Elizabeth O'Donnell, 1st Countess of Fingal
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Elizabeth O'Donnell was the 1st Countess of Fingal
. She was the daughter of Prince Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell
, and Lady Bridget FitzGerald, daughter of Henry FitzGerald, 12th Earl of Kildare. After her father's death in 1608, her mother married Nicholas Barnewall, 1st Viscount Kingsland
, and had more children. Meanwhile, Elizabeth married Luke Plunkett, the 1st Earl of Fingall
. They lived at Killeen Castle
, County Meath
in Ireland
.
Given her probable very young age, some sources suggest that this Elizabeth may have been a FitzGerald, the Countess Lady Bridget’s sister , and not her daughter, however no evidence is given She may have been a child-bride, and is said to have died in London very shortly after her marriage. Her lineage as daughter (possibly pre-marital) of Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, and his wife Lady Bridget FitzGerald, has been repeatedly cited in various peerage directories, such as Lodge's (1827, and re-issued in 1907), Foster's (1881), Cokayne's (1926), and Burke's (1980).
Lord Fingall was also married on three other occasions. He had married in 1628 Eleanor Bagenal, who died leaving no children. His son by a later marriage to Susanna Brabazon, Christopher Plunkett, 2nd Earl of Fingall
, married Mabel Barnewall, half-sister of Elizabeth. Thus Elizabeth was 1st Countess of Fingall, and her much younger half-sister became Countess of the 2nd Earl of Fingall. Another half-sister, Mary Barnewall married Nicholas Preston, 6th Viscount Gormanston
, whereby Elizabeth was both his half-sister-in-law, and already his 3rd cousin through their common ancestor, Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare
. She was also aunt of Jenico Preston, 7th Viscount Gormanston, who was a 1st cousin of Luke Plunkett, 3rd Earl of Fingall, also her nephew. Lucas Plunkett's last wife was Margaret St. Lawrence, daughter of the 8th lord Howth. Plunkett died 29 March 1637; Margaret died the following November.
Fingal
Fingal is a county in Ireland. It is one of three smaller counties into which County Dublin was divided in 1994. With its county seat located in Swords, it has a population of 239,992 according to the 2006 census...
. She was the daughter of Prince Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell
Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell
Rudhraighe Ó Domhnaill, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell was the last King of Tír Chonaill . An apparent original of the Letters Patent of the Earldom are in the possession of Graf O'Donell von Tyrconnell in Austria, although that family did not inherit the title, nor the related territorial Lordship of...
, and Lady Bridget FitzGerald, daughter of Henry FitzGerald, 12th Earl of Kildare. After her father's death in 1608, her mother married Nicholas Barnewall, 1st Viscount Kingsland
Nicholas Barnewall, 1st Viscount Kingsland
Nicholas Barnewall, 1st Viscount Kingsland , belonged to the family of Barnewall, or De Berneval.After the subjection of Ireland in the time of Henry II, Michael de Berneval, who served under Strongbow, obtained large grants of land at Beerhaven, County Cork, of which the O'Sullivans had been...
, and had more children. Meanwhile, Elizabeth married Luke Plunkett, the 1st Earl of Fingall
Earl of Fingall
Baron Killeen and Earl of Fingall were titles in the Peerage of Ireland. Baron Fingall was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom...
. They lived at Killeen Castle
Killeen Castle, Dunsany
Killeen Castle , located in Dunsany, near Killeen, County Meath, Ireland, is the current construction on a site occupied by a castle since around 1180. The current building, in the process of renovation as a luxury hotel, is a restoration of a largely 19th century construction, burnt out in 1981...
, County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Given her probable very young age, some sources suggest that this Elizabeth may have been a FitzGerald, the Countess Lady Bridget’s sister , and not her daughter, however no evidence is given She may have been a child-bride, and is said to have died in London very shortly after her marriage. Her lineage as daughter (possibly pre-marital) of Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, and his wife Lady Bridget FitzGerald, has been repeatedly cited in various peerage directories, such as Lodge's (1827, and re-issued in 1907), Foster's (1881), Cokayne's (1926), and Burke's (1980).
Lord Fingall was also married on three other occasions. He had married in 1628 Eleanor Bagenal, who died leaving no children. His son by a later marriage to Susanna Brabazon, Christopher Plunkett, 2nd Earl of Fingall
Christopher Plunkett, 2nd Earl of Fingall
Christopher Plunkett, 2nd Earl of Fingall Married to Mabel daughter of Nicholas, 1st Viscount Barnewall.Christopher Plunkett was a Confederate cavalry commander during the 1641 Rebellion and present at the siege of Drogheda, outlawed in County Meath on 17 November 1641...
, married Mabel Barnewall, half-sister of Elizabeth. Thus Elizabeth was 1st Countess of Fingall, and her much younger half-sister became Countess of the 2nd Earl of Fingall. Another half-sister, Mary Barnewall married Nicholas Preston, 6th Viscount Gormanston
Viscount Gormanston
Viscount Gormanston is a title in the Peerage of Ireland held by the head of the Preston family. It was created in 1478. The holder is the senior Viscount of Ireland, as well as the bearer of the oldest vicomital title in either Britain or Ireland. The Preston family descends from Sir Robert...
, whereby Elizabeth was both his half-sister-in-law, and already his 3rd cousin through their common ancestor, Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare
Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare
Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare , also known in Irish as Gearóid Óg , was a figure in Irish History. In 1513 he inherited the title of Earl of Kildare and position of Lord Deputy of Ireland from his father.-Family:...
. She was also aunt of Jenico Preston, 7th Viscount Gormanston, who was a 1st cousin of Luke Plunkett, 3rd Earl of Fingall, also her nephew. Lucas Plunkett's last wife was Margaret St. Lawrence, daughter of the 8th lord Howth. Plunkett died 29 March 1637; Margaret died the following November.