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May 08, 2006
AN TOSTAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME 1953 - CHAPTER 16
Chapter 16 of the An Tostal programme of 1953 is dedicated to the United Irishman, Lord Edward FitzGerald, who lived for a short time in Kildare Town with his beautiful French wife, Lady Pamela. In 2003 on the 205th anniversary of his death a bust of Lord Edward was unveiled on the Market Square. LORD EDWARD FITZGERALD
LORD EDWARD was the son of the Duke of Leinster and was born in 1763. He spent his early years in Kildare and when he was about ten years old the family moved to France. The life of a soldier appealed to him and he joined the English army. He fought against the American insurgents, and he distinguished himself by military skill and a chivalry that made him the hero of the army.
On his return to Ireland he became a member of the corrupt Parliament of College Green. The dishonesty he met in that assembly forced him to champion the cause of the downtrodden people. He refused promotion rather than betray his principles.
In 1792 he visited France and adopting revolutionary ideas he renounced his titles. Because of these tendencies, he was dismissed from the English army. While in France he met and married the beautiful Pamela, daughter of Philip Egalite, Duke of Orleans. He returned to Ireland with his young bride and lived in Leinster Lodge which was given, to him as a wedding present.
Here he was singularly happy and very popular with the ordinary people. He encouraged native games and pastimes and threw himself into the independence movement. With his handsome bride he attended the pastimes and gatherings of the people. Crowds lined the streets as he took Pamela to Mass in the little Penal Chapel on Chapel Hill.
But the Government, through its spies, had been watching Lord Edward and the United Irishmen. Goading the people to rebellion they suddenly arrested the leaders. Lord Edward had been in hiding since March 1798 and on the 19th May he was surprised in the house of Thomas Murphy in Thomas Street, Dublin. After a fierce encounter in which two of his assailants were wounded Lord Edward himself was wounded. and overpowered. He was carried to Dublin Castle and thence to Newgate Jail. Here he lingered for some time and on June 3rd, 1798 Lord Edward died. His remains were placed in a vault under the East end of St. Werburgh’s Church.
[Because the article specifically relates to Lord Edward I have included Cruickshank's image of the Arrest of Lord Edward FitzGerald from Maxwell's History of the Rebellion]
Chapter 16 of the An Tostal programme of 1953 is dedicated to the United Irishman, Lord Edward FitzGerald, who lived for a short time in Kildare Town with his beautiful French wife, Lady Pamela. In 2003 on the 205th anniversary of his death a bust of Lord Edward was unveiled on the Market Square.
Posted by mariocorrigan at May 8, 2006 10:50 PM