Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Catherine FitzGerald

Catherine FitzGerald (born 18 May 1971) is an landscape designer renowned for her restoration and creation of historic gardens that blend natural landscapes with architectural heritage. As the eldest daughter of Desmond FitzGerald, the 29th and last , and his wife Olda, she grew up at in , , the ancestral seat of the FitzGerald family held for over 700 years. A trained horticulturist, FitzGerald has specialized in sensitive garden designs that emphasize the "genius of the place," drawing on her childhood experiences in Irish demesnes to inform projects that connect past and present. FitzGerald studied English and art history at , where she met her second husband, British actor , before pursuing horticulture training that shaped her professional path. She later worked as an assistant to acclaimed Arabella and completed courses in landscape history and conservation at the Architectural Association. Her notable projects include the comprehensive redesign of the gardens at in , , where over seven years she restored terraces, parterres, and a four-acre walled garden, earning a Landscape Institute Award for her efforts. Other commissions encompass private estates such as Lansdowne Crescent, Clarendon Park, Holland Park Avenue, and , as well as the historic St Olav's Church in . In her personal life, FitzGerald was first married to Edward Lambton, Viscount Lambton, from 1995 to 2002, during which she held the title Viscountess Lambton. She wed in 2010, and the couple has four children: , Senan, , and Christabel. Facing financial challenges after her father's death in 2011, FitzGerald and purchased in 2015, transforming the 18th-century estate into a luxury hotel and event venue while meticulously restoring its 10-acre gardens along the River to evoke a "living wonderland" of mossy oaks, tumbling streams, and wild Atlantic influences. This endeavor not only preserves her family's legacy but also sustains the castle as a viable cultural and landmark.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Catherine Celinda Leopoldine FitzGerald was born on 18 May 1971 in Ireland, the eldest of three daughters born to Desmond John Villiers FitzGerald, 29th (1937–2011), and his second wife, Olda Ann Willes (b. 1939). Her father was a prominent , , and involved with the , while her mother, from a British aristocratic family as the daughter of Major Thomas Vincent Windham Willes and Margaret Georgina Wakefield-Saunders, was a designer known for her work on historic gardens, including co-authoring a book on the subject. Catherine's younger sisters are Nesta and Honor FitzGerald. The moved into , their ancestral home in , in early 1975 when Catherine was about four years old, after her father took up his role as representative for auction house. Raised in this historic estate amid a close-knit environment, Catherine experienced an upbringing steeped in artistic and cultural influences, with her parents fostering an appreciation for heritage through daily life at the castle, including garden maintenance and entertaining guests. The sisters often participated in activities around the 400-acre on the River Shannon, which shaped their early years in a setting of natural beauty and historical significance. The FitzGeralds of Glin trace their lineage to the Norman invasion of in the , descending from Maurice FitzGerald, a companion of Strongbow, and establishing the of around 1262 as a branch of the Earls of Desmond. , rebuilt in the late on the site of earlier family fortifications dating back over 700 years, served as the dynasty's seat in Glin, , symbolizing their enduring role as local chieftains and defenders of Irish Catholic interests during turbulent periods. Desmond FitzGerald played a key role in preserving this , authoring books on Irish architecture and advocating for the of historic houses, efforts that directly influenced his family's legacy. His death on 14 September 2011 at age 74, without a male heir, extinguished the title but passed the estate's responsibilities to his daughters, setting the stage for future preservation challenges.

Academic and professional training

Catherine FitzGerald earned an in English and from in the early 1990s, where her studies emphasized and historical landscapes, laying a conceptual foundation for her later work in garden design. Following her degree, FitzGerald pursued postgraduate training in at the Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley Garden in , , completing a two-year program in the mid-1990s that covered plant science, design principles, and practical gardening techniques. This structured training bridged her academic background in the to hands-on professional skills in . Her early exposure to garden design stemmed from her mother's restoration of the at the family estate, , in the 1970s, which sparked an interest in amid the estate's natural setting along Ireland's . The Wisley program further honed these influences, providing the technical expertise needed to transition into professional practice. Post-training, FitzGerald drew initial inspirations from the romantic wildness of garden traditions and the structured elegance of horticultural heritage, shaping her approach to creating site-specific landscapes.

