfather, Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormond and some other family members. These lands would form the Manor of Garryricken.
In 1641 he sided with the rebellion and was made Governor of County Waterford by the Irish Confederation. In January he was asked to take the city of Waterford but was prevented by the mayor and council. He nevertheless reduced the town of Cappoquin and other places.
On the morning of the 4 June 1643 he scouted the position of an detachment of Inchiquin's troops at Cloughleagh Castle, which allowed the Confederate Munster Army commanded by Lord Muskerry to launch an surprise attack on this troop that led to the Confederate victory of the Battle of Cloughleagh, won by James Tuchet, 3rd Earl of Castlehaven.
In October 1645 the Confederate Supreme Council sent him to welcome Giovanni Battista Rinuccini in Ireland. He met Rinuccini on his way from Kenmare to Limerick and escorted him to that town.

Marriage and children

He married Frances Tuchet, youngest daughter of Mervyn Tuchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven. This marriage made him the brother-in-law of Lord Castlehaven.
The couple had five children, two sons:
  1. Walter, known as Walter Butler of Garryricken and married Mary Plunkett, only daughter of Christopher Plunkett, 2nd Earl of Fingall;
  2. John, married Catharine, daughter of James Aylmer, of Cragbryen, County Clare;
—and three daughters:
  1. Lucia, married Sir Laurence Esmond, of Clonegall, County Carlow;
  2. Mary, married Christopher, Lord Delvin;
  3. Frances, married Patrick Barnewall, 3rd Baronet of Crickstown Castle.
He and his family lived in Kilcash Castle at the foot of Slievenamon. About 1660 his son Walter built a house at Garryricken and started to live there with his family.

Death, succession, and timeline

Mr Richard Butler died in 1701 at Kilcash Castle, aged 85 or 86.
He was succeeded by his grandson Colonel Thomas Butler of Garryricken, the heir of his eldest son, Walter Butler of Garryricken. Richard's descendants, dubbed the Garryricken branch, would take over the earldom of Ormond following the failure by the death of Charles Butler, 1st Earl of Arran in 1658 of the senior branch of the family. Charles had been de jure 3rd Duke of Ormond and 14th Earl.