John Eyre (settler)

A man much oppressed by publick power for his laudable opposition to the measures taken in the reigns of James I and Charles I In the year 1640 (for then well known Court reasons) He was ... afterwards plundered at Brickworth of 2000 l. value and imprisoned for refusing to pay the sum of 400 l. illeg 1572 dyed Jan 1655 having issue 7 sons (3 of whom were likewise members of Parliament) and 4 daughters.

Eyre's main landed estates were in the south-east of the county, dispossessing families such as Kelly, Madden, Horan, and Burke.

However, he was absent on a number of occasions, apparently due to a serious dispute involving his brother, and Robert Martin of Ross, back in Galway.

... he helped overthrow those landed Catholic families that had previously dominated the region, and well as to establish the supremacy of Protestant grandees within the area.

... To top it all off he developed a town and built a distinguished mansion ... he provides us with examples of tactics and strategies for social, economic and political advancement in early modern Ireland.