Catherine FitzGerald facts for kids

Catherine FitzGerald, born on May 18, 1971, is an Irish landscape designer and gardener. She is known for creating beautiful outdoor spaces. With her husband, actor Dominic West, she also helps manage her family's historic home, Glin Castle, as a hotel and place for events.

Early Life and Family

Catherine FitzGerald grew up in a very old family called the FitzGeralds. This family has a long history in Ireland. Her father, Desmond FitzGerald, was the last person to hold a special family title, the Knight of Glin. This title could only be passed down to sons. Catherine has two sisters, Honor and Nesta.

She spent her childhood at Glin Castle, which is her family's ancestral home in County Limerick, Ireland. Catherine went to school at St Mary's Calne and later studied at Trinity College Dublin.

Career as a Landscape Designer

Catherine FitzGerald works as a landscape designer and gardener. She creates and cares for gardens and outdoor areas in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. She shares a design studio in London with another landscape expert, Mark Lutyens.

Catherine has also written articles about gardening and landscape design. Her work has appeared in magazines like House & Garden and The Garden, and in newspapers like The Telegraph.

She has worked on many important garden projects. These include the gardens at her own family home, Glin Castle. She has also helped design landscapes at famous places like Hillsborough Castle and Glenarm Castle.

Personal Life

Catherine FitzGerald married Edward Lambton in 1995. They later divorced in 2002. In 2010, she married Dominic West. They had known each other since their college days at Trinity College. Their wedding was a Catholic ceremony in Limerick, Ireland.

Catherine and Dominic have four children together: Dora, Senan, Francis, and Christabel. Their son Senan even acted alongside his father in the TV series The Crown. The family lives in London and also spends time at Glin Castle.

Glin Castle's Future

In 2011, Catherine's father passed away. Since he had no sons, the special title of Knight of Glin ended. Catherine, her mother, and her sisters first thought about selling Glin Castle. The castle had been used for guests, but it didn't sell right away.

To keep the castle in the family, Catherine and her husband Dominic, along with her sisters, decided to buy it themselves. They now share their time between their home in London and Glin Castle. They first ran the castle as a bed and breakfast. Today, it operates as a hotel and a place for various events, keeping its history alive.