county · British Isles

Mac William Iochtar

1333 CE – 1603 CE (approx.)

The Gaelicised Burke lordship of Mayo, ruled by the Lower Mac William, whose title survived until the late Tudor conquest of Connacht.

Origins

After the murder of the last Earl of Ulster in 1333, Edmund Albanach de Burgh took control of the de Burgh lands in north Connacht and adopted the Gaelic title Mac William Iochtar, the Lower Mac William. His descendants ruled much of modern Mayo.

Rule and society

The Mayo Burkes lived as Gaelic lords, electing their chief by tanistry, employing gallowglasses and poets, and allying with or fighting the O'Donnells, O'Malleys and the Clanricarde Burkes. Richard an Iarainn Burke, 'Iron Dick', married Grace O'Malley.

Decline and legacy

Under the Composition of Connacht in 1585 the title was abolished, and Mayo was shired. After Burke rebellions, Theobald Burke, 'Tibbot na Long', son of Grace O'Malley, sided with the crown and was made Viscount Mayo in 1627.

Lineage

Earldom of Ulster 1205 CE – 1333 CEMac William IochtarKingdom of Ireland 1542 CE – 1800 CE

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Mac William Iochtar. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/mac-william-iochtar
MLA
“Mac William Iochtar.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/mac-william-iochtar. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Mac William Iochtar.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/mac-william-iochtar.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Mac William Iochtar’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/mac-william-iochtar (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