New King In Ireland

     This Story is from the first time of troubles since the web move.

..... This is the story of a great family, who All Irishmen know, and than for their independence since the Year of our Lord 1345, but so few us know much about his fight for independence, and to strengthen the Kingdom. The Great Family Burke was ingenuative, and truely resourceful, able to outwit all of England.

..... It started with the birth of young man named Patrick de Burgh. Unfortunatley for him, his parents died a few years after his birth, leaving him the Earl of Connaught. While his aides managed his territory, he quickly aged, and was able to do most of the management on his own by age thirteen. At age fifteen, as per his parent wishes, married the daughter of An Ó Niall, a beautiful young girl by the name of Onora. Then, in 1334, Queen Elizabeth Plantagent stripped young Patrick of the Earldom of Connaught, the Countess De Burgh of Ulster, Fitzgerald and Butler, of their Counties in Munster, creating Munster as a new County, and stealing Leinster from it's numerous land holders. Needless to say, everyone was mad.

...... A meeting of the Clans was called, and the displaced Lords attended as well. The Clans persuaded the Lords to act slowly, and build up supplies before attacking England, but they were able to gain the Gaels support. Also at the meeting, the representetatives of the Clans had to choose a new Tanaise Rig to be the heir of the aging High King, or Ard Righ, they choose Patrick De Burgh, who had gained the support of many of the clans for his pro Gaelic activities while the Earl of Connaught In the Year 1337, the Ard Righ died, and Patrick De Burgh, who had changed name to Padraic Burke, became the Ard Righ.

...... His first duty was to make sure he would have an heir carry on family bussiness, should he die, soon, with his wife impregnated, he was able to begin his task. With little support from the mainland, he brought the Counties to Rebellion with him. But England was able to react quickly, the first thing they did was to take the Lady Burke captive, done by the obviously unchivalrous Edward. Edward, despite know the Lady was pregnant, and remaining in captivity would cause death to the baby, and possibly the Lady. But, he kept them captive, and in late 1337, Edward became the murder of young child.The Lady was released but late. Slightly later in the year, sometime after having quelled the rebellions, some men captured Padraic, and brought him to London Tower, were he was executed. He was able to release a last message to the Gaelic peoples, to give them some hope, and wish them luck:

...... Greetings Hero's of Old Ireland, Unfortunatley Boy's have been defeated, and Ireland surrounded in England's gloom, make sure it is not for long. Hung, Drawn, and quatered, sure that was me sentence. But they should know, and all should no, that I shall prove that no coward am I, I shall die with a smile. No nave or coward am I My crime was the love of the land I was born in, trying to take my lands back, as they took my lands some years ago. I was convicted without trial as a traitor and a rebel. The bell is now tolling, I must wrap this letter up, for the bell is my death knell. Soon the clergy will enter, but I will have no friends to bid me farewell. Good Bye Old Ireland, Farewell Companions in Arms, both loyal and daring. I am proud of the honor, but it was only my duty. Farewell to my Wife. Remember me as a hero, in life and death.

	I lay down my life for the Emerald Isle, 
	May Those who follow me not have to do the same

	Padraic Burke
	A Martyr for Ireland

..... His wife remarried, but they both caught a deadly cold. Lady Burke was the first to go, so the Lord, and now Duc D'Orleans, remarried, from one of the other Houses de Burgh, soon after the Lord died. The young Lady pleaded with the Queen for forgiveness for her family, and was allowed to marry her second son, Alexander Plantagent.

..... For some time, Alexander stayed off the battle ground and kept to negotiating. The law stating that the Irish were Pagans were repealed, Ireland started to get better. He had to play some treachery to get through. He had to play it against the King of Scotland, who had tried to betray the family Burke a number of times before. From the King of Scotland, he recieved the Province of Connaught. In his time of peace he became of member of the Knights of Saint John. He also strengthened relationships with the King of France, and the Caesar. His relationshop with the King of Scotland, when he became a Pagan, and eventually died for sieging, and massacring Holy men in Durham.

..... Soon, though, in 1344, Queen Elizabeth was excommunicated for Pagan activities. As Ireland needed a better Queen than a Pagan, he immediatley went, with Papal help, to take the Kingdom of Ireland. In the meanwhile, England began to declare itself ‘Protestant' and rebelled from the Church. Late in 1345 Ireland was freed. Alexander Plantagent, Ard-Righ of Ireland, became Alusdar Burke, second King of Ireland, the first being Edward Bruce. Elizabeth was murdered, and England reverted to the true faith, until some generations later, when they became Protestants for the rest of time. A peace was made between the English and Irish, which the English broke. For the rest of the great war, Alusdar worked to improve conditions in Ireland, and the affects started to show themselves, shortly after the great war ended.

My Name is Stephen Crimmins
From Illinois

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