Social Networking in Medieval Ireland

Piers Butler and Margaret Fitzgerald

At the centre of this network are Piers Butler ‘the contender’ and his formidable wife, Margaret FitzGerald, who waged a joint campaign to have Piers claim to the Ormond title recognised. Cultural patronage played an important role here, and an important aspect of that patronage was what appears to be a bulk commission of tombs at Gowran (the Ormond family chapel) and St. Canice’s Cathedral) by sculptors Rae called ‘the Ormond School’. 

The rest of the tombs radiating out here are those of Piers and Margaret’s family, allies and clients.