Sir Barnaby FitzPatrick

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

FitzPatrick, Sir Barnaby, Lord of Upper Ossory, was descended from an old Milesian family, and succeeded to the title on his father's death, about 1550. In his youth he served in the French army, and was a personal friend of Edward VI., by whom he was greatly beloved. He was knighted in 1558 for bravery at the siege of Leith, and Sidney in his report concerning the condition of Ireland in 1575 bears testimony to the ability with which he then governed his territories.

He completely reduced the O'Mores and O'Conors, and in 1578 attacked and killed Rory Oge O'More, and was recommended to the English council "for that, of his own chardge, and with his owne forces onelye, without her Majesty's pay, he hath adventured hymselfe in the service, and so happelye hath atchieved to his greate estimacion and creditt." Of the 1,000 marks due for Rory's head, he accepted only £100, which he distributed amongst his followers. In 1579 he attended the Deputy into Munster against James FitzMaurice and the Spanish garrison of Smerwick, in consideration of which services he received a pension and further grants from Government. He died 11th September 1581, "at the house of William Kelly, surgeon, in Dublin."

Sources

216. Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, Revised and Enlarged by Mervyn Archdall. 7 vols. Dublin, 1789.

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