Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond

Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald (1335–1398), also known by the Irish Gaelic Gearóid Iarla (Earl Gerald), was the 3rd Earl of Desmond, in southwestern Ireland, under the first creation of that title, and a member of the Anglo-Norman dynasty of the FitzGerald, or Geraldines. He was the son of Maurice FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond, by his third wife Aveline (Eleanor), daughter of Nicholas FitzMaurice, 3rd Lord of Kerry. He was half-brother to Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Desmond.

King Edward III confirmed Gerald in his large estates in Munster, provided that he marry Eleanor Butler, daughter of the Justiciar, James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond. Gerald did so, but did not make peace with Ormond, nor adopt English ways and customs as expected.

In 1367 Desmond was made Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, Also an accomplished poet in Norman French, updating it with themes drawn from the Francophone courtly love poetry of Continental Europe, and will someday awaken and ride forth on a silver-shod steed to rule again in Desmond, – one of the many worldwide versions of the King asleep in mountain mythologisation of heroes.

Marriage and issue In 1359 Gerald married Eleanor (or Ellen) Butler, daughter of James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond. She died in 1404. They had four sons: John FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Desmond Maurice FitzGerald James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond, 'the Usurper' Robert FitzGerald de Adair

and two daughters: Joan, who married Maurice FitzJohn, Lord of Kerry Catherine, who married John FitzThomas