Co. Kildare Online Electronic History Journal

 

         In the family of the Fitzgeralds since the Norman Conquest, the Leinster estate, embracing the greater part of Kildare, Kilkea Castle and the principal towns of the county, has now passed into the proprietorship of an English Baronet, Sir Harry Mallaby-Deeley.
Their heritage will, however revert to the Fitzgerald family on the death of the present Duke of Leinster, who sold his reversionary interest-which accounts for the present change of ownership-when his two elder brothers were still alive.
He was then Lord Edward Fitzgerald, and the Duke of the time, the sixth to hold the title was still in his early twenties. With another senior brother also alive there was little prospect of his succeeding to the title, and he disposed of his reversionary rights for, it is stated a relatively small sum to Sir. Harry Mallaby-Deeley, whose baronetcy was announced in the recent British Honours list.
The investment turned out a sound one for the baronet, as Lord Desmond Fitzgerald the sixth Duke’s eldest brother was killed in the war, and the sixth duke himself died a few moths ago. Lord Edward Fitzgerald thus coming into the title, and Sir Harry Mallaby-Deeley into the estate of the historic Geraldines. His holdings do not end here, for part of the Irish estates of the Duke of Leinster were sold to the tenants on the passing of Mr. Wyndham’s Purchase Act of 1908, and the proceeds amounting to nearly £1,000,000 invested in London ground rents. The life interest on these investments it is presumed will now become the property of Sir. Harry Mallaby-Deeley, says the Dublin correspondent of the “Daily Express.” The Leinster seat of ducal residence is Carton, Maynooth, which has been charge of Lord Frederick Fitzgerald and his sister-uncle and aunt of the present duke.
Many people have been employed on the great demesne of Carton, and the change of owners has led to a change of conditions. Some twelve or more workmen were dismissed last week to cut down expenses, and general disappointment and discontent are felt in consequence.
No demonstration or hoisting of a red flag however has taken place, as was announced by a London contemporary.
The new owner is best known for the campaign he instigated and waged against the profiteers in the clothing business, opening an establishment in London, he sold suits at a figure which broke the prices and smashed the profiteering or “the trade.” He is a very wealthy man, and it is reliably stated will make comparatively few changes in the working of the Leinster estate.
To a London newspaper he declared he was unaware of the cutting down of expenses, and added that, as far as he knew, his recently acquired Irish property was being run as usual. It is not likely that he will come to live at Carton.
The dispossessed Duke of Leinster is just thirty years of age. He married Miss May Etheridge, a musical comedy star, in a London Registry Office in 1913. As an officer of the West Riding Regiment he fought in the world war and succeeded to the title through the early death of the youthful sixth duke, whose delicate health prevented him ever taking his seat in the House of Lords. An uncle, Lord Walter Fitzgerald, resides in Kilkea Castle County Kildare.
The Fitzgerald family have lived in Kildare since the first years of the thirteenth century. Shortly after their arrival they introduced into Ireland the Franciscan and Dominican Orders, but in Tudor times deserted the old Faith. They were not many generations in the country until having made common cause with the people they became more Irish than the Irish themselves. For centuries the Geraldines held a foremost place in the Irish national struggle. The names of Garret Oge, Silken Thomas and Lord Edward are as imperishable as Irish history itself.