Biographies A-Z

Fitzgerald (Butler), Eleanor (c.1545–1638?), countess of Desmond, was born in Kiltinan castle, near Fethard, Co. Tipperary, second daughter of Edmund Butler, baron of Dunboyne, and his wife Cecilia MacCarthy Reagh. Her father was a liegeman of…

FitzGerald, Desmond (1911–87), architect, was born 5 November 1911 at Saint-Jean-du-Doigt (Finisterre) in Brittany, France, eldest of four sons of Desmond FitzGerald (qv), writer and future minister for external affairs in…

FitzGerald, Desmond John Villiers (1937–2011), Knight of Glin , scholar, conservationist, and fine arts dealer and collector, was born 13 July 1937 in Cambridge Square, London, the only son and youngest of three children of Desmond Wyndham Otho FitzGerald, Knight of Glin, of Glin Castle…

Fitzgerald, Edward (c.1770–1807), landed gentleman and insurgent leader, was born in Co. Wexford at his wealthy catholic family's country estate, Newpark, in the parish of Killisk, situated between Enniscorthy and Wexford town. Details of his early life are sketchy and…

Fitzgerald, Edward (1833–1907), catholic bishop of Little Rock, was born in October 1833 in Limerick city. He was baptised in St Michael's church, Denmark St., where his parents had married the preceding January. He was the eldest child of James Fitzgerald and Johanna Fitzgerald (…

Fitzgerald, Edward (Eamonn) (1903–58), Gaelic footballer and Olympic athlete, was born 27 October 1903 in Behihane, Castlecove, Co. Kerry, one of seven children of John Fitzgerald, farmer, and Mary Fitzgerald (née McCarthy). He was initially educated locally at Bunaneer national…

FitzGerald, Elizabeth (c.1527–1589), the ‘Fair Geraldine’, was second daughter among five children of Gerald FitzGerald (qv), 9th earl of Kildare, and his second wife, Lady Elizabeth Grey, fourth…

Fitzgerald, Elizabeth (d. 1645), countess of Kildare and patroness of the Jesuits in Ireland, was born (date and place unknown) second eldest among six daughters and six sons of Christopher Nugent (qv), 14th…

Fitzgerald, Eugene (Gene) (1932–2007), politician, was born in Crookstown, Co. Cork, on 21 August 1932; he had at least one brother and one sister. Educated at Crookstown national school and Presentation Brothers' College, Cork, he lived most of his adult life in Bishopstown in the…

Fitzgerald, (Fanny Louisa) Geraldine Penrose- (1846–1939), novelist and catholic convert, was born 27 January 1846, youngest daughter of Robert Uniacke Penrose-Fitzgerald and his wife Frances Matilda (née Austen); she had at least three brothers and one sister. The Penrose-…

Fitzgerald (fitz Maurice), James (d. 1540), 13th de jure earl of Desmond , was the son of Maurice fitz Thomas, son of Thomas Fitzgerald (qv), 12th earl, and Joan, daughter of John FitzMaurice FitzGibbon, the White Knight. Sent to…

Fitzgerald (Foley), Lady Lucy Anne (1771–1851), radical, was born on 5 February 1771, probably in Leinster House, Dublin, the seventeenth of nineteen children of James Fitzgerald (qv), first duke of Leinster, and Lady…

FitzGerald, Garret (1926–2011), economist, politician and taoiseach, was born in Dublin on 9 February 1926, fourth and youngest son of…

Fitzgerald, Garrett Hugh (c.1790–p.1854), landowner and investigator of potato blight, comes to historical attention first as an ensign commissioned in the 37th Regiment of Foot (North Hampshires) in 1810. Serving in the Peninsular and French campaigns, he was…

Fitzgerald, George (1612–60), 16th earl of Kildare , politician, was born 23 January 1612, third but only surviving son of Thomas Fitzgerald, second son of William, 13th earl of Kildare (1536–97), and Frances, daughter of Thomas Randolph, postmaster general in England under Elizabeth I…

Fitzgerald, George Francis (1851–1901), physicist, was born 3 August 1851 at Kill o’ the Grange rectory, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, the son of William Fitzgerald (1814–83), who went on to become bishop of Cork and later of Killaloe, and his wife Anne Frances, a niece of…

Fitzgerald, George Robert (c.1746–1786), duellist, was born in Turlough, Co. Mayo, elder son of George Fitzgerald, landowner, and his wife, Lady Mary Fitzgerald, daughter of John, Lord Hervey. His mother's brother was …

Fitzgerald, Gerald (1525–85), 11th earl of Kildare , was the son of Gerald FitzGerald (qv), 9th earl of Kildare, and his second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Grey, marquis of Dorset. He was born on…

Fitzgerald, Gerald fitz James (c.1530–1583), 15th earl of Desmond and reluctant rebel leader, was elder son of James fitz John Fitzgerald (qv) (d. 1558), 14th earl of Desmond, and his second wife, More, daughter of…

FitzGerald, Gerald fitz Maurice (c.1350–1432), 5th earl of Kildare , magnate, was eldest son of Maurice fitz Thomas FitzGerald (qv), 4th earl of Kildare, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Bartholomew, Lord…

FitzGerald, Gerald fitz Maurice (c.1150–1204), lord of Offaly, second son of Maurice fitz Gerald (qv), and ancestor of the earls of Kildare, formed the basis of the lineage's landed wealth during his lifetime. He was…

This is a co-subject for the entry on FitzGerald, Maurice (‘Muiris Ruadh’). View the original entry.

FitzGerald, Gerald fitz Maurice (‘Gearóid Iarla’) (1338–98), 3rd earl of Desmond , justiciar of Ireland and poet, was son of Maurice fitz Thomas FitzGerald (qv), 1st earl of Desmond, and his second wife, Aveline, daughter…

FitzGerald, Gerald (Gearóid Mór) (1456/7–1513), 8th earl of Kildare , magnate and lord deputy, was the eldest of four sons and two daughters, and thus heir, of Thomas fitz Maurice FitzGerald (qv) (d. 1478), 7th earl of…

FitzGerald, Gerald (Gearóid Óg, Garrett McAlison) (1487–1534), 9th earl of Kildare , magnate and lord deputy of Ireland, was the only son of Gerald FitzGerald (qv), 8th earl of Kildare, lord deputy of Ireland, and his…