Background
Gerald was born in Wales in about 1150, the second eldest son of Maurice Fitzgerald, Lord of Lanstephan and an unknown second wife.
Gerald was born in Wales in about 1150, the second eldest son of Maurice Fitzgerald, Lord of Lanstephan and an unknown second wife.
He is the ancestor of the Kildare branch of the dynasty. Gerald"s father was the leader of the first landing of Normans who arrived in Ireland in 1169 to assist the exiled Irish King of Leinster Dermot MacMurrough regain his kingdom. Both Gerald and his father were at the Siege of Dublin in 1171.
He was confirmed in them by Prince John in 1185.
In 1197, he took part in the conquest of Limerick acquiring Croom, County Limerick.