Our common ancestors - Fitzgerald - Contents

John Fitzgerald, 1st Baron Desmond

• References:
  • DESMOND in [Complete Peerage]. 2nd edn, vol.4, p.232.

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • FitzGerald, John fitz Thomas in [DIB]
  • FitzGerald, Thomas fitz Maurice in [DIB]

Grant dated 1259 of Decies and Desmond to John Fitzgerald, 1st Baron Desmond.
From Kerry County Museum.
See larger and larger and full size.
See other photo.

John Fitzgerald, 1st Baron Desmond,
John FitzThomas, of Shanid Castle, Co.Limerick.
See wikipedia and genealogics.
He mar 1stly to Margery fitzAnthony [dau of Thomas Fitz Anthony].
Lord of Decies and Desmond.
He founded Tralee, Co.Kerry, some sources say c.1216.
He built the original Tralee Castle, which became a stronghold of his descendants the Earls of Desmond.
He founded Dominican Abbey, Tralee in 1243.
Grant dated 1259 to him of Decies and Desmond.
He created his 3 natural sons Knights 1259.
He was killed in the Battle of Callan, Co.Kerry, 23 July 1261, when the Norman advance was halted in S Kerry by the native Irish under MacCarthy.
He was bur Dominican Abbey, Tralee.
He had issue by 1st wife:

1. Maurice Fitzgerald,
   died with his father in Battle of Callan, 1261,
   bur Dominican Abbey, Tralee,
   had issue:
   1. Thomas Fitzgerald, 2nd Baron Desmond,
      born about Apr 1261,
      mar Margaret de Berkeley,
      died 4 June 1298, Knockainy, Co.Limerick, age 37 yrs,
      bur Dominican Abbey, Tralee,
      Margaret re-married,
      had issue:
      1. Maurice Fitzgerald, 1st Earl of Desmond, born 1293.

John Fitzgerald, 1st Baron Desmond, also had illegitimate issue:

1. Gilbert Fitzgerald.
   Gilbert Fitz John.
   Ancestor of The White Knight.

   
   

2. Sir John Fitzgerald, 1st Knight of Glin.

   
   

3. Maurice Fitzgerald, 1st Knight of Kerry.

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Battle of Callan (1261)

Site of Battle of Callan (1261) on 1829 to 1842 map.
This is S of Kilgarvan, Co.Kerry.
See also 1887 to 1913 map and modern map.
See satellite view.

Battle of Callan memorial to the native Irish under MacCarthy.
Site of Battle of Callan.
Exact location of this memorial unknown.
Photo 1998 by Mike Searle at Geograph.

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The Dominican Abbey, Tralee

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Tralee in [JMD], vol 7, no.2 (1908), [NLI] Ir 9295 i 1.
    • "Tralee Abbey", pp.360-363, by Sir Henry Denny, 7th Baronet.

The Dominican Abbey (or Dominican Friary), Tralee, was founded by John Fitzgerald, 1st Baron Desmond, in 1243.
The site of the abbey was south of The Square. See old map and modern map.
The abbey was destroyed by Cromwellian forces in 1652.
Fragments of the abbey survive in the garden of the modern Dominican Priory. See [O'Carroll, 2009].
There are also street names Abbey Street and Dominick Street.
The Dominican Monument opposite Day Place commemorates the lost Abbey. See street view.

Tralee on 1829 to 1842 map.
The river used to come up where Day Place is, up to the walls of the Dominican Abbey. See [O'Carroll, 2009].
Note the surviving "Prince's Quay" here. The road still has that name today.

Artist's impression of the Dominican Abbey, Tralee, around 1500.
Note the river.
From Kerry County Museum.
See larger and full size.

The Dominican Monument, opposite Day Place, Tralee.
Photo 2016. See larger and full size.
See wider shot and closer.

Panel on the Dominican Monument commemorates the founding of the abbey in 1243.
Another panel commemorates its destruction in 1652.
Photo 2016. See larger and full size.