The Fitzpatrick -
Mac Giolla Phádraig
Clan Society

Steve Zalewski and Ronan Fitzpatrick are pleased to announce the third printing of their second edition publication, Descendants of Bryan Fitzpatrick, Lord and First Baron of Upper Ossory. This publication significantly extends the first edition and at its core is a roll of nearly 1,000 individuals who are descended through the Fitzpatrick line from the 1st Baron (born as Brían Mac Giolla Phádraig; c.1478–1575).

The ubiquitous nature of technology has changed how genealogical research can be done and we have captured the power of technology to bring this to publication.  Access to sources that could not even have been imagined when we produced the first edition is now commonplace.  Thanks to electronic communication and online genealogy, our access to sources has been much broader and more efficient. By this means, it has been possible for us to search out and retrieve archived Fitzpatrick materials that are not generally known to exist.  During the decade since the first edition, new collections of personal papers have been made available at archives and libraries, and families who can show descent from the Baron have freely shared their genealogy with us. We have engaged with these families to fully document and cite substantiating sources. The combination of all of these has resulted in a doubling of the number of individuals in the original roll.

This edition follows a similar format to the original book and greatly expands the genealogical records of the Baron’s descendants. It consists of a series of generations which make up The Roll that lists the genealogical details of almost 1000 persons. Interspersed between the generations we have added many illustrations which brighten the simple listing of names and dates. To support The Roll of fifteen generations (1485-2010) we include a Biographical Notes section which is a goldmine of research nuggets for those who want to take an aspect of the study further. Every event in The Roll is substantiated by at least one citation and we leave full details of all of these in the Citations section so that future researchers can cross-reference our work. A feature of the first edition was an extensive listing of all of our research sources. This listing has been substantially extended and for ease of searching we have ordered it alphabetically by surname (sometimes an author’s, or sometimes an individual’s from The Roll). They are listed in the Sources section and of themselves they are an extensive researcher’s resource. We have continued to include the repository and call number for every source we handled, and at the end of the volume a full Person Index is included.

The barons, lords, ladies, earls, knights, viscounts, princes and princesses that we traced in the first edition are all still included, and this time we add monsignors and bishops. But most are individuals who are not titled, and many are unaware of their rich ancestry. While we extend and enhance the lines traced in the first edition, we have added two significant new lines. One line has living descendants in Ireland and the other has descendants in Australia. Also, lacking in the original publication was details of what happened to the main Baron line after they had been declared outlaws and denied the title. We revisit that, and we recount their unsuccessful petitions to the Irish House of Lords to have their titles restored.

The illustrations which brighten the transition between generations fully described Fitzpatrick coats of arms and castles.  We include maps that show the locations of these castles and Fitzpatrick churches. We also show place names that repeatedly occur in the search for Fitzpatricks. Using electronic scans and photographic images of manuscripts we bring some sources to life, providing the reader with an opportunity to read sixteenth or seventeenth century handwriting. From hundreds of images that we hold we have included a representative selection chosen for their relevance to a particular generation. So, we have portraits, prints, pictures and photographs chosen for their interest to Fitzpatrick historians and researchers. Many of these are in full color and have never been published before. The overall effect of the additions is a rich and engaging experience for readers and researchers.

This third printing of the second edition provides the same content as the first two printings and makes the second edition available to those unable to purchase it before.  In addition, it has a new cover and we are very pleased with the result.  We know that many Listers who missed earlier opportunities to buy a copy are patiently looking forward to it and they won’t be disappointed.  This Fitzpatrick book has been written with historians and researchers in mind, and it will be a treasured volume in every Fitzpatrick home.  It would be a much appreciated gift for a significant Fitzpatrick event. Family matriarchs and patriarchs will enjoy recounting some of its detail to the younger generations, and it is also suitable as a Christmas gift, graduation gift, or as a christening gift for the latest family arrival.  It is in this context that we recommend it to you.