Baron Athenry

The title of Baron Athenry is one of the oldest titles in the Peerage of Ireland, but the date of its creation is thoroughly uncertain; each of the first four Berminghams listed below is claimed by some writers to be Lord Athenry, but the evidence is disputed. Peter Bermingham was fined for not attending Parliament in 1284, and is enrolled as Lord Athenry in the Parliament of 1295. The Earl of Louth created in 1319 is a grandson of the second son of the Peter Bermingham who died in the 1250s.

The last Baron was created Earl of Louth in the Peerage of Ireland in 1749, but died in 1799. Since he had three daughters, the Earldom of Louth became extinct at his death; the Barony of Athenry became dormant. Part of the problem has been whether the Barony properly can descend through the female line, in which case it is in abeyance between the heirs of his daughters; or whether it passes through the male line. A descendant of the younger brother of the Richard, Lord Athenry, who died in 1645, claimed the Barony as heir male in 1827, and Thomas Denman, the Attorney General for England and Wales, agreed that he was heir male, but he was not recognized by the House of Lords.

Barons Athenry

*Robert de Bermingham, 1st Baron Athenry (d. 1218)
*Peter de Bermingham, 2nd Baron Athenry (d. 1244)
*Meiler de Bermingham, 3rd Baron Athenry (1212–1262)
*Peter de Bermingham, 4th Baron Athenry (d. 1307)
*Rickard de Bermingham, 5th Baron Athenry (d. 1322)
*Thomas de Bermingham, 6th Baron Athenry (d. 1374)
*Walter de Bermingham, 7th Baron Athenry (d. 1428)
*Thomas de Fitzwalter Bermingham, 8th Baron Athenry (d. 1473)
*Thomas de Bermingham, 9th Baron Athenry (d. 1500)
*Meiler de Bermingham, 10th Baron Athenry (d. 1529)
*John de Bermingham, 11th Baron Athenry (d. 1547)
*Richard de Bermingham, 12th Baron Athenry (d. 1580)
*Edmond de Bermingham, 13th Baron Athenry (1540–1612)
*Richard de Bermingham, 14th Baron Athenry (1570–1645)
*Edmond de Bermingham, 15th Baron Athenry (resigned 1645 in favour of his brother)
*Francis de Bermingham, 16th Baron Athenry (d. 1677)
*Edward de Bermingham, 17th Baron Athenry (d. 1709)
*Francis de Bermingham, 18th Baron Athenry (1692–1749)
*Thomas Bermingham, 19th Baron Athenry, 1^st Earl of Louth (1717–1799)

Earl of Louth, 1st creation (1319)

* John de Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth (d. 1329), perage extinct on his death.

Earl of Louth, 2nd creation (1749)

*Thomas Bermingham, 1st Earl of Louth (1717–1799), peerage extinct on his death.

References

*"Complete Peerage", "sub" "Athenry".