Christopher Plunkett, 2nd Earl of Fingall

Christopher Plunkett, 2nd Earl of Fingall (died Dublin Castle 1649) was the eldest son of Luke Plunkett, 1st Earl of Fingall, and his second wife Susannah Brabazon. He was a leading Irish Royalist during the English Civil War, and died as a result of fighting for the Royalist cause.

He married Mabel Barnewall, daughter of Nicholas Barnewall, 1st Viscount Barnewall. They had two children:

• Luke, 3rd Earl of Fingall
• Mary, who married Walter Butler, nephew of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde: they were the grandparents of John Butler, 15th Earl of Ormonde.

His widow remarried and outlived her first husband by fifty years.

From his father he inherited great estates in County Meath and County Cavan, and played a part in developing the town of Virginia, County Cavan.

Christopher Plunkett was a Confederate Ireland cavalry commander during the Irish Rebellion of 1641; his uncle Sir Nicholas Plunkett was one of the prime movers in the Confederacy. He was present at the Siege of Drogheda 1641. In reprisal he was outlawed in County Meath on 17 November 1641; his lands in Cavan were despoiled and Virginia largely destroyed. He took part in the Battle of Rathmines 2nd Aug 1649 against the Parliamentary army, was captured and died from his wounds in the gaol of Dublin Castle. He was buried on 16 August in St Catherine's Church.

He was one of the ten named in the Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 as leaders of the pro-Royalist forces in Ireland, and accordingly subject to the loss of their life and estates; since he had been dead for three years this posthumous sentence suggests that he had been regarded in life with some fear by his opponents. In recognition of his loyalty to the English Crown, his estates were restored to his son in 1662.

The Earls of Fingall were descended from Sir Christopher Plunket, created Baron Killeen in 1403.