Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester

Right side of funerary effigy depicting Rowland FitzEustace, in St. Audoen's Church, Dublin Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester (c. 1430 – 19 December 1496) was an Irish peer, statesman and judge. He was one of the dominant political figures in late fifteenth-century Ireland, rivalled in influence probably only by his son-in-law Garret FitzGerald, the "Great" Earl of Kildare.

Career FitzEustace was the eldest son of Sir Edward FitzEustace of Castlemartin, County Kildare, Lord Deputy of Ireland, and his wife, Alicia. In 1474, he was a founder member of the Brotherhood of Saint George, a short-lived military order charged with the defence of the Pale (the four counties nearest to Dublin), the only part of Ireland which was under secure English rule. but he decided to split the offices held by Lord Portlester between Alexander Plunket and Sir James Ormond. Portlester nonetheless remained an influential figure for the remaining decade of his life, and was able to fight off an attack on his record as Treasurer in 1493.

Family

He was married three times. Joan, married firstly Richard Plunkett, 2nd Baron of Dunsany, and secondly her cousin Sir Maurice FitzEustace of Coghlanstown, eldest son and heir of Sir Robert FitzEustace. Jenet, married Sir Walter Delahide: both played an important role in the rebellion of the Earl of Kildare's grandson, Silken Thomas, as did their sons. Jenet died in prison under suspicion of treason, and her sons were attainted as traitors. Margaret, married Christopher Rochfort Maud, married Thomas Marward, titular Baron Skryne Katherine, his second daughter by Margaret d"Artois, born out of wedlock but legitimated by Act of the Parliament of Ireland in 1475–6.

He also had an illegitimate son:

Oliver FitzEustace, who became Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer; since Oliver seems to have been mentally deficient, his father further extended his influence by appointing Deputies to act on his behalf.

The barony became extinct on his death in 1496, but his nephew Thomas, son of his brother Richard, was created Viscount Baltinglass in 1541. Sir Maurice Eustace, a wealthy and influential member of the FitzEustace clan who became Lord Chancellor of Ireland, accepted the title Baron Portlester at the Restoration of Charles II, but then changed his mind, apparently because, like Rowland, he had no legitimate son to succeed him. He founded New Abbey, Kilcullen, where he is buried beside his daughter Alison. His estates passed to his nephew Thomas Eustace, 1st Viscount Baltinglass.