Career

Early professional work

Following her two-year horticulture training at the Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley Garden in the mid-, FitzGerald entered the professional field as a planting designer for multiple firms across the and in the late 1990s and early . This initial phase involved hands-on roles in plant selection and implementation, building practical expertise in temperate climate and site-responsive planting schemes. In the early , FitzGerald advanced to an apprenticeship-like position under the esteemed Arabella , a five-time gold medal winner, where she served as a planting designer. In this role, she contributed to high-profile commissions, including private estates and public gardens, honing her skills in creating layered, naturalistic planting that enhanced architectural settings while respecting environmental contexts. During this formative period, FitzGerald refined her design philosophy, which centers on crafting site-specific gardens that harmonize with local , , and natural elements rather than imposing external styles. Influenced by the untamed beauty of wild landscapes from her upbringing, she prioritized designs that foster and seasonal dynamism, drawing on principles like Alexander Pope's "genius of the place" to ensure gardens feel authentically rooted in their surroundings. By the mid-2000s, FitzGerald established her independent practice, initially focusing on garden designs for private clients in the UK and , often collaborating with architects to integrate planting with broader landscape visions. This transition marked her shift toward leading projects that embodied her evolving ethos of sustainable, place-driven .

Notable garden designs and projects

Catherine FitzGerald has established herself as a prominent through her partnership in Lutyens & FitzGerald , where she collaborates with Mark Lutyens to create gardens that harmonize with their historical and natural contexts. Her designs emphasize regenerative principles, incorporating native plants to enhance and build , particularly in Ireland's variable conditions. One of her most significant projects is the redesign of the gardens at , the official royal residence in , undertaken for . Completed in with Lutyens, this restoration transformed the 100-acre estate by reviving historic features such as walled gardens and pleasure grounds while integrating sustainable elements like pollinator-friendly planting and water management systems to support local ecosystems. The project included bespoke structures, such as a shell house in the walled garden, crafted to echo 18th-century follies and promote year-round interest through layered perennials and shrubs. This work not only preserved the site's but also advanced regenerative practices by prioritizing and native to combat erosion and flooding risks, earning the Landscape Institute Award for Excellence in and Culture in 2020. Beyond public commissions, FitzGerald has undertaken private garden designs for estates across , , and , focusing on "living wonderlands" that blend artistic formality with naturalistic wildness. In , her projects often revive historic landscapes for country houses, using gravel paths, meadows, and woodland edges to foster and adapt to coastal or riverine climates. Internationally, her English commissions include romantic borders and terraces that incorporate resilient, low-maintenance natives, while French works draw on regional idioms like espaliered fruit trees and herb gardens to create self-sustaining oases. These designs for high-profile clients, including celebrities and aristocratic families, underscore her ability to scale intimate, nature-inspired spaces that endure environmental challenges. FitzGerald's contributions have been widely recognized in horticultural circles, with features in publications such as House & , , and The , where her projects are praised for their evocative fusion of and . She was named among House & 's Top 50 garden designers in 2025, highlighting her influence on sustainable . As an advocate for , FitzGerald lectures at events like the Festival of Gardens and Nature and the Garden Society's country house garden series, promoting the preservation of historic sites amid through biodiversity-focused strategies.

