James Butler of Polestown

Sir James Butler of Polestown (died 1487) was the eldest son of Sir Edmund MacRichard Butler and was a warlord in Yorkist Ireland.

James succeeded his father in 1464 as Lord Deputy of Ireland to his absentee cousins John and Thomas, the 6th and 7th earls respectively of Ormond. 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King was settled on the throne, he overlooked this mistake in his conduct, and an Act of Parliament passed in Ireland, repealed all attainders, judgments, and outlawries, against him. The King, in consideration of his faithful services from that time, granted him, in April 1468 (among other things) the manor and advowson of Callan for life. And on 12 October 1477, he was constituted by John, Earl of Ormond, his attorney and deputy, to manage his lands in Ireland. In this way he ordered the reform of the town of Carrick-on-Suir. He was knighted, and built the castle of Neigham (Nehorn old name) near Gowran.

He died on 16 April 1487 and was buried in the priory of Augustine eremites at Callan, of which priory he was the founder.

Around 1450 he began a love affair with Sabh Kavanagh. Her parents were Donal Reagh MacMurrough-Kavanagh (a.k.a. Domhnall mac Gerald MacMurrough-Kavanagh), King of Leinster and an unknown daughter of an O'Nolan chieftain. Three children were born before James and Sabh were married. James later arranged for the Irish Parliament to declare them legitimate.

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