Fitzgerald (Knight of Glin)
The Knight of Glin is a title which was in existence for six centuries, borne by a branch of the Fitzgerald family who have been settled at Glin, county Limerick since the 14th century. In the 19th century the estate of the Knight of Glin was in the parish of Kilfergus, barony of Shanid, county Limerick and it amounted to 5,268 acres in the 1870s. At the same time the Reverend Richard Fitzgerald of Ballydonohue owned 403 acres. In the early 1840s William O'Leary was agent to the Glin estate. The Compton interest in the lands of Glin and other county Limerick lands was advertised for sale in March 1852. The Fitzgeralds still reside at Glin and Desmond Fitzgerald, the 29th and last Knight of Glin who died in 2011, was a well known authority on the Irish country house and its contents. Some estate papers are now in the University of Limerick but most of the family archives were destroyed in 1860.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballydonohoe | Ballydonohoe | Kilfergus | Glin | Glin 78 | Shanid | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R091 474
OS Sheet: 17 Discovery map: 64 |
|
| Caharagh House | Caheragh | Kilfergus | Glin | Glin 78 | Shanid | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R138 481
OS Sheet: 18 Discovery map: 64 |
|
| Glin Castle | Glin Demesne | Kilfergus | Glin | Glin 78 | Shanid | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R122 473
OS Sheet: 17 Discovery map: 64 |
|
| Westwood | Glin Demesne | Kilfergus | Glin | Glin 78 | Shanid | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R116 470
OS Sheet: 17 Discovery map: 64 |
|
| Riddlestown Park | Riddlestown | Doondonnell | Rathkeale | Riddlestown 132 | Connello Lower | Limerick |
OSI Ref: R331 436
OS Sheet: 19 Discovery map: 64 |
|
Archival sources
- Pedigree of Fitzgerald, Knight of [Glyn], c.1600-1700. Genealogical Office Ms. 162, 133. ; National Library of Ireland
- Rowan Papers: Copy of deed of entitlement by Thomas Fitzgerald, Knigh of Glin re his estate in the barony of Shanid, 1781. D.26,669. ; National Library of Ireland
- The Glin Papers. P/1; University of Limerick: Special Collections and Information Services, Glucksman Library
- Lease of Ballyquiltenane, Lower Connello, Co Limerick, Knight of Glin to John Riedy of Riddlestown, 27 Nov 1800. Fred Sutton solicitor's collection, Small Accessions Index 1/698, D.16333; National Archives of Ireland
- Deeds, testamentary, legal & miscellaneous records including documents re the Knight of Glin, mainly 19th century. A.Lane Joynt solicitor's collection, Small Accession Index 51, Co.965-990, M.353-363, D.5534-5753, T.1176-1198; National Archives of Ireland
- Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Fitzgerald & Compton, 13 Mar 1852, Vol 4 (13), MRGS 39/006, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Putland, 11 Mar 1865, Vol 75 (56), MRGS 39/037, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
- Pedigree of FitzGerald, Knight of Glynn, c 1275-1937. GO MS 171:261-264; National Library of Ireland
- Salmon day book, Glin, Apr 1862-1870. MS 16,857; National Library of Ireland
- Rowan Papers: copy of deed of settlement by Thomas Fitzgerald, Knight of Glin re his estate mainly in the barony of Shanid, Co Limerick, 10 Apr 1781. D 26,669; National Library of Ireland
- Papers re estate at Glin, Co Limerick of Desmond J. Fitzgerald Knight of Glin, including reference to Land League activities, 19th century. M.5541; National Archives of Ireland
- Land Judges Court sale rental for property at Ballydonohoe, Co Limerick, estate of Gerald Fitzgerald, 8 June 1894. M.5518; National Archives of Ireland
- An Act for vesting the Estates of John Fitzgerald Esquire, commonly called The Knight of Glinn, situate in the County of Limerick, in Trustees, for raising, by Sale or Mortgage, Monies sufficient to pay off Incumbrances, 1801. HL/PO/PB/1/1801/41G3n221 ; Parliamentary Archives
- Irish Tourist Association Survey file for parish of Glin, barony of Shanid, 1943.; Limerick Studies Department, Dooradoyle
Contemporary printed sources
- ''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : 22 (Ballydonohoe), 30 (Caheragh), 35 (Glin Demesne)
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 148
- LEET, Ambrose. ''A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland''. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 38 (Ballydonohoe), 84 (Cahira Lodge)
- LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: I, 664 (Glin Castle, Westwood, Cahara House & Ballydonohoe)
- FITZGERALD, Rev P. & MCGREGOR, J.J. ''The history, topography and antiquities of the county and city of Limerick''. Dublin: 1826, republished Limerick: O'Brien Book Publications,1999: 368
- ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS, county Limerick: Parish of Kilfergus, IV, 94-116
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 264
- TAYLOR, George & SKINNER, Andrew. ''Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed in 1777 and corrected down to 1783''. Facsimile of 2nd edition. Shannon: Irish University Press, 1969: 106 (Glynn House)
- SLATER, Isaac. ''Royal National Directory of Ireland: List of the principal seats''. (Manchester: 1894) : xxvii, 223 (Glin Castle)
- WILSON, William. ''The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland''. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 178-9 (Glyn)
- BATEMAN, John. ''The great landowners of Great Britain and Ireland''. London: Harrison, 1883. : p.165
Modern printed sources
- BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 140 (Glin Castle), 242 (Riddlestown)
- MONTGOMERY-MASSINGBERD, Hugh (ed). ''Burke's Irish Family Records''. London: Burke's Peerage, 1976: 416-420
- GAUGHAN, J. Anthony. ''The Knights of Glin''. Dublin: Kingdom Books, 1978: All
- ''The Irish Genealogist'': CHAMNEY, Anne R. Extracts from Father Clare’s Annotations to the Conformity Rolls, include reference to this family. X (2001), 427-454
- ''Weekly Irish Times'': 13 March 1937 Glin Castle
- ''Irish Times'': LYONS, Madeleine. Night falls on Glin Castle after 700 years. Thursday 23 April 2015, Property supplement.