Earl of Limerick

Earl of Limerick is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, associated first with the Dongan family, then with the Pery family. It should not be confused with the title Viscount of the City of Limerick (usually shortened to Viscount of Limerick, or Lord Limerick) held by the Hamilton family, also Earls of Clanbrassil.

First creation

The earldom was created for the first time in 1686 for Sir William Dongan, 4th Baronet, with remainder, failing male issue of his own, to his brothers Robert, Michael and Thomas and the heirs male of their bodies. He had been made Viscount Dungan, of Clane in the County of Kildare in 1661, also in the Peerage of Ireland and with similar remainder. His only son Walter Dungan, Viscount Dungan, was killed at the Battle of the Boyne and Lord Limerick was succeeded according to the special remainders (and normally in the baronetcy) by his brother Thomas Dongan, the second Earl. He was Governor of New York from 1683 to 1688. All three titles became extinct on his death in 1715. The Dungan Baronetcy, of Castletown in the County of Kildare, was created in the Baronetage of Ireland in 1623 for Walter Dungan.

He was the eldest son of John Dongan or Dungan (died 1592), originally of Fishamble Street, Dublin and his wife Margaret Forster. John Dongan was a civil servant who became a figure of some importance in the Irish Government, and was rich enough in later life to acquire substantial estates in County Kildare.