Could a Mayo Bourke be the modern day Lord Mayo?

COULD there be a modern day Lord Mayo walking about in our county oblivious to the fact that he bears the title ‘Lord Mayo’?

It’s one of the fascinating subtexts in Anne Chambers’ recently released biography, Lord Mayo.

Based on hitherto un-researched 16th and 17th century manuscripts, the book tells the remarkable story of Tibbott-ne-Long Bourke, youngest son of the Pirate Queen, Gráinne Uaile, who died in 1629. Chambers explores the fascinating controversy over the title which erupted over 130 years after his death, a controversy which remains unresolved to this very day.

It started on the death of John Bourke, eighth Viscount Mayo, in 1767. As he died without a male heir a battle commenced for his title and property around Castle Bourke in the barony of Carra and in the barony of Murrisk.

It was first claimed by David Bourke, a Catholic freeholder of lands owned by the Viscount Mayo estate in Asgalan, near Louisburgh. He made his claim on the basis of being the next male heir in direct descent from Richard Bourke, the fourth and youngest son of Tibbott-ne-Long.

Anne Chambers uncovered that David Bourke has numerous sworn depositions in his favour, including one from the Chief Herald of Ireland.

His claim was opposed by John Bourke’s son-in-law, Edmund Lambert, who claimed that Tibbott-ne-Long had only three sons. However, Anne Chambers’ research discounts this.

“But because of David Bourke’s perceived unsuitability by the government of the day, by virtue of his background, education and religion and despite the extensive evidence supporting his claim, in 1780 the Viscount Mayo title was deemed extinct in the male line by the authorities. David Bourke died without a male heir in Dublin in 1790 while pursuing his claim to the title through the courts,” she said.

The cause was reactivated by his descendants, living in Lavalaroe, near Ballyhaunis, in the early part of the 19th century, while other descendants were also living in Aughagower, near Westport.

“I feel that local knowledge, kept alive over the succeeding decades through the medium of folklore, may well succeed where official records have failed in tracing a modern-day claimant to the famous title,” said Chambers.

Anne Chambers describes Tibbott-ne-Long Bourke as one of the forgotten figures in Irish history.

Born on board his mother’s galley into the Gaelic ruling class, this Gaelic chieftain turned Anglo-Irish knight lived through and had to compete for his very survival and that of his extended family, clan and followers, in one of the most traumatic, divided and misunderstood periods of Irish history.

“Tibbott was bold, ambitious and pragmatic with a Machiavellian mind that outwitted his opponents, both Irish and English.

“There is a raw honesty about him. He is a product of his time and his life must be examined within that context,” said Chambers.

Her biography also throws new light on the history of county Mayo during these turbulent times.

On sale now in local stockists and on https://www.mayobooks.ie/, the book will be officially launched on Thursday, May 11, in Ballintubber Abbey, the final resting place of Tibbott-ne-Long Bourke and many of his descendants.