Connor O'Brien, 2nd Viscount Clare ( – 1670) was the son of Daniel O'Brien, 1st Viscount Clare and Catherine FitzGerald, a daughter of Gerald, 14th Earl of Desmond.
Birth and origins
Connor was born about 1605, the second son of Daniel O'Brien and his wife Catherine FitzGerald. His father was the 1st Viscount Clare. His father's family, the O'Briens, were a Gaelic Irish dynasty that descended from Brian Boru, medieval high king of Ireland.
Connor's mother was the widow of Maurice Roche, 6th Viscount Fermoy and the third daughter of Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond, and his second wife, Eleanor Butler. Connor was one of 11 siblings, who are listed in his father's article.
Marriage and children O'Brien married Honora O'Brien, daughter of Daniel O'Brien of Duagh, County Kerry, and his wife Ellen FitzGerald, a daughter of the Knight of Glin.
Connor and Honora had a son: Daniel (died 1691), his successor
—and six daughters: Margaret, married Hugh O'Reilly Ellen, married Sir Roger Shagnessy Honora, married John FitzGerald, 13th Knight of Kerry Catherine, married 1st Garret FitzGerald of Castleishen and 2ndly John MacNamara Sarah married Daniel Sullivan Bear Mary married a Power of Doonil, whose first name in unknown
Later life, death, and timeline On 11 July 1662 when Charles II created his father Baron Moyarta and Viscount Clare, O'Brien gained the courtesy title of Baron Moyarta. On his father's death, which happened in 1663 or in 1666, Moyarta, as he was now, succeeded as the 2nd Viscount Clare.
Clare enjoyed his new title only a few years as he died about 1670. He was succeeded by his eldest son Daniel.
TimelineAge Date Event01605, aboutBorn1625, 27 MarAccession of King Charles I, succeeding King James I1632, 12 JanThomas Wentworth, later Earl of Stafford, appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland1641, 23 OctOutbreak of the Rebellion1643, NovJames Butler, 1st Marquess of Ormond appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland1649, 30 JanKing Charles I beheaded.1649, 15 AugOliver Cromwell landed in Dublin1652, 12 MayFall of Galway1652, 27 JunGave his son as hostage at the surrender of Ross Castle by Muskerry.1660, 29 MayRestoration of King Charles II1670Died
Notes and references Notes
Citations
Sources
– (for Thomond)
– N to R (for Ormond) – S to T (for Thomond) – Canonteign to Cutts (for Clare)
– 1625 to 1655 – (for timeline)
– 1641 to 1643