The Ancestral Home of the Keating Family

Baldwinstown, County Wexford, The Ancestral castle home of the Keatings since the 1200s.

In the book Irish Pedigrees,the following is stated: KEATING Of Baldwinstown, County Wexford John, the third son of William Fitzgerald who is No. 4 on the Fitzmaurice pedigree, was the ancestor of the Keating family. William’s parents were Gerald De Windsor and Nesta, daughter of the Prince of South Wales. Gerald’s parents were Walter fitzOtho Geraldini and Gladys, daughter of the Prince of North Wales. A pattern of conquest more matrimonial than military seems evident. Walter’s father was Dominus Otho Gherardini, the Florentine adventurer who changed the surname to Geraldini. These Italian-Normans in Ireland became a huge extended family that ruled the South of Ireland for centuries as the famous Geraldines. I’m not sure who lives in the castle or estate today. When I was there in 1995, no one was home and there was a “FOR SALE” sign out in front of the more modern manor house. Shall we all kick in $10 and reclaim it for old times sake? One Baldwin Keating, likely a son or grandson of John, the original Keating, probably built the castle in about 1210 or so, hence the name Baldwinstown. His brother, Robert Keating, Lord of Slievecoiltia, County Wexford, in 1200, is mentioned as a witness with Baldwin in early 13th century documents. Anyone want to name their son Baldwin for /tradition?