The Glin Papers

The Knights of Glin are a Geraldine family whose title can be traced back to Sir John FitzJohn or Seán Mór na Sursainge who lived ca. 1260, and whose grandfather, Maurice FitzThomas had been granted the barony of Shanid, near Glin. John FitzJohn had established much authority in west Limerick, having built castles at Glin and Beagh (near Askeaton) in 1260. In 1299, he was holding half a tuath in Glancarbery which corresponds to the present parish of Kilfergus or Glin.

The romantic title, The Knights of Glin, can be attributed to the gaelicising of the Anglo-Normans of Desmond, the titles being similar to Gaelic chieftainships. Up to the end of the 17th century, the Knight of Glin was sometimes referred to as the Knight of the Valley, valley being the English translation of "Glin", a corruption of the Irish "Gleann", itself an abbreviation of Gleann Corbraighe (Glancarbery).

The history of the Knights of Glin is an interesting one as it reveals the struggle of a Catholic landed family against English rule, and ultimately its' capitulation when the Penal Laws came into effect.
The Glin Papers, unfortunately, do not reflect the long history of the family, as many of the older documents were allegedly burnt in a tantrum by the apt nick-named 'Cracked Knight' or John Fraunceis Eyre FitzGerald, 25th Knight of Glin. They date from 1800 onwards and have been arranged according to the tenure of the various Knights as follows:

Section A: John Bateman FitzGerald, 23rd Knight of Glin
Section B: John Fraunceis FitzGerald, 24th Knight of Glin
Section C: John Fraunceis Eyre FitzGerald, 25th Knight of Glin
Section D: Desmond John Edmund FitzGerald, 26th Knight of Glin
Section E: Desmond FitzJohn Lloyd FitzGerald, 27th Knight of Glin
Section F: Desmond Windham Otho FitzGerald, 28th Knight of Glin
Section G: Desmond John Villiers FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin