My wife's ancestors - Finglas - Contents
Finglas of Westpalstown, Co.Dublin
Rare among the medieval gentry of the Pale in having a name clearly of Irish origin. This family take their name from the area of Finglas ("fionn ghlas", or "the clear stream"), N Co.Dublin.[Archer, pre-1949] says: "it may be assumed that its founder first settled at Finglass, and being like many other of the Anglo-Norman adventurers without a surname, adopted as such, the name of the Fingallian village. They later built and occupied a strong castle at Walmestown (Westpalstown). The first mention of the name in connection with Westpalstown is for the year 1532."
[Ball, vol.2, 1903] says that Genet Finglas and Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam, Kt, were cousins:
Patrick Finglas,
of Westpalstown ("West Pale's town"), Westpalstown par,
nr Oldtown, NW Co.Dublin,
chief baron of the Exchequer,
had issue:
- Genet Finglas,
mar Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam, Kt [born c.1519] and had issue.
- Finglas surname discussion forum
- Once an important Anglo-Norman outpost, nothing is now left of either the "town" or the Castle of Westpalstown, but the ruins of the church remain [Archer, pre-1949].