Personal life

First marriage

Catherine FitzGerald married Edward Lambton, Viscount Lambton and later 7th Earl of Durham, on 19 October 1995, in a union that reflected the aristocratic circles of both families. Born into the Anglo-Irish FitzGerald dynasty, FitzGerald wed Lambton, son of the controversial politician Lord Antony Lambton and nephew of the 6th Earl of Durham, shortly after completing her studies at Trinity College Dublin, during a period she later described as haphazard in her early twenties. The marriage, which she characterized as impulsive at age 24, aligned with social expectations for such prominent lineages but faced personal strains amid her burgeoning interest in landscape design. During the marriage, FitzGerald was known as Catherine Lambton, Viscountess Lambton, a title that underscored her entry into British peerage society. The couple shared a peripatetic lifestyle marked by what she called "quite a lot of adventures," though the relationship ultimately proved unsustainable, ending in divorce in 2002 after seven years. The dissolution, finalized when she was around 30, occurred as many peers were settling into long-term marriages, prompting her to refocus on professional training in horticulture at institutions like the Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley and the Architectural Association. Post-, FitzGerald retained her maiden name professionally, preserving her identity as a landscape designer amid the social transitions of aristocratic , which often involved navigating legacies and public scrutiny without formal legal battles publicized. She and Lambton have maintained an amicable relationship, remaining good friends despite the split's challenges in balancing personal growth with societal roles. The experience influenced her later emphasis on stability, though it did not produce children.

Second marriage and family

Catherine FitzGerald married British actor on 26 June 2010 in a Catholic ceremony at , , . The couple first met as students at in the early 1990s, where West studied English and drama while FitzGerald pursued English and art history; after a brief early romance, they reconnected years later and began dating seriously in the mid-2000s. Together, FitzGerald and West have four children: daughter Dora (born 2006), son Senan (born 2008), son (born 2011), and daughter Christabel (born 2015). West also has an elder daughter, (born 1998), from a previous relationship, creating a blended family of five children whom they raise across residences in , , , and, as of November 2025, a at 4 Henrietta in purchased by West for €1.75 million. West has cited the countryside's tranquility as a key reason for spending significant time at Glin, allowing the children a more grounded upbringing away from urban intensity. The couple's relationship drew media attention in October 2020 following photographs of appearing affectionate with co-star in , prompting speculation of an affair and intense tabloid scrutiny. They responded publicly by issuing a joint statement outside their home, emphasizing their solid marriage, and later reflected on the ordeal as a temporary strain exacerbated by West's demanding acting schedule and travel, which they overcame through . FitzGerald and West bond over shared passions for , , and , frequently attending events together and collaborating informally on projects tied to Irish history. Their family life emphasizes child-rearing in a supportive environment, with both parents advocating for amid West's high-profile ; as of 2025, they remain a united unit, focused on family stability and occasional joint public engagements.

Ownership and restoration of Glin Castle

Upon the death of her father, Desmond FitzGerald, the 29th and last , on September 14, 2011, Catherine FitzGerald assumed the role of chatelaine at , the ancestral seat of the FitzGerald family and hereditary since the . The absence of a meant the ancient title ended with her father, shifting focus to the family's stewardship of the property itself. Facing mounting financial pressures in the years following, the family listed for sale in 2015 at €6.5 million through Sherry FitzGerald, amid ongoing upkeep costs and the estate's farm not generating sufficient income. FitzGerald, alongside her husband , intervened to prevent the sale, reversing the decision by 2017 and retaining ownership of the property to maintain it within the family. This transition solidified her ownership and commitment to the castle's preservation as a living family legacy. FitzGerald's restoration efforts at span over two decades, beginning prior to her formal inheritance and building on her parents' earlier work in the to revive the walled garden. She has transformed the 15-acre gardens—encompassing walled enclosures, woodlands, and the riverfront along the —into a vibrant, biodiverse "living wonderland" featuring rare plants such as and exotic specimen trees, whimsical , and naturalistic pathways that emphasize ecological harmony. Her approach prioritizes layered plantings and seasonal interest, drawing on her professional expertise to enhance the site's historical character while fostering habitats. Inside the 18th-century castle, FitzGerald has collaborated with conservation experts to safeguard its signature interiors—originally restored by her parents in the mid-20th century—while introducing subtle modernizations for functionality, including updated plumbing and lighting to support guest accommodations. These efforts adhere to Ireland's stringent preservation regulations under the Office of , balancing authenticity with practicality amid the property's high maintenance demands. To ensure the estate's financial sustainability, FitzGerald converted into a luxury rental venue and events space starting around 2015, offering exclusive hires for weddings, private parties, and tours that accommodate up to 20 guests overnight. This model has hosted high-profile gatherings, including celebrity weddings and cultural events, generating revenue to offset restoration costs while navigating economic challenges like fluctuating and inheritance taxes. As a cultural , Glin under FitzGerald's stewardship serves as a bridge between its medieval FitzGerald heritage and contemporary Irish life, attracting visitors for guided tours that highlight its artistic legacy and hosting shoots and literary events. The gardens' revival has earned recognition in horticultural circles, contributing to the site's status as a preserved example of evolving country house estates.

