Edward Fitton (the elder)

Sir Edward Fitton the elder (31 March 1527 – 3 July 1579), was Lord President of Connaught and Thomond and the Vice-Treasurer of Ireland.

Fitton was the eldest son of Sir Edward Fitton of Gawsworth (d.1548) and Mary Harbottle. Knighted by Sir Henry Sidney in 1566.

With the establishment of provincial governments in Connaught and Munster, Fitton was appointed first Lord President of Connaught and Lord President of Thomond on 1 June 1569 arriving in Ireland in July and set up his seat at Michaelmas. He became besieged in Galway by Connor O'Brien, Earl of Thomond and the sons of the Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricarde. Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy of Ireland sent a detachment to relieve the siege at Galway. With the siege broken, Edward with the relieving forces assistance, together with the Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricarde captured Shrule Castle, a place of strategical importance.

Attacked by Mac Uilliam Ochtair, Lord of Thomond, the de Burghs of Mayo and McDonnells of Mayo while camping at Shrule Castle, Fitton was unhorsed and severely wounded in the face. During the next few years he captured many castles in Galway and Mayo. Edward gradually lost ground during 1571–2 with the de Burghs rising up in arms vigorously supported by a large body of Scottish gallóglaighs. Believing that the Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricarde was secretly instigating his rebellious sons, Richard was arrested and clapped in irons at Dublin Castle.

A quarrel with Sir William Fitzwilliam, who had succeeded Sidney as Lord Deputy of Ireland, in relation to Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricarde's imprisonment, occurred. After six months of imprisonment Clanricarde was released, whereupon he showed his loyalty by hanging his own son, his brother's son, his 's son, one of the captains of his own galloglasses and fifty of his followers that bore armour and weapons. Fitton meanwhile was besieged within Athlone Castle and requested reinforcement or to be relieved of his government. In early 1572, Athlone Castle was burnt to the ground, and Fitton was recalled to Dublin where the office of Lord President of Connaught and Lord President of Thomond were put into abeyance.

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