A COLOURFUL FAMILY HISTORY OF LECHERY, INFIDELITY AND FANCIFUL FEATS
Sunday November 29 2009
John Fraunceis FitzGerald In the Limerick election of 1830, a lampoon mentions 'that lecherous treacherous Knight of Glin' who 'in gambling and drinking and wenching delights'. A few years previously, Michael Stackpoole, the headmaster of the local school, described in his poem In Praise of Glin how 'he spends his wealth among the poor dispensing happiness from door to door'. In a strange way, both descriptions accurately depicted aspects of the mercurial character of John Fraunceis FitzGerald.
John Fraunceis was know as Ridire na mBan (Knight of the Women) due to his unquenchable sexual desire, his pursuit of beautiful women and keeping of mistresses. There is only one record in oral tradition that he exercised his right to ius primae noctis. A Frawley family who were tenants on the estate were evicted because they refused the Knight's demands to exercise his right to sleep with their daughter.
One of the best remembered of his many mistresses was Mary Wright, who came from nearby Askeaton but lived at Tarbert before moving to Glin. Pressed by the Knight's despairing wife Bridgetta, who was tiring of the Knight's infidelity, Fr Daniel O'Sullivan tried to restrain his new parishioner. He sanctioned Mary Wright by naming her from the altar during Mass at Glin, hoping she would repent and end her illicit relationship. When this failed, Fr O'Sullivan excommunicated her and called her a prostitute.
Cracked Jack Following the death of John Fraunceis, his eldest son, John Fraunceis Eyre, became the 25th Knight of Glin at the age of 41.
Known locally as 'Cracked Jack', he made his dramatic debut with a public proclamation in the local press. In August 1854, he placed the following advertisement in the Limerick Chronicle newspaper.
'An extensive landed proprietor on the banks of the Shannon will make a wager of £500 that he has the handsomest wife, the handsomest nine children and the handsomest estate in Ireland. Application to be made to J.F.E.G. Eyre's Hotel, Glin, Co Limerick.'
The Clare Journal seized upon the humorous antics of the newly appointed Knight in county Clare. Being aware that he was a regular visitor to their county, the newspaper issued a challenge to all male readers with the headline: 'Who'll take him Up?'. 'Now men of Clare, who of all others possess handsome wives and a considerable quantity of handsome children . . . Buckle to the fight and let the challenge be answered.'
The merits of the wives, children and estates in both Limerick and Clare were surely debated at the end of the month when the Knight attended Kilkee races. He bought a mare, Victory, prior to the races from Mr Edward Connell from near Tralee for £60 and half the stakes won. The mare went on to win two races.
Despite being injured by a fall from his horse as a young man, to which was attributed his erratic behaviour and capricious temperament, John Fraunceis Eyre went on to be recognised as a brilliant horseman.
Weighing only 11 stone with his saddle, he was perfectly built for horse riding and did so at every chance he got. Reports of his various escapades were legendary and he was noted for playing pranks on his friends and neighbours. He also had a reputation for being a horse whisperer. John Murray, who acted as both a wood ranger for the Knight and sexton at St Paul's Church, Glin, has left us with a fanciful account of the 'Cracked Knight's' antics:
'He was able to make a dog or a man (meaning those under his control) to do anything that he chose to bid them. The amusing and extraordinary tales of humorous feats . . . were laughable in the extreme and seemingly almost incredible.'
Sunday Independent
