Fitzgerald’s Munster Rebellion – 1569-73

 Response to Elizabeth imposing marshal law after the revolt of Shane O’Neil / colonise
Ireland

 His cousin, the Earl of Desmond, had been imprisoned in the Tower after a dispute with the
Butler clan

 He accuses Elizabeth of trying to push another invented type of religion

 Grievance of growing presence of English “adventurers” on Irish plantations
 Lord Sidney – given job of extending the authority of the English government over the
independent Irish lordships – lord presidencies:
 Taken from England and will be protestant
 Provincial military governors
 Replace Irish lords as military powers and
keepers of the peace
 1567-68 – Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Desmond and his brother John – arrested and detained
in the Tower on the urging of Ormonde
 James Fitzmorris Fitzgerald – start a revolt in Munster:
o Stop Sidney going ahead with the
Lord Presidency for Munster
o Re-establish Desmond control over
the Butler clan and Ormonde Clan
o Remove English control in the south
 Attacks the English colony at Cork and besieges Kilkenny (seat of the Earls of Ormonde)
 Raises 4,500
 English troops: 600 march from Dublin, 400 land at Cork by sea
 Sidney helped by Humphrey Gilbert
 Devastate the land using scorched earth policy
 1570 – forces break up and flee to the mountains around Kerry
 1573 – Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald surrenders and receives a pardon:
o Lack of threat?
o Threat?
o He was becoming a nuisance
 1574 – his lands were stripped from him
 1575 – runs off to France to seek help from the Catholics to start a new revolt
 Up to 800 rebels were executed
 The Desmond’s military forces were limited to just 20 horsemen
Second Geraldine Revolt (1579-1583):
 Looked to take advantage of the Ball of Excommunication:
o Clan loyalty
o Papal / foreign support

“Irish Catholics owe no loyalty to a heretic!”

 The Pope gives his support – 600 Spanish troops sent to support the risings.
 James Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald joined by John (his brother) in Ireland – spreads into Lenster,
Munster, Ulster and Connaught
 Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald killed in a skirmish with another clan – John takes control of the revolt
 1580 – English send William Pelham – lands in the south coast along with forces of Earl of
Ormonde
 They retake the south destroying the lands of the Desmonds – scorched earth policy
 1580 – Battle of Glenmalure – Irish victory over Lord Grey (Lord Deputy)
o Irish had fixed defensive positions which the English where unable to take
 th
10 September 1580 – 600 papal troops landed at Kerry – quickly besieged by Grey –
surrender after two days of bombardment and then massacred
 Followed by a further scorched earth policy
 1581 – English pursed John until 1583
 John killed by the O’Moriaty clan – English paid them