Luke Plunkett, 1st Earl of Fingall

Lucas More Plunkett of Killeen, County Meath (born before 1602, died 29 March 1637) was the elder son of Christopher Plunkett, 9th Baron Killeen, and Jenet, daughter of Sir Lucas Dillon. He succeeded to the barony in January 1613.

He married first Elizabeth FitzGerald, daughter of Henry FitzGerald, 12th Earl of Kildare.^[1]

He married secondly Susannah, daughter of Edward Brabazon. He married thirdly Eleanor, daughter of Dudley Bagenal. He married fourthly Margaret, daughter of Nicholas St Lawrence, 9th Baron Howth and his second wife Mary White.

By his second wife Susannah he had two sons: Christopher, who succeeded as 2nd Earl, and George, from whom later Earls of Fingall were descended; and a daughter, Eleanor, who married Andrew Nugent.

He was conferred as Earl of Fingall by King's letter of 26 September 1628,"on account of the good testimony which the King had received as to his honour and virtue, and for the encouragement of his continuance in such courses."

He was granted 2400 acres in County Cavan; he was one of the founders of the town of Virginia, County Cavan. He sat on the Lords Committee for Privileges.

References

1. FitzGerald, Charles William (Marquis of Kildare and later 4th Duke of Leinster). The Earls of Kildare and their Ancestors: from 1057 to 1773, 4th edition, published by Hodges, Smith & Co., Dublin, 1864 (pp. 235-236)