Eamonn Laidir Ó Flaithbertaigh

Eamonn Laidir Ó Flaithbertaigh, Irish Jacobite, died 1749.

Biography

Ó Flaithbertaigh was the grandson of Edmond mac Morogha na Maor and Morogh na Mart Ó Flaithbertaigh, sons of Morogh na Maor Ó Flaithbertaigh, (died 1627, who was the last substantial chief of the O'Flaherty clan. Both brothers fought in the Irish Confederate Wars. Edmond was executed in Galway in 1653 for the murder of civilians in County Clare in 1641. He was survived by three sons, Donal, Morogh and Edmond. Nothing is known of Donal; Morogh is said to have gone to England and killed a Captain Vernor in a duel; Edmond Ó Flaithbertaigh fought for James II during the Williamite War in Ireland. After the war he survived by farming land at Renvyle, which were previously in the possession of his family, but now owned by one of The Tribes of Galway, the Blake family. Edmond's son was Eamonn Laidir.

Eamonn Laidir (strong Ned) left a strong impression in Connemara folk memory, with several anacedotes relating to his strength. In particular, he was remembered for his frequent combats with his neighbour, Captain Richard Martin. Martin had fought with the Jacobites in the war, but had managed to obtain a pardon from William III, enabling him to keep title to several estates in Connamara. The pair frequently fought each other on horseback, sword on hand, though because Eamonn Laidir had fewer retainers he was usually obliged to leave the field. He married three times - one of his wives was Julia Martyn, a cousin of Richard Martin - and had four sons.

Eamonn died in deeply distressed circumstances at his home in Cloonadrawen, Ballinakill, in or about 1749. His body was buried in a small chapel attached to Ballinakill church from where, many years later, they were taken up and placed in a niche in the chapel wall for people to see, due to the large size of Eamonn's bones.

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References

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