Gerald married firstly Alison FitzEustace, daughter of The 1st Baron Portlester, with whom he had five children: He married secondly Elizabeth St. John, daughter of Oliver St. John of Lydiard Tregoze, a cousin of Henry VII,[2] and had a further five children: All his sons by his second marriage took part in the rebellion of their nephew, the 10th Earl of Kildare, Silken Thomas, and all were executed for treason at Tyburn on 3 February 1537.

[4] Simnel's attempt to seize the throne ended in disaster at the Battle of Stoke Field and many of his supporters, including Kildare's brother Thomas, were killed.

Kildare was shrewd enough not to commit himself to the cause of the later pretender Perkin Warbeck, despite Henry's caustic comment that the Irish nobility would crown an ape to secure more power for themselves.

He suffered a double blow: he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, and his wife Alison died soon after, reportedly of grief at his arrest.

[5] In 1512, after entering O'Neill of Clandeboye's territory, capturing him and then taking the castle of Belfast, Lord Kildare then for reasons now unknown proceeded through to utterly ravage the Bissett family's lordship of the coastal Glens of Antrim.

Unlike his eldest son, who favoured diplomacy, he was described as being "open and plain" in his dealings; he was hot-tempered and unpredictable when young, but more mellow in later life.

According to legend, the Great Earl and his soldiers now slumber in a cavern beneath the Curragh of Kildare, ready to awaken to defend Ireland in her hour of need.

When his horse's shoes are worn down to the thickness of a cat's ear, he will lead his army against the English, drive them out, and reign as King of Ireland for 40 years.