Draft:Sir Edmund Barrett

Sir Edmund Barrett (c. 1500s – c. 1629 ) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and landowner and holder of the feudal barony of Irrus.

The Baron of Irrus played a significant role in the history of County Mayo during the late 16th century. In 1584, the county underwent a division into baronies, and Sir Edmund Barrett was granted the Barony of Erris (Irrus). Knighted by Queen Elizabeth I for his services to the British crown, he became the Baron of Irrus in 1585, residing in the Glencastle, known as "The Gates of Erris."

Sir Edmund Barrett was actively involved in securing control over Erris, which had recently been lost by the macWilliam Bourkes. In 1594, he successfully obtained the entire territory, including Ballycroy and Balleymunnelly. To achieve this, he temporarily surrendered Erris and Tirawley, only to have them granted back to him on March 9, 1594, in C'loonagashel.

Known to the English as "Arrus Dundohmnaill," Erris held strategic significance as a fort standing between the region and the rest of Ireland. Sir Edmund Barrett also served England in European conflicts, sustaining wounds during his service. Upon his return, King James I rewarded him with official patents, consolidating his existing lands and granting additional territories on March 10, 1605.

The granted lands included Inver, Tiraun, Leam, Corraghrie, Toescart, Inishkea, Ballencarn, Ballenglancoe, Dookeeghaun, Ballycroy, Balleymunnelly, Dowkreghan, Doohooma, the half quarter of Carowleccan, Kilbride, and Rathlacan, part of the barony of Tirawley.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the once-mighty Glencastle fell into ruin, with only three large mounds remaining at the site. Sir Edmund's sons, Edmond and Richard, were raised in England and served in various capacities, with Edmond distinguishing himself as a captain in the wars.

However, the Barrett family's loyalty to the Crown did not protect them from the changing political tides. By the early 17th century, they went into armed revolt, resulting in their execution, and the confiscation of their property. The castle in Doolough, once held by Sir Edmund Barrett, passed through different hands in the following centuries, ultimately coming under the ownership of Michael Cormuck by 1619.

Spanish Armada
Sir Edmund's castles would be involved in the famous story of the Spanish fleet that was shipwrecked on the North-western coast of Mayo, where the crew of the ships would occupy his castle at Doolough and various other castles in the area.

Early Life
Sir Edmund was born to a prominent Anglo-Norman family in County Mayo, the Barretts, prominent landlords who for a brief period until the reign of Elizabeth I had organised themselves into a clan in the fashion of Gaelic traditions. A practice which Elizabeth I would forbid and require to be abandoned for the recognition of lands and titles under the Crown.

Edmund was the son of Robert Mac Wattin Barrett, the last of the recognised leaders of the Irish clan organised by the Anglo-Norman Barretts, before the aforementioned abolition of these practices for the English in Ireland. This would have in theory made him the hereditary chief of the Barrett Clan.

Career
Sir Edmund served under Elizabeth I in her wars in Europe, and would receive a knighthood in recognition of these services, having been injured and the only survivor on a ship.

Doolough Castle
Sir Edmund was the last Barrett occupant of the castle located in the area of Glencastle that was known to the native Irish as Dun Domhnaill, and that by the time of Sir Edmund was known as the castle as Doolough, which served as the caput of the Barony of Irrus from the 15th to 17th century. Famed as the “Gates of Erris”, it was a fortress which held the only major road into the area, imposing a toll on passers by. It would fall to the ownership of Michael Cormuck after the Barretts had their property seized and were executed for an uprising against the Crown.

All that is left of the castle today are three mounds at Glencastle along what is now the R313, one of which appears to still show the remains of a structure in the ground, but have not yet been archaeologically excavated.

Baron of Irrus
The holder of the feudal barony of Irrus, Sir Edmund was commonly known as the Baron of Irrus. This title had existed since the Normans took the Lordship of Erris from the local Irish lords, and was variously known as Kunermore, Invermore and finally Irrus, with the latter being the form used in the ultimate recognition and grant of the title by King James I in 1605.