References

  1. [1]
    Who is Dominic West's aristocratic wife, Catherine FitzGerald? - Tatler
    Oct 14, 2020 · Catherine FitzGerald is the daughter of the last Knight of Glin, Desmond FitzGerald, and his wife Olda, whose family seat is Glin Castle in Ireland.
  2. [2]
    Me and My Garden – Catherine FitzGerald: 'I love pruning ...
    Mar 20, 2021 · Designer and gardener Catherine FitzGerald has landscaped the gardens at Glin Castle, her ancestral home, as well as Hillsborough Castle and ...Missing: interview | Show results with:interview
  3. [3]
    Landscape designer Catherine FitzGerald: 'I'm always searching for ...
    Jun 23, 2024 · In theory, landscape designer Catherine FitzGerald and I are meeting at her home in Wiltshire to talk about how gardens portray character, ...
  4. [4]
    Catherine Celinda Leopoldine FitzGerald - Person Page
    Catherine Celinda Leopoldine FitzGerald was born on 18 May 1971. She is ... From 19 October 1995, her married name became Lambton. From 26 June 2010 ...
  5. [5]
    FitzGerald, Desmond John Villiers | Dictionary of Irish Biography
    Quitting the museum in early 1975, he moved back into Glin Castle, where, having already established a gift shop and café in the gate lodge, he revived the ...
  6. [6]
    Desmond John Villiers FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin - Person Page
    Olda Ann Willes was born in 1939. ... She is the daughter of Major Thomas Vincent Windham Willes and Margaret Georgina Wakefield-Saunders. ... She married Desmond ...Missing: background | Show results with:background
  7. [7]
    Aristos gather at the castle to hail Otto - The Irish Independent
    Dec 16, 2012 · ... Honor's mother Olda, her two sisters, Catherine and Nesta, and their respective partners. A suitably swish beano is scheduled to take place ...
  8. [8]
    History - Glin Castle
    The FitzGeralds first settled here in the 1200's at nearby Shanid Castle following the Norman invasion of Ireland. Their war cry was Shanid Abu! (Shanid forever ...
  9. [9]
    Background to the FitzGerald Family at Glin - AskAboutIreland.ie
    The Knights of Glin are a branch of the great Norman family, the Fitzgeralds or Geraldines, Earls of Desmond who were granted extensive lands in County Limerick
  10. [10]
    How an ancient Irish title died with the last Knight of Glin
    Dec 31, 2022 · FitzGerald was forced to close Glin Castle in 2009 due to ill health. The castle had operated as a hotel in recent years. FitzGerald, who ...
  11. [11]
    About - Catherine FitzGerald
    After an English and Art history degree at Trinity College Dublin I ... designer for many times Chelsea winner landscape architect Arabella Lennox-Boyd.
  12. [12]
    A wild affair - The Times
    Oct 2, 2016 · After leaving Trinity College Dublin, where she read English and art history, FitzGerald trained at RHS Garden Wisley, in Surrey, for two years, ...
  13. [13]
    Catherine FitzGerald - Great Gardens of the World
    After an English and Art history degree at Trinity College Dublin I trained in horticulture at RHS Wisley and then worked as planting designer for many ...
  14. [14]
    Tag: madam olda fitzgerald - Lavender's Blue
    Years ago, her mother Madam Olda FitzGerald germanely wrote about the family home, “The garden of Glin Castle in County Limerick is extraordinarily beautiful ...Missing: née | Show results with:née
  15. [15]
    Wonderlands by Clare Coulson explores the glorious gardens of 18 ...
    Jun 9, 2025 · She trained as a horticultural apprentice with the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley for two years, and went to work for Arabella Lennox- ...
  16. [16]
    [PDF] magazine - Squarespace
    Apr 16, 2004 · She then started working for five-times Chelsea gold medal winner Arabella Lennox-Boyd, where she is currently planting designer. Tough ...
