Valentine Browne, 1st Viscount Kenmare

Sir Valentine Browne, 1st Viscount Kenmare (1638–1694), was an Irish peer. He was the son of Sir Valentine Brown and his wife, Mary MacCarty. He was created Viscount Kenmare in the Peerage of Ireland on 20 May 1689, by King James II, after his deposition by the English Parliament, but while he still possessed his rights as King of Ireland. At the time James was presiding over the short-lived Patriot Parliament. The peerage remained on the Irish patent roll in a constitutionally ambiguous position, but was not formally recognised by the Protestant political establishment. By his wife Jane Plunkett, daughter of Nicholas Plunkett and his wife Catherine Turner. He was the father of Nicholas, 2nd Viscount; his son's estates were forfeit but were recovered by his grandson.

Birth and origins

Valentine was born in 1638.[1] He was the eldest son of Valentine Browne and Mary MacCarty. His father was the 2nd Baronet Browne of Molahiffe, County Kerry. His mother was a daughter of Charles MacCarty, 1st Viscount of Muskerry.[2] His mother's family were the MacCartys of Muskerry, a Gaelic Irish dynasty that branched from the MacCarthy-More line with Dermot MacCarthy, second son of Cormac MacCarthy-Mor, a medieval Prince of Desmond.[3] This second son was given Muskerry as appanage.

Family tree

Valentine Browne with wife, parents, and other selected relatives. Gerald 14th Earl Desmond c. 1533 – 1583 Rebel Earl Nicholas Browne d. 1606 Sheela O'Sullivan Charles 1st Viscount Muskerry 1564–1641 Alice FitzGerald Valentine 1st Bt. d. 1633 Julia MacCarty d. 1633 Valentine 2nd Bt. d. 1640 Mary MacCarty Valentine 1st Viscount Kenmare 1638–1694 Jane Plunkett Nicholas 2nd Viscount d. 1720 Valentine 3rd Viscount 1695–1736 Legend XXX Subject of the article XXX Browne Baronets & Viscounts Kenmare

Early life

Browne succeeded his father in 1640 as the 3rd Baronet Browne at the age of 2.[4]

Marriage and children

Sir Valentine married Jane Plunkett, only daughter and heir of Sir Nicholas Plunkett.[5]

Viscount Kenmare

Sir Valentine was created first Viscount Kenmare and Baron Castlerosse (Ireland) on 20 May 1689, by King James II, after his deposition by the English Parliament, but while he still possessed his rights as King of Ireland. At the time James was presiding over the short-lived Patriot Parliament. The peerage remained on the Irish patent roll in a constitutionally ambiguous position, but was not recognized by the Protestant political establishment.[6]

Death

Lord Kenmare died

Poem

A poem by Aogán Ó Rathaille mocked this vulgar person, compared to the Gaelic aristocrats whose place he attempted to supplant. In translation by Frank O'Connor it says:

That my old bitter heart was pierced in this black doom,
That foreign devils have made our land a tomb,
That the sun that was Munster's glory has gone down
Has made me a beggar before you, Valentine Brown

That royal Cashel is bare of house and guest,
That Brian's turreted home is the otter's nest,
That the kings of the land have neither land nor crown
Has made me a beggar before you, Valentine Brown.

Garnish away in the west with its master banned,
Hamburg the refuge of him who has lost his land,
An old grey eye, weeping for lost renown,
Have made me a beggar before you, Valentine Brown.

Notes

1. Cokayne 1900, p. 237, line 19: "III. 1640. SIR VALENTINE BROWNE, Bart. [I. 1622], of Molahiffe aforesaid, 1st s. and h., b. 1638, being but 2 years old at his fathers death."
2. Cokayne 1900, p. 237, line 14: "... he [V. Browne, 2nd Bt.] m. Mary (sister of his stepmother) da. of Charles (MACCARTY), 1st VISCOUNT MUSKERRY [I.] ..."
3. O'Hart 1892, p. 122: "CORMAC MACCARTY MOR, Prince of Desmond (see the MacCarty Mór Stem, No. 115,) had a second son, Dermod Mór, of Muscry (now Muskerry) who was the ancestor of MacCarthy, lords of Muscry and earls of Clan Carthy."
4. Cokayne 1892, p. 342, line 21: "... suc. his father in the Baronetcy, a dignity cr. 16 Feb. 1621/2), when two years old in 1640;"
5. Burke & Burke 1909, p. 1019: "He m. Jane, only dau. and h. of Sir Nicholas Plunkett and had issue."
6. Cokayne 1892, p. 342, line 24: "... being a staunch adherent of that king [James II], was by him cr. 20 May 1689, BARON CASTLEROSSE and VISCOUNT KENMARE [I.]"

References

• Burke, Bernard; Burke, Ashworth P. (1909). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and Companionage (71st ed.). London: Harrison. – (for Kenmare)
• Cokayne, George Edward (1892). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct, or Dormant. 4 (1st ed.). London: George Bell and Sons. – G to K (for Kenmare)
• Cokayne, George Edward (1900). Complete Baronetage, 1611 to 1800. 1 (1st ed.). Exeter: William Pollard & Co. – 1611 to 1625 (for Browne)
• O'Hart, John (1892). Irish Pedigrees: or, the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation. 1 (5th ed.). Dublin: John Duffy & Co. – Irish Stem