General Notes

In A.D. 1168, Dermot MacMorrogh, King of Leinster, driven from his
territoryby Roderick O'Conor, High King if Ireland, sought assistance
from the Norman-Welsh and succeeded in enlisting in his cause Richard de
Clare, Earl of Pembroke (called Strongbow). Having reached St. David's,
on his way back to Ireland, Dermot was hospitably received by David
fitzGerald (son of Gerald of Windsor), Bishop of the diocese. According
to Burke's Peerage, the Bishop persuaded his brother, Maurice fitzGerald,
and his half-brother, Robert fitzStephen to assist MacMorrough with their
forces.
Sometime after achieving success inthat campaign, Strongbow granted to
Maurice fitzGerald, known as "The Invaderof Ireland",  the middle
cantred of Offelan, in which Naas was situated. Offelan was a district
quite distinct from Offaly.
Maurice married Alice de Montgomery and had six sons:
1. William fitzMaurice, Baron of Naas. Confirmed inhis lands in Offelan
in 1185.
2. Gerald fitzMaurice, 1st Baron of Offaly, ancestor of the Dukes of
Leinster.
3. Thomas fitzMaurice, Lord of Connello, Co. Limerick. d. A.D. 1213.
Ancestor of the FitzGeralds, the Earls of Desmond,the White Knight, the
Knight of Glin, the Knight of Kerry, the FitzMaurice Lords of Kerry, etc.
4. Maurice fitzMaurice of Kiltrany (now Burntchurch), Co. Kilkenny.
Ancestor of the Barons of Burntchurch.
5. Alexander fitzMaurice, d.s.p.
6. Robert fitzMaurice.
Burke's Peerage  (1970)