Background
He was born in Corbally, County Meath, to the Meath branch of the leading Anglo-Irish dynasty of Bermingham which was founded by Meyler de Bermingham about 1270.
He was born in Corbally, County Meath, to the Meath branch of the leading Anglo-Irish dynasty of Bermingham which was founded by Meyler de Bermingham about 1270.
Patrick, as a younger son, chose the law as his profession, following in the steps of his cousin Philip Bermingham, who was Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in the 1480s.
He was a firm supporter of English rule in Ireland and enjoyed the confidence of Henry VIII, who saw him as a vital mainstay of his Irish administration. Not much seems to be known of Patrick"s own parents, except that they had another son, John, who was the elder. He entered Lincoln"s Inn in 1478.
He resided in England for some years but returned to Ireland before 1503.
He became a clerk in the Court of Exchequer (Ireland). From this junior position he rose quickly to the office of Lord Chief Justice in 1513.
This is borne out by the favourable account of Bermingham"s conduct given by the Lord Deputy of Ireland, the Duke of Norfolk, who spent the years 1520-1521 putting down an insurrection which he suspected possibly with good reason, had been instigated by Kildare. Norfolk praised Bermingham and Patrick Finglas, the Lord Chief Baron, as "the best willed and most diligent to do the King"s Grace true and faithful service of all the learned men of this land".
As another mark of Royal favour, he was given permission to leave Ireland whenever he wished a significant privilege at a time when the movements of Irish officials were carefully watched.
After Norfolk"s recall, Bermingham worked closely with the Archbishop of Dublin, first Hugh Inge and then his successor John Alen: for a time Bermingham, Archbishop Alen and the Prior of Kilmainham, John Rawson, were said to form an inner "council of three" within the main Privy Council. Despite Kildare"s rather dubious loyalties, Bermingham was sensible enough to see that his great power and influence made him impossible to replace, and that English rule in Ireland had been weakened by his four-year detention in England. In 1528 he and Inge wrote to Norfolk lamenting the chaos in Ireland "since the Earl of Kildare"s departing from hence", and severely criticising the misrule of Kildare"s deputy Richard Nugent, 4th Lord Delvin.
Perhaps in part due to Bermingham"s pleas, Kildare did return, only to quarrel bitterly with Archbishop Alen and Norfolk"s successor as Lord Deputy, Sir William Skeffington.
When Bermingham died in 1532 the political situation in Ireland was as unsettled as ever. Ball praises him as a man of integrity and moderation, who was dedicated to the maintenance of good order in Ireland.
Patrick"s grandfather, a member of the Carbury branch of the family, settled in Meath where he acquired by marriage estates at Dardistown. The family also acquired lands at Johnstown, County Kildare. Bermingham was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, made a member of the Privy Council, and as a mark of favour given a fresh patent as Lord Chief Justice under the Great Seal of England.