Giolla Pádraig O'More (died 1548)

Giolla Pádraig O'More (Giolla Pádraig Ó Mórdha), also spelt Giollapádraig, anglicised Gilla-Patrick, was an Irish noble. He was Lord of Laois from 1547 until his death in 1548.

He seized the lordship by allying with his family's rivals to kill his brother Rory Caoch O'More. He was later captured by English forces and died in the Marshalsea, a London prison.

Early life
Giolla Pádraig O'More was born in Ireland to father Connell O'More, the Lord of Laois. His brothers were named Lysaght, Kedagh, Rory and Conall.

After his father's death in 1537, there was a power struggle between his uncle Peter and his older brothers. Kedagh eventually claimed the lordship - however, he died early in 1542, and Rory succeeded him.

Alliance with O'Connor Faly
According to historian Emmett O’Byrne, O'More had ambitions to seize the lordship from his brother as early as 1543. He entered an alliance with Brian O'Connor Faly, the Lord of Offaly - a rival noble who was mistrusted by O'More's father and brother - by marrying his daughter. As O'Connor Faly's ally, O'More gained the favour of the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Englishman Anthony St Leger.

With his new father-in law, O'More attacked the Pale in May 1540. It seems O'Connor Faly encouraged the feud between Rory and Giolla Pádraig. Rory responded to his brother's hostility by allying with James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond - he married Margaret Butler, the Earl's niece, between 1543 and 1544.

Rebellion
In March 1546, Lord Deputy St Leger faced charges of misgovernment. O'More and O'Connor Faly feared they could lose their patron, and invaded Co. Kildare in late 1546, attacking the Anglo-Irish settlements. O'More was forced to flee into Offaly.

St Leger forced Rory and Giolla Pádraig to submit to authorities, bringing them to Dublin in hopes of stopping their bloodshed. In Rory's absence as Lord of Laois, O'Connor Faly devastated Laois, and St Leger detained Rory in his attempts to leave Dublin. Rory wrote to Henry VIII, accusing St Leger of favouritism.

The Annals of the Four Masters writes of O'More's destruction during this time:

"'The plain of Cairbre and Castle-Carbury were plundered and burned... [Brian O'Connor Faly] and [Giolla Pádraig O'More] afterwards rose up, to join in this insurrection. When the Lord Justice, Anthony St. Leger, had heard of this, he came into Offaly, and plundered and burned the country as far as the Togher of Cruachan; and he remained there two nights, but he returned without receiving battle or submission. O'More... attacked the town of Ath-Ai, and burned the town and monastery, and destroyed many persons, both English and Irish, both by burning and slaying, on this occasion.” "

By 1546, O'More and O'Connor Faly were proclaimed traitors throughout Ireland for siding with the English governance. 

The following year, O'More launched another revolt against his brother. Rory was initially successful and forced O'More to retreat. However, O'More returned with O'Connor Faly's troops, killing Rory in battle. Giolla Pádraig O'More subsequently claimed control over Laois.

Upon Rory's death, his widow Margaret apparently left Ireland with his young sons, Rory and Callagh.

As Lord of Laois
Although he had for some time enjoyed the privileges of being in St Leger's favour, by the time O'More had seized the lordship, the English authorities had become more antagonistic towards Irish nobles.

Following a string of losses,  O'More and O'Connor Faly had to flee across the River Shannon into Connacht. They returned in early 1548, but none of their tribesmen would offer them protection.

Sir Edward Bellingham replaced St Leger as Lord Deputy in May 1548. That winter, the nobles faced starvation, having lost both Gaelic and loyalist allies.  

The two nobles submitted themselves to the English in November,   under the protection of "an English gentleman, i.e. the Lieutenant." However, their protection was very poor. The two men were pardoned their lives, but their territories were transferred to the King. 

Death
O'More and O'Connor Faly were brought to England and imprisoned in the Marshalsea, a prison in Southwark, London. In late 1548, O'More died during his imprisonment. His death is referenced in the Annals of the Four Masters:"'Giolla Pádraig O'More died suddenly in England; and he would have been a lamentable loss, were it not for the power of the English.'"

Legacy
After O'More's death, his brother Conall Oge O'More succeeded him as Lord of Laois. In 1557, Conall was crucified in Leighlinbridge. In the early 1560s, it seems Rory's son, Rory Oge O'More, returned to Ireland and reclaimed his father's lordship.