Gerald Gearoid Mór Fitzgerald KG, the 8th Earl of Kildare (?? – c 3 September 1513), known variously as Garret the Great or the Great Earl, was Ireland's premier nobleman. He served as Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1477 to 1494, and from 1496 onwards. A garter is one of the Orders most recognisable insignia. ... Earl of Kildare is an Irish peerage title. ... Look up Circa on Wiktionary, the free dictionary The Latin word circa, literally meaning about, is often used to describe various dates (often birth and death dates) that are uncertain. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the Windows of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... Official standard of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (also known as the Viceroy or in the Middle Ages as the Lord Deputy) was the head of Englands (pre-1707) or Britains (post 1707) administration in Ireland. ...

Family

Gearoid Mór (meaning Big Garret) was the son of Thomas Fitzgerald, 7th Earl of Kildare and Jane Fitzgerald, the daughter of James Fitzgerald, 6th Earl of Desmond. The Anglo-Norman Fitzgeralds had risen to become the premier Old English peers in Ireland. They were descended from Gerard de Windsor and Nest, the daughter of the last King of Deheubarth. One of his ancestors, Maurice Fitzgerald de Windsor, known as the Invader of Ireland had travelled to Ireland with Richard de Clare (Strongbow). Controversial Irish king Diarmuid MacMorrough had given him the town of Wexford, only to have it confiscated again by Henry II of England. Another ancestor, Maurice Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald served as Lord Justice of Ireland. Richard fits Gilbert de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (c. ... Dermot MacMorrough, is considered the most noted traitor of Irish history, also commonly known as Dermot naNGhall (Dermot of the foreigners) was the King of the eastern Irish province of Leinster who invited King Henry II of England to invade Ireland to assist him in regaining his throne of Leinster... Wexford (Irish: Loch Garman) is the county town of County Wexford in the Republic of Ireland. ... Henry II of England (5 March 1133-6 July 1189) ruled as Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, and as King of England (1154–1189) and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland[], eastern Ireland, and western France. ...

Gearoid Mór Fitzgerald married Alison Fitzeustace, with whom he had two children:

• Gearoid Óg FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare
• Margaret Fitzgerald

He later married Elizabeth St. John of County Kildare and had a further five children: WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ...

• Sir James Fitzgerald of Leixlip
• Oliver Fitzgerald
• Richard Fitzgerald of Fassaroe
• Sir John Fitzgerald
• Walter Fitzgerald.

Politics

Gearoid Mór Fitzgerald was appointed Lord Deputy in 1477, but was replaced by Lord Grey on the supposition that an Englishman could do the job better. The lords of the Pale set up a breakaway parliament in protest, and Edward IV was forced to re-install Gearóid Mór. He inherited the title of Earl of Kildare in 1478. The title Earl Grey was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1806 for General Sir Charles Grey. ... The Pale refers to at least two geographic areas: The Pale of Settlement in which imperial Russia allowed Jews to live. ... The text below is generated by a template, which has been proposed for deletion. ... Earl of Kildare is an Irish peerage title. ...

Fitzgerald managed to keep his position after the York dynasty in England was toppled and Henry VII becoming king, but Fitzgerald blatantly disobeyed King Henry on several occasions; he supported the pretender to the throne of England and the Lordship of Ireland, Lambert Simnel, while defeating another pretender, Perkin Warbeck in battle in Galway. However, Henry needed Fitzgerald to rule in Ireland, and at the same time couldn't control him. The House of York was a dynasty of English kings. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... Henry VII (January 28, 1457 – April 21, 1509), King of England, Lord of Ireland (August 22, 1485 – April 21, 1509), was the founder and first patriarch of the Tudor dynasty. ... A Pretender is a claimant to an abolished throne or to a throne already occupied by somebody else. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... The Lordship of Ireland (1171-1541) was a nominally all-island Irish state created in the wake of the Norman invasion of the east coast of Ireland in 1169, an area that became known in the later middle ages as the Pale or Pale of Dublin from its defences in... Lambert Simnel (circa 1477 – circa 1534) was a child pretender to the throne of England. ... Perkin Warbeck (c. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ...

He presided over a period of near independence from English rule between 1477 and 1494. This independence ended when his enemies in Ireland seized power and had him sent to london as a traitor. He suffered a double blow: he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and his wife died soon after. He was tried in 1496, and used the trial to convince Henry VII that the ruling factions in Ireland were "false knaves". Henry immediately appointed him as Lord Deputy of Ireland, saying "All Ireland cannot govern this Earl; then let this Earl govern all Ireland." Gearóid returned to Ireland in triumph. The Tower of London, seen from the River Thames, with a view of the water gate called Traitors Gate. ... 1496 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Official standard of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (also known as the Viceroy or in the Middle Ages as the Lord Deputy) was the head of Englands (pre-1707) or Britains (post 1707) administration in Ireland. ...

He ruled with an iron fist. He suppressed a rebellion in the city of Cork in 1500 by hanging the city's mayor. He raised up an army against rebels in Connacht in 1504, defeating them at the Battle of Knockdoe. This article is about the city in Ireland. ... Connaught redirects here. ... 1504 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants The Clanricarde, Ó Brian and MacNamara of Thomond, Ó Carroll of Ely, Ó Kennedy of Ormond, Mac I Briens of Aran, plus several Gallowglass units. ...

On an expedition against the O'Carrolls, he was mortally wounded while watering his horse in Kilkea. He was conveyed back to Kildare, where he died on or around 3 September 1513. September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1513 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Legend of the Great Earl's Ghost

Main article: King in the mountain

A legend, re-told by Nuala O'Faoláin, says that Gearóid was skilled in the black arts, and could shapeshift. However, he would never let his wife see him take on other forms, much to her chagrin. After much pleading, he yielded to her, and turned himself into a goldfinch before her very eyes. A sparrowhawk flew into the room, seized the "goldfinch", and he was never seen again. A king in the mountain, king under the mountain or sleeping hero is a prominent motif that appears in many folktales and legends. ... The Sorceress by John William Waterhouse Magic and sorcery are the influencing of events, objects, people and physical phenomena by mystical, paranormal or supernatural means. ... Shapeshifting, transformation or transmogrification refers to a change in the form or shape of a person. ... Binomial name Carduelis tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Eastern or American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) is a typical North American seed-eating member of the finch (Fringillidae) family, averaging 11 cm in length. ... Binomial name Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. ...

The Great Earl and his soldiers now slumber in a cavern beneath the Curragh of Kildare, ready to awaken to defend Ireland in her hour of need. The Earl rises once every seven years on May Day, and rides around the Curragh on his steed. When his horse's shoes are worn down to the thickness of a cat's ear, he will lead his army against the English, drive them out, and reign as king of Ireland for forty years. Alternate meanings: Cave (disambiguation) This article is about natural caves; for artificial caves used as dwellings, such as those in north China, see yaodong. ... May Day is May 1, and refers to any of several holidays celebrated on this day. ...