16th Earl of Kildare

References:

Leinster papers at [PRO.NI], D/3078.
Sources yet to be consulted:
- Leinster papers at [NLI]
- Citizen Lord: Edward Fitzgerald, Stella Tillyard, 1997.

Leinster House.
Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.

George Fitzgerald, 16th Earl of Kildare (see here),
mar 1630 to Joan Boyle,
Joan's father restored Maynooth Castle in 1630 and subsequent years,
the castle was ruined in the trouble after the 1641 rebellion,
the family abandoned it prob. about 1656,
he died 1660,
had issue:

Robert Fitzgerald, had issue:

Robert Fitzgerald, 19th Earl of Kildare, born 1675,
their old seat at Maynooth Castle having become derelict,
he began new seat at Carton House, Co.Kildare, 1739,
died 1744, age 69 yrs, beautiful memorial in Christ Church,
had issue:

James Fitzgerald, 1st Duke of Leinster (see here), born 1722,
succ as 20th Earl of Kildare 1744,
the old town house in Dublin was in Suffolk St,
he built new town house, Kildare House, 1745,
he chose the unfashionable S side of Dublin (the Merrion Square front faced what was then countryside) and his decision changed the face of Dublin forever, it started a trend for the SE side of the city, which exploded with the developments of the Fitzwilliams,
Kildare said "Wherever I go, fashion will follow me." and no one could have been proved more right - the N side, formerly the fashionable area, sank into a decay from which it has never recovered; over 250 years later and the S side is still the premium side of Dublin - while the N side, like the inner medieval city, is only a battered remnant of its former glory,
mar Emily Lennox [born 1731, descendant of Charles II],
bought seaside house, Frescati House, Blackrock, Co.Dublin, 1766,
named after Frascati nr Rome, but house always spelt Frescati,
cr Duke 1766,
Kildare House then renamed Leinster House (also here),
died 1773, bur Christ Church,
had issue:

Lord Edward Fitzgerald, the 1798 rebel (see here),
born 15th Oct 1763, Carton House,
supporter of French Revolution,
had affair with Sheridan's wife,
wounded resisting arrest after 1798 Rising,
died of these wounds later in prison 4th June 1798, age 34 yrs,
bur St. Werburgh's church, Dublin (between Christ Church Cathedral and Dublin Castle, after St. Werburgh).

Traffic camera on Rock Road at Frascati Centre.
From Dublin City Council.

Leinster House
- The White House, Washington DC, built 1792 by an Irish architect, is said to be loosely modelled on the design of Leinster House.
- Leinster House is now home of the Dail and the Senate (also here), i.e. seat of the Irish government, Kildare St, Dublin.
Frescati House
- Frescati House was demolished in 1983 by Roches Stores. See [Irish Country Houses], [Pearson, 1998].
- The site is now occupied by their "Frascati Shopping Centre".
Placenames in Dublin after this family:
- Kildare St, Leinster St.
- The Earl of Kildare Hotel, The Kildare Street club.
- The continuation of Dame St towards Christ Church is Lord Edward St (after Lord Edward Fitzgerald).
- "The Lord Edward" pub.
The Duke of Leinster is the premier peer of Ireland.

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