Viscount Mayo

Viscount Mayo is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, both times for members of the Bourke family. The first creation came in 1627 in favour of Tiobóid na Long Bourke, also known as Theobald Bourke. He was the son of Sir Richard Bourke, 18th lord of Mac William Iochtar (Lower Mac William), and Gráinne O'Malley. Miles, the 2nd Viscount, was created a baronet in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia in c. 1638.

Viscountcy of Mayo
Arms: Per fess Or and Ermine, a Cross Gules, in the 1st quarter a Lion rampant and in the 2nd a dexter Hand affrontée, both Sable. Crest: On a Chapeau Gules, turned up Ermine, a Lion sejant Argent, langued Gules, ducally gorged Or. Supporters: Dexter: A Harpy guardant wings and lions body Or, human face neck chest and hair proper, armed Gules; Sinister: A Man in Armour to the middle of his thigh, Sword proper, suspended from a Belt Gules, about his head a square White Band, sandles Sable, in the exterior hand a Battle-Axe proper.[1]
Creation date	21 June 1627
Creation	First
Created by	King Charles I
Peerage	Peerage of Ireland
First holder	Tiobóid na Long Bourke, 1st Viscount Mayo
Last holder	John Bourke, 8th Viscount Mayo
Remainder to	The 1st Earl’s heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles	Baronet ‘of Mayo’ Baronet ‘of Brittas’
Status	Extinct
Extinction date	12 January 1767
Motto	AUDACES FORTUNA JUVAT (Fortune favours the brave)[2]

His son Theobald, the third Viscount, was also created a Baronet in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia in c. 1638 (although there are no records of this creation in the Great Seal). The third Viscount was executed in 1652 after being found guilty of murder by Cromwell's High Court of Justice in Connaught. The murders in 1642 became known as the "Shrule massacre", but it seems that Lord Mayo had done his best to prevent them.[3]

The third Viscount's daughter Maud married Col. John Browne, ancestor of the Marquesses of Sligo.[4]

On the eighth Viscount's death in 1767, the title became dormant or extinct. Historian Anne Chambers considers that a legal right continued, but that the next claimant could not afford the legal costs involved in presenting a petition to the Irish House of Lords.[5]

The title was recreated for a very distant cousin, John Bourke, 1st Baron Naas, in 1781. He was subsequently created Earl of Mayo in 1785. See this title for more information.