James Butler of Polestown

James was the eldest son of Sir Edmund MacRichard Butler, whom he succeeded in 1464 as Lord Deputy of Ireland over his absentee cousins John and Thomas, the 6th and 7th Earls of Ormond, respectively. As was his family's tradition, he had a long career as a Gaelic warlord which included raiding and rustling across southern Leinster. He sided with the House of Lancaster against King Edward IV of England, for which he was attainted; but when that King was settled on the throne, he overlooked this mistake in his conduct, and an Act of Parliament passed in Ireland repealed all attainders, judgments, and outlawries against him.

In April 1468, the king granted him, in recognition of his service, the manor and advowson of Callan for life. On 12 October 1477, John Butler, Earl of Ormond, appointed him as his attorney and deputy to administer Ormond’s lands in Ireland. In this capacity, he oversaw reforms in the town of Carrick-on-Suir. He was later knighted and is credited with building the castle of Neigham (also recorded as Nehorn) near Gowran.^[2]

He died on 16 April 1487 and was buried in Callan Augustinian Friary, of which he was the founder.^[3]