Fighting Fitzgerald: The turbulent life and terrible death of a Mayo legend, George Robert Fitzgerald

Known as ‘Fighting Fitzgerald’, the famous Turlough duelist George Robert Fitzgerald was one of the most colourful and dangerous personalities of the Ireland of the mid 1700s. He strode across the stage of Mayo, Dublin, Paris, Florence, Brussels, Rome, and London, dominating attention.

He became involved in a bitter feud with his father and brother over the control of the vast Fitzgerald estate based at Turlough, Castlebar, Co Mayo, during which he took his father prisoner, tied him to a bear, kept him in a cave, fortified his own house with cannon from a shipwreck and defended it with his own militia. He was sent to prison, but with his connections, not for long.

A small man, a larger than life character, he was considered part genius part madman. Ultimately he was wholly tragic. The final episode of this mercurial, erratic, tempestuous life was Fitzgerald’s involvement in the murder of Patrick Randal McDonnell, a neighbouring small landowner and attorney, and long- time adversary. In 1786 George Robert Fitzgerald stood trial in Castlebar, and was found guilty.

Patrick Butler’s book is based on extensive research and contains new, previously unpublished material. It seeks to clarify the narrative that lies behind the legends that have grown up and flourished around an extraordinary man.