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. Early life and career D'Arcy is believed to have been first educated in one of the schools operating in the town in the early 17th century, but he was not admitted into the King's Inns in Dublin, so he had studied in London, been admitted as a student of the Middle Temple, London, on 21 July 1617. D'Arcy appears to have spent fully five years at the Temple, and began working about 1622. He was engaged by Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde, who was the most powerful landowner in Connacht. D'Arcy's stepfather, Sir Henry Lynch, 1st Baronet, was Burke's business agent. D'Arcy is said to have become active on the Connacht circuit about 1627, having joined the King's Inn in June 1628. This coincided with the proclamation on 26 June permitting lawyers to practise at the bar by taking the Oath of Allegiance instead of the Oath of Supremacy. As the latter had been inimical to Catholics such as D'Arcy, the proclamation now enabled them to practise freely. As Charles I was constantly short of money, he needed to find new sources of income. One was to allow the richer Irish Catholics to pay for legal equality, known as "The Graces". Another proposal was to sell land in Ireland