Notable People In Ireland
[size=+1]Notable people of Ireland[/size]
The High Steward: Eochid Baoth, Lord of Annadown
Eochid Baoth, born 1400 and named for his father, is quietly the most powerful man in Ireland after the High King. His family is originally Scottish, coming originally from the old Kingdom of Dalriada. Eochid’s grandfather was made Lord of Annadown by High King Diarmait Ua Briain, great-grandfather of High King Ciaran.
As High Steward, Eochid acts in the High King’s name during his absence. In addition, he is the High King’s most trusted advisor. Eochid himself, though enormously powerful, evidently has no ambition greater than his current office, the summit of royal service. The High King, like his father before him, trusts Eochid absolutely.
The Chancellor: Cardinal Archbishop John Mey of Armagh and Belfast
John Mey is of an Anglo-Irish family which has retained English customs and language, though the Archbishop naturally speaks Irish. His appointment was a bone of contention between High King Seamus and the Archbishop of Canterbury who used his considerable influence to assist Archbishop Mey. His appointment as Chancellor was likewise a point of conflict. The High King, Seamus, would have preferred the Archbishop of Tuam, Richard deBermingham, also of an Anglo-Irish family. However, the appointment of Archbishop Mey as Chancellor was part of the price of peace with the Ui Neill at the outset of Seamus’ reign. Despite his “Englishness”, the Chancellor is a strong supporter of the Ui Neill rather than the more Anglicizing Ua Briain. During his father’s illness, High King Ciaran sent the Chancellor to Avignon to the Papal Court, accompanied by a young kinsman priest of the Ua Briain to keep an eye on the Chancellor.
The Chamberlain: Sir Peadar Mac Artian of Kinelarty, Champion of the Sword
Sir Peadar is a kinsman of the Earl of Kinelarty and new to his post. As a Champion of the Sword, he is one of Ireland’s premier knights. He oversees the High King’s household and largely controls access to the High King. He is one of a set of younger royal agents who have come to power with Ciaran’s accession. Sir Peadar’s family has a long history of support for the Ua Briain and he was chosen for his loyalty and the great respect he carries among the lords of Ireland.
The Marshal and the Constables:
Sir Robert Butler
Sir Mahon Ua Briain
Sir Edward FitzGerald
The Marshal and the Constables have charge of the standing royal garrisons in Belfast, Limerick, and Cashel. All three men are of great families. Butler and FitzGerald are of original Anglo-Irish families, while Sir Mahon Ua Briain is the High King’s second cousin.
Sir Robert Butler served High King Seamus and has a long history as Marshal. He led the negotiations between Seamus and the Ui Neill. Though an old man, he remains strong and clear of mind. He is probably the most respected military leader in the Kingdom. Though the Butlers have not always been the most supportive subjects of the Ua Briain High Kings, Sir Robert has always been loyal. Sir Robert is the senior knight of the Champions of the Sword.
Sir Mahon Ua Briain is the newest knight of the Champions of the Sword. He received his appointment as Constable of Limerick on Ciaran’s accession and follows in the Ua Briain tradition of bestowing the office on a kinsman of the Royal House.
Sir Edward FitzGerald is the cousin of the Earl of Desmond and one of the wealthiest men in Ireland. His appointment by High King Seamus was a favor bestowed upon Earl Robert of Desmond. The FitzGeralds rank among Ireland’s most powerful houses and the greatest of the Anglo-Irish houses. Sir Edward commands a significant fighting force based at Cashel and commands the Rock of Cashel. His loyalty to the new High King is questionable, though he remains obedient to the will of his cousin, the Earl of Desmond. However, should Desmond ever rebel, it is certain that Sir Edward and the largely Anglo-Irish men under his command would follow the FitzGerald Earl.
