# Daniel O'Brien, 1st Viscount Clare

Sir Daniel O'Brien, 1st Viscount Clare also called Donal (c. 1577 – 1666) was an Irish politician and soldier. He was born a younger son of Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond. He fought against the insurgents at Tyrone's Rebellion, but for the insurgents in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and the Irish Confederate Wars. He resisted the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. He joined Charles II of England in exile and was in his eighties made a viscount at the Restoration.

## Birth and origins

Family tree :
| Donough 2nd Earl d. 1553 | Donough 2nd Earl d. 1553 | Donough 2nd Earl d. 1553 | Donough 2nd Earl d. 1553 | Donough 2nd Earl d. 1553 | Donough 2nd Earl d. 1553 | | | Helen Butler | Helen Butler | Helen Butler | Helen Butler | Helen Butler | Helen Butler |
| | | Connor 3rd Earl c. 1534 – 1581 | Connor 3rd Earl c. 1534 – 1581 | Connor 3rd Earl c. 1534 – 1581 | Connor 3rd Earl c. 1534 – 1581 | Connor 3rd Earl c. 1534 – 1581 | Connor 3rd Earl c. 1534 – 1581 | | | Una O'Brien d. 1589 | Una O'Brien d. 1589 | Una O'Brien d. 1589 | Una O'Brien d. 1589 | Una O'Brien d. 1589 | Una O'Brien d. 1589 | | | | | | | | | Gerald 14th Earl of Desmond c. 1533 – 1583 Rebel Earl | Gerald 14th Earl of Desmond c. 1533 – 1583 Rebel Earl | Gerald 14th Earl of Desmond c. 1533 – 1583 Rebel Earl | Gerald 14th Earl of Desmond c. 1533 – 1583 Rebel Earl | Gerald 14th Earl of Desmond c. 1533 – 1583 Rebel Earl | Gerald 14th Earl of Desmond c. 1533 – 1583 Rebel Earl |
| Donogh 4th Earl d. 1624 | Donogh 4th Earl d. 1624 | Donogh 4th Earl d. 1624 | Donogh 4th Earl d. 1624 | Donogh 4th Earl d. 1624 | Donogh 4th Earl d. 1624 | | | Elizabeth FitzGerald d. 1617 | Elizabeth FitzGerald d. 1617 | Elizabeth FitzGerald d. 1617 | Elizabeth FitzGerald d. 1617 | Elizabeth FitzGerald d. 1617 | Elizabeth FitzGerald d. 1617 | | | Daniel 1st Viscount 1577–1666 | Daniel 1st Viscount 1577–1666 | Daniel 1st Viscount 1577–1666 | Daniel 1st Viscount 1577–1666 | Daniel 1st Viscount 1577–1666 | Daniel 1st Viscount 1577–1666 | | | Catherine FitzGerald | Catherine FitzGerald | Catherine FitzGerald | Catherine FitzGerald | Catherine FitzGerald | Catherine FitzGerald |
| Henry 5th Earl c. 1588 – 1639 | Henry 5th Earl c. 1588 – 1639 | Henry 5th Earl c. 1588 – 1639 | Henry 5th Earl c. 1588 – 1639 | Henry 5th Earl c. 1588 – 1639 | Henry 5th Earl c. 1588 – 1639 | | | Barnabas 6th Earl c. 1590 – 1657 | Barnabas 6th Earl c. 1590 – 1657 | Barnabas 6th Earl c. 1590 – 1657 | Barnabas 6th Earl c. 1590 – 1657 | Barnabas 6th Earl c. 1590 – 1657 | Barnabas 6th Earl c. 1590 – 1657 | | | Connor 2nd Viscount 1605–1670 | Connor 2nd Viscount 1605–1670 | Connor 2nd Viscount 1605–1670 | Connor 2nd Viscount 1605–1670 | Connor 2nd Viscount 1605–1670 | Connor 2nd Viscount 1605–1670 | | | Honora O'Brien | Honora O'Brien | Honora O'Brien | Honora O'Brien | Honora O'Brien | Honora O'Brien |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Henry 7th Earl 1620–1691 | Henry 7th Earl 1620–1691 | Henry 7th Earl 1620–1691 | Henry 7th Earl 1620–1691 | Henry 7th Earl 1620–1691 | Henry 7th Earl 1620–1691 | | | Daniel 3rd Viscount d. 1691 | Daniel 3rd Viscount d. 1691 | Daniel 3rd Viscount d. 1691 | Daniel 3rd Viscount d. 1691 | Daniel 3rd Viscount d. 1691 | Daniel 3rd Viscount d. 1691 |
| XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | Viscounts Clare | Viscounts Clare | Viscounts Clare | Viscounts Clare | Viscounts Clare | Viscounts Clare | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | Earls of Thomond | Earls of Thomond | Earls of Thomond | Earls of Thomond | Earls of Thomond | Earls of Thomond | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | Earls of Desmond | Earls of Desmond | Earls of Desmond | Earls of Desmond | Earls of Desmond | Earls of Desmond |
Daniel or Donal was born about 1577, the third and youngest son of Connor O'Brien and his second wife, Una O'Brien. or in 1666 and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Connor. His father was the 3rd Earl of Thomond.
His mother was a daughter of Turlough Mac-i-Brien-Ara. His parents were from different branches of the O'Briens, an important Gaelic Irish dynasty that descended from Brian Boru, medieval high king of Ireland. His father was from the branch of the Earls of Thomond. His mother was from the branch of the O'Briens of Ara in County Tipperary. She was a sister of Murtogh O'Brien-Arra, Anglican bishop of Killaloe.
Daniel was one of at least seven siblings, who are listed in his father's article. His eldest brother, Donogh, would become the 4th Earl of Thomond.