  17. [17]
    Who is... Dominic West's wife Catherine FitzGerald? | The Standard
    Nov 11, 2020 · After working for Arabella Lennox-Boyd as a planting designer, she founded her own landscape-design business. As well as working on the gardens ...
  18. [18]
    Catherine FitzGerald · Landscape Design
    Catherine Fitzgerald is a landscape designer based between London and Ireland. She creates private and public gardens both in the town and country.Missing: inspirations British traditions
  19. [19]
    Catherine FitzGerald and Dominic West: “It is lovely to work together ...
    May 15, 2021 · “I got married impulsively at 24 and was divorced by 30. We had quite a lot of adventures but it didn't work out, though I'm still good friends ...
  20. [20]
    Catherine Fitzgerald 'won't take any crap' over photos of Dominic West
    Oct 13, 2020 · Her first marriage was to Ned Lambton, Earl of Durham, whose father Lord Lambton, was forced to resign as a junior defence minister in the 1970s ...
  21. [21]
    The best garden and landscape designers in Britain - Country Life
    Apr 10, 2025 · Lutyens & FitzGerald Landscape Design. Garden designer Catherine FitzGerald and landscape architect Mark Lutyens head a small practice ...Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
  22. [22]
    House & Garden's Top 50 garden designers for 2025
    Apr 4, 2025 · We reveal House & Garden's top 50 garden and landscape designers, hand-picked for their knowledge, expertise and imagination.
  23. [23]
    Catherine FitzGerald Archives - Mark Lutyens Landscape Architect
    The Dovecote or Shell House in the Walled Garden at Hillsborough Castle: Designed by Mark Lutyens & Catherine FitzGerald; made by craftsmen from The ...
  24. [24]
    The Glin Crowd: Catherine FitzGerald on being the latest ... - Tatler
    Mar 5, 2021 · Catherine FitzGerald reveals the secrets of the garden at Glin Castle, her family home and haven from the media spotlight.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography<|control11|><|separator|>
  25. [25]
    Catherine FitzGerald's Glin Castle Gardens Are a Living Wonderland
    Aug 18, 2023 · Catherine has an esteemed career in her own right as a landscape designer, and the 10 acres of garden at Glin—the perfect place for climbing ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  26. [26]
    Catherine FitzGerald - Festival of Gardens and Nature
    Catherine FitzGerald is a gardener and partner in Lutyens & FitzGerald Landscape Design. She has worked on restoring the gardens at Hillsborough Castle Co.
  27. [27]
    In conversation with Catherine Fitzgerald, Glin Castle - YouTube
    May 17, 2022 · In conversation with Catherine Fitzgerald, Glin Castle, Co. Limerick as part of the IGS year of Country House Garden.Missing: designer | Show results with:designer
  28. [28]
    Glin Castle Gardens
    The current chatelaine Catherine FitzGerald, a practicing landscape designer is developing the garden every year which keeps it fresh and vibrant. There is ...Missing: influence | Show results with:influence
  29. [29]
    Catherine FitzGerald - Wikipedia
    Catherine Celinda Leopoldine FitzGerald, formerly Catherine Lambton, Viscountess Lambton, (born 18 May 1971) is an Irish landscape designer and gardener.FitzGerald dynasty · Desmond FitzGerald, 29th... · Glin CastleMissing: notable | Show results with:notable
  30. [30]
    Who is Dominic West's wife Catherine Fitzgerald? Everything you ...
    Oct 14, 2020 · Has she been married before? Yes. In October 1995, she married Edward Lambton, Viscount Lambton. They were divorced in 2002. MORE ...
  31. [31]
  32. [32]
    Catherine FitzGerald and Edward Lambton, 7th Earl of Durham
