John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald facts for kids

John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald (died 1589) was an important Irish nobleman. He held the title of Seneschal of Imokilly, which was a hereditary position. Imokilly is an area in County Cork, Ireland, near Youghal. John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald belonged to the FitzGerald dynasty, a powerful family with Welsh-Norman roots in the province of Munster.

Life of John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald

John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald was the son of Edmund Fitzmaurice Riskard, who was also a seneschal of Imokilly. His mother was Shylie, daughter of Sir Maolrony McShane O'Carroll.

John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald played a big part in two major conflicts between the English and the Irish. These conflicts caused a lot of trouble in Munster from 1563 to 1583.

Early Rebellions and Submissions

In 1569, he was known for working closely with James FitzMaurice FitzGerald, a main rebel leader. English forces, led by Sir Henry Sidney, surrounded his castle at Ballymartyr. John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald and his men defended the castle strongly. However, they realized they could not hold it. So, in the middle of the night, they escaped through a bog next to the castle wall.

He continued to fight alongside Fitzmaurice in the woods of the Glen of Aherlow. In February 1573, he finally gave up. He submitted to Sir John Perrot in the church of Kilmallock and was pardoned.

In 1575, he traveled to France with Fitzmaurice but returned to Ireland a few weeks later. For some time, he stayed out of major conflicts. However, in 1576, he complained that the Earl of Desmond was forcing people in Imokilly to feed his many horses and servants. This showed that tensions were rising again.

The Second Desmond Rebellion

When Fitzmaurice returned to Ireland in July 1579, John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald joined the rebellion again. He became a key figure in the Second Desmond Rebellion. He was very skilled at Irish battle tactics and brave in carrying out his plans. After Fitzmaurice died, John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald became the real leader of the rebellion, even if he wasn't officially called that.

The English leader, Ormonde, focused his attacks mainly on John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald, not the Earl of Desmond. During this difficult time, there were often reports that he had been killed. He was once badly wounded, and his brother was killed, but he showed no sign of giving up.

In February 1581, he almost captured Sir Walter Raleigh. A history book from 1621 by Philip O'Sullivan Beare mentions an event in 1581. It says that "a company of English soldiers, known for their red coats," were defeated near Lismore by John Fitzgerald, the seneschal.

In May 1583, Ormonde captured John's aged mother, Shylie O'Carroll. She sadly died while imprisoned in Cork.

John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald did not give up until June 14, 1583. By then, he reportedly had only a few men left. He finally agreed that his cause was hopeless. His surrender was accepted with conditions. Ormonde, who respected his bravery, strongly asked Queen Elizabeth I's advisor, Burghley, to pardon him. Ormonde said that John was "valiant, wise, and true to his word." He also said that since his surrender, John and his people had been living in peace and farming.

Later Life and Death

Ormonde's efforts helped save John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald's life. However, the issue of his lands remained unsolved. About 36,000 acres of his good land had been given by the Crown to Protestant settlers, known as "undertakers." These settlers did not want to give up the land. They told Queen Elizabeth I that John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald was a very dangerous man. They claimed he had more information from Spain than anyone else. These claims influenced the Queen, who had at first been willing to treat him kindly.

In March 1587, John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald was arrested by Sir Thomas Norris. He was taken to Dublin Castle and held there. He died in February 1589, just a few days after it was decided that he should be allowed to keep the profits from his lands.

His cousin, Sir John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald of Cloyne and Ballymaloe House, became the next Seneschal of Imokilly.

Family

John Fitzedmund Fitzgerald married Honora, who was the daughter of James FitzMaurice FitzGerald. They had two sons, Edmund and Richard, and two daughters, Catherine and Eleanor.

His son and heir, Edmund, was only one and a half years old when his father died. An official inquiry found that Edmund was the heir to Ballymartyr and other lands in County Cork. He was placed under the care of Captain Moyle. When Edmund became an adult, he gained control of his lands. In 1647, he defended Ballymartyr against his nephew, Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin. During this conflict, the castle was burned, and Edmund was declared an outlaw.