KILDARE, Marquis of. The Earls of Kildare and Their Ancestors: from 1057 to 1773. 

Dublin: Hodges, Smith & Co., 1862. Large post octavo. pp. viii, 401, plus errata. Publisher’s blind-stamped cloth, titled in gilt, arms of Kildare in gilt on upper cover. Previous owner’s stamp on front pastedown. A very good copy. Very scarce.

The FitzGeralds of Ireland are descended from the famous Maurice, son of Gerald who accompanied Strongbow to Ireland in the Anglo-Norman invasion. The two main branches of the family were the Dukes of Leinster of Maynooth, County Kildare, known in history by their titles of Earls of Kildare, and the Munster branch, headed by the Earls of Desmond, the latter were destroyed as a great family during the Elizabethan wars of the late sixteenth century.

Garrett Fitzgerald, the 8th Earl of Kildare (d.1513), known as the Great Earl, had an amazing life in Ireland as soldier, Lord Deputy, supporter of Lambert Simnel, political prisoner etc. His expertise in dealing with successive English monarchs, is typified by one incident. When called upon by Henry VII to account for his action in burning the Cathedral at Cashel he frankly replied he only did so because he was told that the Archbishop was inside. It was on this occasion that Henry, on being told that all Ireland could not govern this man, replied “Then let this man govern all Ireland”.

Garrett’s grandson, Thomas Fitzgerald (1513-1537), 10th Earl, known as ‘Silken Thomas’ renounced his allegiance to the King of England but on capture and to the consternation of the Irish people, he, together with his five uncles, were hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn in London (thus fulfilling the old prophecy on the fall of the House of Kildare).

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