Richard Tyrrell

Richard Tyrrell ( 1545 - after 1632) was an Anglo-Irish Lord of Anglo-Norman ancestry who commanded rebel Irish forces in the Irish Nine Years War, most notably at the Siege of Kinsale. He was considered one of Hugh O'Neill's most accomplished allies.

Family background Born about 1545, Tyrrell was a member of the Old English Tyrrell family. The Tyrrells were the Lords of Fartullagh, a barony in County Westmeath based on the village of Tyrrellspass, and had held this position since the time of Henry II. after spending some time in custody.

Battle of Tyrrellspass When the Nine Years' War commenced in 1594, Tyrrell became a commander of the rebel forces in Leinster under Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone. In 1597 the Crown forces commenced a new campaign, involving a three-pronged attack on Ulster, aiming to link up in Ballyshannon. The location of the battle became known as Tyrrellspass.

Defeat by Baron Mountjoy In June 1600, Tyrrell and his brother William negotiated with an English emissary for a pardon from Queen Elizabeth I. Despite his loyalty to O'Neill, Tyrrell elected to keep these negotiations secret. Catherine married famed physician Owen O'Shiel.

One source suggests he may have married a woman named Maud which whom he had two children, Godfrey and Rita.

In 1632, he was detained by authorities while heading to Flanders. Tyrrell had raised a company of 100 men, to be commanded by his son Richard, to ship from Dublin to Dunkirk. Allegedly, he had a contract with captain Thomas Preston of the Army of Flanders. Tyrrell and his son were questioned by the English administration, and eventually dismissed back to Ireland.

In his old age, he became known as "Old Captain Tyrell."

Death The date and circumstances of Tyrrell's death are unknown. According to the Dictionary of Irish Biography, he was last recorded in 1648 - though this would make him over 100 years old.