Giolla Pádraig O'More

Giolla Pádraig O'More , 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. O'More was forced to flee into Offaly.

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.

Sir Edward Bellingham replaced St Leger as Lord Deputy in May 1548.

The two nobles submitted themselves to the English in November,

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. In the early 1560s, it seems Rory's son, Rory Oge O'More, returned to Ireland and reclaimed his father's lordship.

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