Patrick D'Arcy

Patrick D'Arcy (1598–1668) was an Irish Catholic Confederate and lawyer who wrote the constitution of Confederate Ireland. Background Born in County Galway, Ireland, D'Arcy was the youngest son of James Riabhach D'Arcy by his second marriage, to Elizabeth Martyn. James Riabhach was formerly vice-president of Connacht, and Mayor of Galway upon his death in June 1603. By his first marriage, he fathered Nicholas, Martin, James, Anthony and Anastasia. With Elizabeth, he sired Andrew and Patrick. Elizabeth Martyn was a granddaughter of William Óge Martyn, and an aunt of Richard Martyn, who would later become Patrick's brother-in-law and law partner. The 17th-century historian Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh states that one of D'Arcy's ancestors, Walter Riabhach Ó Dorchaidhe (fl. c. 1488), was "the first man of the Uí Dorchaidhe who came to Galway, according to the Galweigians themselves". Ó Dorchaidhe was said to be a member of a lowly family descended from the Partraige Cera of Lough Carra, in what is now County Mayo. The only record of the Partraige in Gaelic sources is a brief note stating that the Uí Dorchaidhe was chieftain of the Partraige, while their king was the Ó Goirmiallaigh.