Redmond Burke, Baron Leitrim
Redmond Burke, Baron Leitrim (fl. 1580s–1602) was an Irish noble and soldier from the Burke family of Clanricarde, in what is now County Galway. He was the eldest of five brothers who left Ireland to join Spanish service in the late 1580s and returned to fight in the Nine Years' War in Ireland. Their father was John na Seamar Burke, and their uncle was Ulick Burke, the 3rd Earl of Clanricarde.
In 1600 Redmond and his brothers—John Oge Burke, William Burke, and Thomas Burke—led large forces in wars across Munster and Connacht. They raided many castles in Ely (east Munster) and Ormond, burning lands and taking plunder.
The brothers then moved north to Ulster and back into Connacht. Redmond hired soldiers and led them across the Erne River into Breifny O’Rourke, then through Sligo and Roscommon into Clann-Conway, where they captured the lord Mac David of Tuath-an-Chalaidh and pressed on to Hy-Many in Galway.
The Earl of Clanrickard, Ulick Burke, tried to stop them, but Redmond slipped into Kinel-Feichin in the south of Leitrim and began plundering the district. The Earl arrived with his forces, and Teige, son of Brian O’Rourke, joined to help Redmond. A large pursuit followed, with many battles and many deaths, including Teige O’Brien, who was wounded and died soon after.
From Patrick’s Day to April, the Kinel-Fheichin camp faced off against the Earl’s forces. Hungry and short of supplies, Redmond and his brothers eventually withdrew, carrying some spoil back with them, while their pursuers kept pressing them.
Redmond and his brothers later joined Red Hugh O’Donnell at Kinsale. After the Battle of Kinsale, it was decided that Redmond, O’Donnell, and another leader would go to Spain to appeal to the King for help. Meanwhile, some of their allies were left in Munster to plunder the region in their absence.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:05 (CET).