Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick

Edmund Butler (died 1321), 6th Chief Butler of Ireland and nominally Earl of Carrick, was an Irish magnate who served as Justiciar of Ireland during the difficult times of the Scottish invasion from 1315 to 1318 and the great famine of 1316 to 1317.

Origins Born before 1278, he was a younger son of Theobald Butler, 4th Chief Butler of Ireland, and his wife Joan FitzGeoffrey, daughter of John FitzGeoffrey and Isabel Bigod. His elder brother, Theobald Butler, was the heir at the death of his father in 1285 but died childless in 1299, when he inherited the paternal estates and titles. On the death of his mother in 1303, he inherited her lands and titles in Ireland and in England.

From February 1315 to April 1318 he served once more as Justiciar, for the last year under Roger Mortimer, who had been appointed over him as the King's representative in Ireland. In 1315 he led the Irish forces to Dundalk where they confronted the invading Scots under Edward Bruce, brother of Robert Bruce, who then retreated into the north. When the Scots advanced southwards again in 1316, he was at the inconclusive battle of Skerries in Kildare. The following year, with Robert Bruce joining his brother, the invaders attacked again and Butler's forces confronted them at Limerick, forcing them to retreat, starving. It was alleged that Butler's leadership of a divided and fractious country was not glorious and to counter these views Edward II issued a declaration "to clear the fair name of Edmund Butler, who has been accused of having assisted the Scots in Ireland, that he has borne himself well and faithfully towards the king". Though sometimes referred to as Earl in his lifetime, the title was not widely recognised and did not pass to his son. Joan Butler, engaged in 1321 to a Roger Mortimer.