The enclosed DRAFT document has been produced by the brother of the Bugler, Emeritus Professor Donal Joseph Burns PhD (Atomic Physicist and Mathematician of note) of QUBelfast, formerly Company Secretary (Vice Chancellor) of the University of Nebraska U.S.A.

It traces the origins of the Burns Family tree (by DNA) back to its roots of Phelim O’Byrne, son of the famous Taoiseach, Fiach MacHugh O’Byrne of Ballinacor and Shillealagh in the timeless mountains and valleys of today’s glorious Wicklow Mountains.

It was here that Taoiseach Fiach MacHugh O’Byrne waged his remorseless campaigns against the armies of Elizabeth l, with considerable success culminating in his most glorious victory which was the defeat and annihilation of Lord Grey who led 1000 men-at-arms of an expeditionary force from Dublin by a supposed westerly secret route against the O’Byrne Clan in 1580 during which his force was led into a carefully laid ambush which resulted in the historical Battle of Glenmalure. Lord Grey, with a handful of fleeing equerries, was the sole survivor.

Later Gray as English Viceroy of Ireland was to write in a report of his chagrin and frustration to Elizabeth I, that whilst he was, in the main, able to subjugate the vast majority of the Clans in Ireland, including the Butlers/Ormonds who were of course his bought serfs, he was unable to control the O’Byrnes even though he had apprehended Taoiseach Fiach MacHugh O’Byrne,  dispossessed him of all his lands, and hanged him in 1597.

The English could hang as many as they could find but in spite of dungeon , fire, and sword, 852 years later  we still are…and in the Year of 2024…We Dare to Dream!

But that was only the beginning…

N.B.Flip Book Mode~ Go to Icons at page bottom  Use ‘X’ for Full Screen Mode, 2nd from right.