The Captain of the Fleet: Finbar Ua Breacain, Lord of Ballaghy
Though Ireland has ships at several ports, including Belfast, Limerick, and Cork, the Captaincy of the Fleet is located at Waterford. Finbar Ua Breacain, the Lord of Ballaghy, was named Captain of the Fleet two years ago. He is an able seaman and well respected tactician. His family has variously served the Ua Briain and the Ui Conchobhair. Finbar of Ballaghy was nominated to his office by High Queen Fianne.
Eoin Ua Neill, Prince of Ulster
Known as the Great Ua Neill, Eoin is intensely proud of the heritage of his house. The Ui Neill long dominated northwestern Ireland. Almost half the High King’s Council owes nominal service to the Prince of Ulster as their feudal dues. Eoin, in his first year as Prince of Ulster, raised the standard of Donal Ua Briain against his nephew, the High King Seamus. The Great Ua Neill has never been fully reconciled to the accession of Seamus Ua Briain, though it was declared legal. Eoin’s great power is resented by his kinsmen, the Earls of Clandeboy and Conaill and High King Seamus used this rivalry to keep the Prince of Ulster under control. The Ui Neill have claim to the High Kingship of Ireland and the power to seriously challenge the Ua Briain if they act in unity.
Aedh Ua Neill, Earl of Clandeboy
The Earl of Clandeboy is almost as powerful as his kinsman, the Prince of Ulster, to whom he bears feudal obligations. The rivalry between these two close branches of the Ui Neill, and the willingness of the Ua Domhniall to encourage that rivalry, has long prevented the Ui Neill from mounting a serious challenge to the supremacy of the Ua Briain. The Earl of Clandeboy was a great supporter of High King Seamus, seeking to gain advantage over the Prince of Ulster. It is unknown how deep his loyalty to the Ua Briain runs.
Aodh macDiarmait Ua Domhnaill, Earl of Conaill
The Earl of Conaill is kinsman to the Prince of Ulster and the Earl of Clandeboy. His territory, though historically part of Ulster, owes allegiance to the Prince of Connacht. However, Galway is far from Conaill and the ties of history and clan give the Ua Domhnaill more interest in the affairs of Ulster than of Connacht. The Earl has no solid alliance with either of his Ui Neill kinsmen, rather playing them off against one another to enhance his own power. The present Earl, Aodh macDiarmait, is a lukewarm supporter of the High King. It is believed that he would be likely to support the Great Ua Neill against the Ua Briain High King.
Donnchad Mac Mathghamhna, Prince of Oriel
The Prince of Oriel holds the remnant of an ancient Irish kingdom and bears the title Prince out of honor rather than the power he wields. His lands are near to Armagh and Belfast, against the border with English Meath, and thus strategically important. He is no friend to the Ui Neill and has been steadfast in support of the High King.
Brian Mac Artian, Earl of Kinelarty
The Mac Artian Earls of Kinelarty are among the High King’s staunchest allies and supporters. The Earl’s cousin, Sir Peadar, is the Lord Chamberlain. Kinelarty lies immediately south of Belfast. The Earl’s residence is at Downpatrick.
Tomas Mag Uidhir, Earl of Fermanagh
The Earl of Fermanagh is the Prince of Ulster’s most loyal supporter. He is one of the more able military commanders among the Princes and Earls of Ireland.
Niall Ua hAnluain, Earl of Armagh and Orior
The Earl of Armagh and Orior is also generally loyal to the Prince of Ulster. However, he has serious divisions within his family that serve to minimize the support he might be able to give the Great Ua Neill.
Aed Ua Ruairc, Prince of Leitrim
The Ua Ruairc is perhaps the most respected lord in all of Ireland. He is aged, but a great warrior and in his youth, was trained as a Brehon (an Irish legal judge). He was unexpectedly chosen by his house to succeed his great-uncle as Prince of Leitrim. He maintains a fiercely loyal band of men-at-arms. He is no great fan of the grandson of High Queen Aoife, but acknowledges Ciaran’s right as the Ua Briain, duly chosen by his house. The Ua Ruairc has carefully made alliances with houses of the lands bordering the English domain of Meath and can command more men of Leinster to his banner than any lord in Leinster itself. Nominally owing allegiance to the Prince of Connacht, the Ua Ruairc has succeeded in almost creating a fifth province centered around the old kingdom of Breifne, now divided largely between Leitrim and Cavan. He is closely allied with the Earls of Cavan and Louth.
