Dominic Burke : Short Biography

The Great Bishop of the West

Steve Dolan

One of the most remarkable Galwegians of the seventeenth century, an achievement given the number of great men produced by the county that century, was Bishop Dominic Burke (1629-1704) from Caherkinmonwee Castle (towerhouse) at Kilconierin, near Loughrea. Born into an off-shoot of the main Clanricard ‘de Burgo’ line, his family held the castle on the periphery of the once independent ancient kingdom of Moinmoy from whence the area takes its name i.e. Cathair Cinn Mhaon Mhuidhe - the stone fort at the head of / extremity of Maenmagh . The Kingdom was a ‘trícha cét’ under the Uí Maine, and then in the Anglo-Norman period, a ‘cantred’. Of noteworthy interest, it was also mentioned in ‘The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne’; the account of the warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill and his jealous pursuit of the princess Gráinne. The later de Burgo roots within the area are noted in the obituaries of the book of the Franciscan Monastery in Galway following the death of William, son of Myler the great, in 1460 who bequeath monies out of the rent of Maien (Moinmoy). This de Burgo family was headed by Moyler McShane Oge, likely Dominic’s grandfather, in 1574, and in 1582 Shean oge mcMoyler McShean was among several noblemen in the area pardoned after ‘disloyal’ activities. Then, four years later in a fiant of Elizabeth I, ownership was re-granted to the family. To set in context, the early seventeenth century brought much unrest but the family did retain their castle and lands. The family is mentioned in the patent rolls of James I in 1603; and another patent of 1619 confirming the castle and lands as being held by John McJonack Bourke and Moyler McRiccard Bourke. It is clear from all the records that the Caherkinmonwee Burkes and the nearby Dunsandle Burkes were perhaps the most tightly bound strands of the budding Clanricard dynasty. Both families were also devout Catholics, with the Dominic Burke of this article having a cousin of the same name a priest. In the aftermath of the English civil war and the complex, intermittent, and brutal fighting that followed, the name of Dominic Burke would soon be known to all! In 1648, while still a teenager, Dominic Burke committed himself to a life in the priesthood. However his ship, while en route to Spain, was captured by English forces and he was brought back to Kinsale where he was imprisoned. He managed to escape by athletically scaling the prison walls and then by hiding beneath the outlying tidal mudflats. He had been robbed of his clothes and money by his Protestant captors and so for the next few days he hid in nearby woodland. Eventually a local Catholic gentleman provided refuge allowing Dominic to slowly regain his strength and then he provided money for his journey home to Kilconierin. On his return his mother pleaded that he stay at home, however Dominic prevailed on her and she funded his journey where he finally joined the convent of Holy Cross at Segovia. After six years of study, he was called to serve in Italy where he remained for sixteen years with his zeal ‘greatly esteemed’. Back home, the world of his family was being torn apart by the forces of Cromwell. Among the leaders of the forces against Cromwell’s army in Galway was Dominic’s cousin, Dunsandle’s Oliver Richard Bourke. His approach was in contrast of the initial strategy of his cousin, the Earl of Clanricard. Sadly, a succession of defeats and surrenders in 1652 followed. The later books of survey and distribution confirm the vast lands forfeited by the Dunsandle Burkes (the Earle of Clanmorris / Lord Clanmorris) who forfeited all lands amounting to well over 3,000 modern acres. Stripped of their titles, these Burkes would never regain their estates, being scattered to the four winds. Remarkably, some of their direct descendants would gain glory on the battlefield fighting for France against the British in the early nineteenth century. Back on the continent, Dominic’s relatively peaceful existence would soon be ended. Given the turmoil at home strong leadership was needed and in 1671 he was asked to return to his homeland where he was given the Bishopric of Elphin. It was immediately evident that the home he knew was long gone and the country was particularly dangerous with Catholicism outlawed. To rub salt into the wounds, the Protestant Ffrench family were now in situ in Caherkinmonwee. The identical neighbouring towerhouse at Moyode as depicted in the seventeenth century. Goblet-shaped seventeenthcentury ‘Kilconieran chalice’. Burke nonetheless braved constant danger to try to meet the needs of the Catholic Irish. By 1680 the English were growing increasingly frustrated at their failure to capture him and a massive reward of £200 was offered by the lordlieutenant and the Privy Council for whoever would capture Burke. This forced him to journey only by night and in one instance he was forced to remain hidden in the one house for four months - albeit he insisted on leaving that sanctuary on Holy Thursday. From his prison cell in Dublin, the Archbishop of Armagh (later Saint) Oliver Plunkett, sent many warnings to Burke regarding the means proposed by the Privy Council for his capture allowing Burke and his companion Fr John O’Heyne (who later documented their ordeals) avoid the traps being set. Plunkett’s transfer to London in October 1680 and his execution the following year marked a particularly difficult period in Burke’s life, however, miraculously, he continued to evade capture. Of the personality of the man, we are fortunate to have some first-hand accounts. It was stated that Burke had an immense dislike to receive gifts and always endeavoured not to be a burthen. Instead, he provided for himself by renting a farm from his cousin William Burke, the Earl of Clanricard, and even improved same with buildings, fences, and a plantation of trees. It was also stated that King James and Queen Mary ‘loved him exceedingly’ though one must broach some accounts with caution and contextualisation. When again exiled after life in Ireland became impossible, Dominic declined to remain in an abbey offered to him by King Louis XIV of France, preferring to move to Louvain – the spiritual home of the Irish on the continent. Even in exile Burke worked on the Irish cause by highlighting the impact of the Penal Laws throughout Europe. Burke died peacefully on New Year's Day 1704, and 310 years after his death it is hoped that more attention will be given to his extraordinary life! 

This Chronicle was created using information originally published in the South East Galway Archaeological and Historical Society Newsletter No. 15