    Their marriage did not produce any children and they divorced in 2002. She is now married to actor Dominic West.
  33. [33]
    My Wedding Day with Catherine FitzGerald and Dominic West
    Apr 29, 2025 · Dominic and I got married on June 26, 2010. We had the wedding at our home, Glin Castle. The church in Glin is at the bottom of our drive, so ...Missing: date | Show results with:date
  34. [34]
    Dominic West Details How His Wife Was Affected by Lily James Drama
    Apr 22, 2024 · In fact Dominic—who has been married to Catherine since 2010 and has four children with her as well as a daughter from his previous relationship ...
  35. [35]
    Who Is Dominic West's Wife? All About Catherine FitzGerald
    Apr 22, 2024 · The Affair actor married his wife Catherine FitzGerald in June 2010, and the pair have welcomed four children together over the course of their relationship.
  36. [36]
    British actor Dominic West reveals why he is raising his kids in Ireland
    Sep 6, 2018 · West's wife Catherine is the daughter of Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin. The pair married in 2010 at Glin Castle - which has been ...
  37. [37]
    When Tatler met Dominic West and Catherine FitzGerald at home at ...
    Oct 14, 2020 · Glin sparked a love of architecture and gardening in Catherine. Afrer working for Arabella Lennox-Boyd as a planting designer, she founded her ...
  38. [38]
    Meet Dominic West's daughters, Martha and Dora West
    Apr 8, 2025 · Per People magazine, he shares four children – Dora, Senan, Francis and Christabel – with his wife Catherine FitzGerald.
  39. [39]
    FitzGerald Family History - Glin Castle
    The FitzGeralds descend from the Norman Maurice FitzGerald, a companion-in¬ arms to Strongbow. They were mercenaries who left Wales and came to Ireland.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  40. [40]
    Glin Castle taken off market as family considers luxury rental
    Mar 1, 2017 · ... Glin, has been removed from the market. The historic castle was placed for sale by Sherry FitzGerald in 2015 with a a price tag of €6.5million.
  41. [41]
    Sadness as Glin Castle sale marks end of historic era - Limerick Live
    May 2, 2015 · It is losing money. The farm was not paying its way.” Madame Olda Fitzgerald, he said, was very upset that it had to happen on her watch.
  42. [42]
  43. [43]
    Dominic West and Catherine FitzGerald Glin Castle Ireland
    Mar 17, 2022 · Catherine FitzGerald and her husband Dominic West have rescued her family home, Glin Castle in Ireland, from being sold, and made it into a viable commercial ...
  44. [44]
    [PDF] Presiding spirits - Glin Castle
    Aug 7, 2024 · Catherine FitzGerald is casting a fresh eye on the well-established gunnera clump, which was magnificent, but overbearing. She has been removing.
  45. [45]
    FitzGerald Family History - Glin Castle
    It has been in the FitzGerald family, hereditary Knights of Glin, for over 700 years. The castle with its superb interiors, decorative plasterwork and ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  46. [46]
    Castle Keepers: Dominic West and Catherine FitzGerald of Glin Castle
    As well as developing the 400-acre gardens at Glin, FitzGerald has worked on other historic gardens at Hillsborough Castle outside Belfast and Glenarm in ...
  47. [47]
    Dominic West and Catherine Fitzgerald's Irish Country Castle Is ...
    Jan 17, 2019 · The 20000-square-foot Georgian estate is a true provincial escape whose notable guests include Mick Jagger and Taylor Swift.<|control11|><|separator|>
  48. [48]
    Glin Castle, Co Limerick: The garden that tells the tale ... - Country Life
    May 25, 2018 · Catherine Fitzgerald, its latest chatelaine, describes its story and her own plans for its future.Missing: inheritance | Show results with:inheritance