## Early life

Whereas Donough, the eldest brother and heir apparent to the earldom of Thomond, was educated as a Protestant in England, the younger brothers Teige and Daniel were educated as Catholics. The father died in 1581 and was succeeded by Daniel's eldest brother as the 4th Earl of Thomond. His mother died in 1589 at Clare Castle.

## Nine Years' War

In 1598 during the Nine Years' War, also known as Tyrone's Rebellion, the insurgents led by Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone and his ally Hugh Roe O'Donnell marched south to relieve the siege of Kinsale. O'Donnell invaded Clare, ravaging the country and capturing most of the castles. O'Brien had been left by his brother Donough O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond, absent in England, to defend his lands. In February 1599 O'Brien was attacked in his castle of Ibrickane, wounded, and taken prisoner by O'Donnell.

## Marriage and children

In 1600 O'Brien married Catherine FitzGerald, widow of Maurice Roche, 6th Viscount Fermoy, and the third daughter of Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond, the rebel earl, and his second wife, Eleanor Butler.
Daniel and Catherine had four sons:
* Donogh (died 1638), married Elizabeth Dowdall but died predeceasing his father.
* Connor (1605–1670), succeeded as 2nd Viscount Clare
* Morrough, died childless
* Teige
—and seven daughters of which nothing seems to be known.

## Knight and Parliaments

On 1 July 1604 in Leixlip, County Kildare, O'Brien was knighted and became Sir Daniel O'Brien. He was elected as one of the two "knights of the shire", as county MPs were then called, for County Clare in the Irish House of Commons 1613 to 1614. At the election of the speaker O'Brien supported the Catholic candidate John Everard.
In the Irish Parliament of 1634–1635 he replaced his nephew Barnabas O'Brien, the future 6th Earl of Thomond, who had absented himself to England.

## Irish Rebellion and Confederate Wars

O'Brien was a member of the Supreme Council of the Catholic Confederates. In 1649 he fought the Cromwellians in Clare. He surrendered Clare Castle on 5 November and Carrigaholt Castle on 9 November.
In June 1652, at Ross Castle near Killarney, O'Brien together with Lord Muskerry surrendered to Ludlow. O'Brien served as a hostage to guarantee Muskerry's compliance with the terms.

## Restoration, Viscount Clare, and death

At the Restoration O'Brien returned to Ireland. On 11 July 1662 Charles II created him Baron Moyarta and Viscount Clare. The honour was intended for his grandson Daniel, into whose hands the estate was directly conveyed. Lord Clare, as he now was, attended the House of Lords during the Irish Parliament 1661–1666. He died in 1663 or in 1666 and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Connor.
Timeline :
| Age | Date | Event |
| 0 | 1577, about | Born |
| 11–12 | 1589 | Mother died at Clare Castle. |
| 20–21 | 1598, 14 Aug | Battle of the Yellow Ford won by Hugh Roe O'Donnell over Henry Bagenal. |
| 21–22 | 1599 | Tried to defend Ibrickane Castle against Hugh Roe O'Donnell but was wounded and taken captive. |
| 22–23 | 1600 | Married Catherine FitzGerald, widow of the 6th Viscount Fermoy, and the 3rd daughter of the 14th Earl of Desmond, |
| 25–26 | 1603, 24 Mar | Accession of King James I, succeeding Queen Elizabeth I |
| 26–27 | 1604, 1 July | Knighted |
| 18–19 | 1613, 2 April | Elected MP for County Clare for the Parliament of 1613–1614. |
| 47–48 | 1625, 27 Mar | Accession of King Charles I, succeeding King James I |
| 54–55 | 1632, 12 Jan | Thomas Wentworth, later Earl of Stafford, appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland |
| 39–40 | 1634, Nov | Elected MP for County Clare for the Irish Parliament of 1634–1635. |
| 43–44 | 1638, 6 Aug | Eldest son Donogh died. |
| 63–64 | 1641, 23 Oct | Outbreak of the Rebellion |
| 65–66 | 1643, Nov | James Butler, 1st Marquess of Ormond appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland |
| 71–72 | 1649, 30 Jan | King Charles I beheaded. |
| 71–72 | 1649, 15 Aug | Oliver Cromwell landed in Dublin |
| 73–74 | 1651, 27 Oct | Fall of Limerick |
| 74–75 | 1652, 12 May | Fall of Galway |
| 74–75 | 1652, 27 Jun | Gave his grandson as hostage at the surrender of Ross Castle by Muskerry. |
| 82–83 | 1660, 29 May | Restoration of King Charles II |
| 84–85 | 1662, 11 July | Created Viscount Clare |
| 88–89 | 1666 | Died. |