Landed Estates
University of Galway

Fitzgerald/Foster Vesey Fitzgerald (Moyriesk)

This family of Fitzgeralds was originally Fitzgerald Fitzgibbon but the surname Fitzgibbon was dropped in the late 17th century after the family settled in county Clare. The Right Honourable James Fitzgerald, son of William Fitzgerald of Inchicronan, county Clare, married Catherine Vesey daughter and co heiress of the Reverend Henry Vesey. She was created Baroness Fitzgerald and Vesci in 1826. In the mid 19th century the Vesey Fitzgeralds held an estate in the barony of Bunratty Upper, county Clare, mainly located in the parish of Inchicronan but also in the parishes of Clooney, Doora, Quin and Templemaley and in the barony of Inchiquin, mainly in the parish of Kilkeedy, formerly belonging to the Macnamaras. Their house at Lahardan was in ruins by the time of the first Ordnance Survey. When the last Baron Fitzgerald and Vesci died in 1860 his sister Letitia Foster assumed the additional surname of Fitzgerald and Vesci and her children inherited the Fitzgerald Vesci estates in county Clare. In the 1870s her three sons William (of Derrybrick, parish of Kilmurry, Clonderalaw, county Clare and Moyvane, county Kerry), John and James owned 3,581, 2,224 and 1,047 acres respectively in the county. William also owned 2400 acres in county Kerry. In addition the youngest James Foster Fitzgerald Vesci of Moyriesk and Glantreague, near Clonbur, county Galway, also owned 3,715 acres in county Galway and 531 acres in county Louth. He wrote a book entitled 'A Practical Guide to the Valuation of rent in Ireland' and married his first cousin Henrietta Mahon of Castlegar. They lived at Mountbernard at the time of Griffith's Valuation. By 1916 John V. Fitzgerald had agree to the purchase of over 2,000 acres of his county Clare estate by the Congested Districts' Board.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Moyriesk Moyriesk Doora Ennis Spancelhill 24 Bunratty Upper Clare OSI Ref: R408 773
OS Sheet: 34
Discovery map: 58 		Photo of Moyriesk
Moyvane House Moyvane South Murher Listowel Newtownsandes 126 Iraghticonnor Kerry OSI Ref: R060385
OS Sheet: 6
Discovery map: 64
Ardataggle House Ardataggle O'Brienbridge Limerick O'Brien's Bridge 111 Tulla Lower Clare OSI Ref: R653 666
OS Sheet: 54
Discovery map: 58
Mountbernard Mountbernard Ballymacward Mountbellew Mounthazel 156 Tiaquin Galway OSI Ref: M645376
OS Sheet: 59
Discovery map: 46 		Photo of Mountbernard

Archival sources

  • Foster Pedigree. GO MS 178: 225-226; National Library of Ireland
  • Mountbernard photos. 022/064; Irish Architectural Archive
  • Copy of grant of arms to the Rt Hon William Fitzgerald of Inchicreran, Co Clare & to his brother the Rev Henry Fitzgerald of Castle Rahan, Co Cavan, on assuming name & arms of Vesey Fitzgerald in conformity with will of their maternal uncle John Vesey, 25 Mar 1815. GO MS 106: 75; National Library of Ireland
  • The Private Letter Books of William Vesey Fitzgerald 1812-1822. MSS 7813-7859; National Library of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources