Thomas FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Kildare
Thomas FitzJohn FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Kildare, Lord Offaly was a noble in the Peerage of Ireland who held the office of Lord Justice of Ireland.
The eldest son of John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare, Lord Offaly, by his spouse Blanche Roche, daughter of John Roche, Lord Fermoy, the second earl was appointed commander of 30,000 men to fight Edward Bruce and the Scots. But with Roger, Lord Mortimer landing about the same time at Youghal the engagement was deferred until his force could also join them. Bruce was in the meantime defeated and killed in 1318, putting an end to the Scottish kingdom in Ireland.
In 1318 Thomas was appointed Lord Justice of Ireland and later reappointed in February 1326, holding the office until his death two years later at Maynooth. He was interred in the Franciscan Friary at Kildare.
He married at Greencastle, County Down on 16 August 1312, Joan, the third daughter of Richard de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster, and had issue:
