Arrival of the Binghams
In 1586 as retaliation against the Desmond Rebellion in Munster, Queen Elizabeth I ordered the Plantation of Munster. The aim of the plantation was to plant English settlers onto Irish land to extend the control of the English Crown in Ireland. Richard Bingham had been sent by Elizabeth to Ireland and was made Governor of Connaught in 1584. He quickly defeated the Normans who had, according to some historians, become ‘more Irish than the Irish themselves’; the de Burgos had become Gaelicised by this point and were known as the Bourkes. He took the castle which was located on the site of the now closed Barracks and sold it to his brother John Bingham for £100 who was also appointed Sherrif of Mayo. John Bingham obtained a grant in 1609 of a market and fair and in 1613 a Charter of Incorporation by James I. John was made portreeve of the town which gave him authority and control of it and fifteen burgesses which meant merchants could set up their stores with protection from the portreeve. The portreeve could then collect a tax from them on fair and market days. The town was also given the right to hold a court on Mondays and to return two members to the Irish Parliament. Click here for the Penal Laws. |