Connor O'Brien, 2nd Viscount Clare

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.

Notes and references