Eoghan Ua Raghallaigh, Earl of Cavan
The Earl of Cavan is a staunch ally of the Prince of Leitrim. With the Earl of Louth, they dominate southern Ulster and the authority of the Ui Neill is little more than a name there. Eoghan, the present Earl, was one of High King Seamus’s champions.
Cathal Ua Conchobhair, Prince of Connacht
The Prince of Connacht is one of the three most powerful princes in Ireland (the others being the Princes of Ulster and Cork). His house has successfully challenged the Ua Briain for the High Kingship in the past. He holds more land directly than any other Irish lord. Over the years, however, there has been constant intermarriage with the Ua Briain. High King Ciaran is the nephew of the Prince of Connacht (Ciaran’s mother, Fainne, is the Prince of Connacht’s sister). Although he has the strength of will and men to challenge Ciaran, it is believed that he will not do so because of his sister.
Murchadh Mac Carthaig, Prince of Cork
The Prince of Cork, from the High King’s point of view, is perhaps the most dangerous man in all of Ireland. His family is descended from the ancient Kings of Munster, displaced by the Ua Briain clan. He is both wealthy and powerful in land and men. The Mac Carthaigh have long desired to regain the lands lost to the FitzGerald Earls of Desmond, who have had the support of the Ua Briain High Kings. Outside of the Earl of Desmond, the Prince of Cork has no serious challenger in southern Ireland. He is entirely untrustworthy with regard to the High King.
Robert FitzGerald, Earl of Desmond
Robert FitzGerald represents one of the premier Anglo-Irish families. Though proud of their ancestry, the FitzGeralds are entirely Gaelic in language and custom. Robert has been engaged throughout most of his tenure as Earl of Desmond in a constant struggle for domination of southern Ireland with the Prince of Cork. To his advantage, he has never challenged the Ua Briain lords in their lands of Thomond, thus retaining the local goodwill of his northern neighbors. To the east, the Anglo-Irish Butlers of Ormand are his close allies, there being generations of intermarriage binding the two houses together. The loyalty of the Earl of Desmond is not without question, though he has never actively opposed the High King.
Seamus Butler, Earl of Ormand
The current Earl of Ormand succeeded his brother after he was killed in a skirmish against raiders out of Meath. He is closely allied to the Earl of Desmond. He has recently sought to increase his standing among the lords of Leinster province against the growing influence of the Prince of Leitrim among all of the lords bordering northern and central Meath. In the province of Leinster, Ormond is the preeminent Earl.
Edward deBermingham, Earl of Louth
At one time the Earl of Louth was a poweful title. After the resurgence of the Ua Briain High Kings and the expulsion of English power to Meath, the territory under his power diminished. Much of what was the original Earldom is within Meath. However, the deBermingham house cast its lot with the Irish. Edward deBermingham’s uncle, the previous Earl, began the forging of an alliance with the Prince of Leitrim. Edward married Leitrim’s daughter to seal the bond. Today, Leitrim, Cavan, and Louth form a powerful alliance – strong enough to stand against the greatest Irish lords if need be.
Domhnall Mac Murchada, Earl of Wexford
The Earl of Wexford holds much of the southeastern coast. He is a reclusive man, but his loyalty to the High King is absolute.
Seosamh Ua Faelain, Earl of Waterford
The young Earl of Waterford is brash, and has alarmed his house on occasion. He admires the Anglo-Irish Earl of Ormand greatly and emulates a number of English practices, which Ormand has maintained. He and his brothers speak English as well as they speak Irish. He is unproven and thus far, has given no indication that he is greatly to be trusted.