Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords. The membership of the House of Commons was directly elected, but on a highly restrictive franchise, similar to the Unreformed House of Commons in contemporary England and Great Britain. In counties, forty-shilling freeholders were enfranchised whilst in most boroughs it was either only the members of self-electing corporations or a highly-restricted body of freemen that were able to vote for the borough's representatives. Most notably, Catholics were disqualified from sitting in the Irish parliament from 1691, even though they comprised the vast majority of the Irish population. From 1728 until 1793 they were also disfranchised. Most of the population of all religions had no vote. The vast majority of parliamentary boroughs were pocket boroughs, the private property of an aristocratic patron. When these boroughs were disfranchised under the Act of Union, the patron was awarded £15,000 compensation for each.[1]
Irish House of Commons | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
History | |
Established | 1297 |
Disbanded | 31 December 1800 |
Succeeded by | House of Commons of the United Kingdom |
Leadership | |
John Foster (1785–1801) | |
Seats | 3001 |
Elections | |
First past the post with limited suffrage | |
Meeting place | |
The House of Commons in session (by Francis Wheatley, 1780) | |
Footnotes | |
1 In 1800 See also: House of Commons of Great Britain |
The British-appointed Irish executive, under the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was not answerable to the House of Commons but to the British government. However, the Chief Secretary for Ireland was usually a member of the Irish parliament. In the Commons, business was presided over by the Speaker. The House of Commons was abolished when the Irish parliament merged with its British counterpart in 1801 under the Act of Union, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The House sat for the last time in Parliament House, Dublin on 2 August 1800.
Speaker of the Commons
The Speaker of the Irish House of Commons was the presiding officer of the House and its most senior official. The position was one of considerable power and prestige, and in the absence of a government chosen from and answerable to the Commons, he was the dominant political figure in the Parliament. The last Speaker was John Foster.
Constituencies
The House was elected in the same way as the British House of Commons. By the time of the Union, the shape of the House had been fixed with two members elected for each of the 32 Counties of Ireland, two members for each of 117 Boroughs, and two members for Dublin University, a total of 300 members. The number of Boroughs invited to return members had originally been small (only 55 Boroughs existed in 1603) but was doubled by the Stuart monarchs.
Constituency | Type | County | Creation[n 1] | Enfranchised | Fate after the union |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antrim Borough | Borough | Antrim | 1666 | Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Antrim County | County | Antrim | 1570[2] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Ardee | Borough | Louth | 1378 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ards | County | Down | By 1560[3] | Already disfranchised[n 2] | |
Ardfert | Borough | Kerry | 1639? | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Armagh Borough | Borough | Armagh | 1613 (26 March) [4] | Corporation | One seat |
Armagh County | County | Armagh | 1585 (September)[5] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Askeaton | Borough | Limerick | 1613 (30 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Athboy | Borough | Meath | By 1560[3] | Manor | Disfranchised |
Athenry | Borough | Galway | 1310? | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Athlone | Borough | Westmeath | 1606 (10 December)[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Athy | Borough | Kildare | By 1560[3] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Augher | Borough | Tyrone | 1613 (15 April)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ballynakill | Borough | Queen's County | 1612 (10 December)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ballyshannon | Borough | Donegal | 1613 (23 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Baltimore | Borough | Cork | 1613 (25 March)[4] | Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Baltinglass | Borough | Wicklow | 1664 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Banagher | Borough | King's County | 1629 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Bandonbridge | Borough | Cork | 1613 (30 March)[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Bangor | Borough | Down | 1613 (18 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Bannow | Borough | Wexford | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Belfast | Borough | Antrim | 1613 (27 April)[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Belturbet | Borough | Cavan | 1613 (30 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Blessington | Borough | Wicklow | 1670 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Boyle | Borough | Roscommon | 1613 (25 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Callan | Borough | Kilkenny | 1585 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Carlingford | Borough | Louth | 13?? | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Carlow Borough | Borough | Carlow | 1613 (19 April)[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Carlow County | County | Carlow | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Carrick | Borough | Leitrim | 1613 (30 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Carrickfergus | County borough | Antrim[n 3] | 1326 | Freeholder and householder | One seat |
Carysfort | Borough | Wicklow | 1629 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Cashel | Borough | Tipperary | By 1585[3] | Corporation | One seat |
Castlebar | Borough | Mayo | 1613 (26 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Castlemartyr | Borough | Cork | 1676 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Cavan Borough | Borough | Cavan | 1610 (15 November)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Cavan County | County | Cavan | 1579[6] or 1584[7] or 1585[5] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Charlemont | Borough | Armagh | 1613 (29 April)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Charleville | Borough | Cork | 1673 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Clare | County | Clare | By 1560 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Clogher | Borough | Tyrone | Between 1614 and 1692 | Ecclesiastical | Disfranchised |
Clonakilty | Borough | Cork | 1613 (5 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Clonmel | Borough | Tipperary | By 1560[3] | Corporation | One seat |
Clonmines | Borough | Wexford | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Coleraine | Borough | Londonderry | 1613 (25 March)[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Connacht | County | Multiple[n 4] | 1297 | Already disfranchised[n 4] | |
Cork City | County borough | Cork[n 3] | 1299 | Freeholder and Freemen | Two seats |
Cork County | County | Cork | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Coleraine County | County | Londonderry | 1585 (September)[5] | Freeholders | Already disfranchised |
Dingle | Borough | Kerry | By 1585[3][8] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Donegal Borough | Borough | Donegal | 1613 (27 February)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Donegal County | County | Donegal | 1585 (September)[5] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Doneraile | Borough | Cork | 1640 | Manor | Disfranchised |
Down | County | Down | 1570[2] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Downpatrick | Borough | Down | 1586 | Potwalloper | One seat |
Drogheda | County borough | Louth[n 3] | 1299 | Freeholders and freemen | One seat |
Dublin City | County borough | Dublin[n 3] | 1299 | Freeholders and freemen | Two seats |
Dublin County | County | Dublin | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Dublin University | University | Dublin[n 5] | 1603 | Graduates | One seat |
Duleek | Borough | Meath | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Dundalk | Borough | Louth | By 1560[3] | Corporation | One seat |
Dungannon | Borough | Tyrone | 1612 (27 November)[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Dungarvan | Borough | Waterford | By 1560[3] | Potwalloper | One seat |
Dunleer | Borough | Louth | 1679 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ennis | Borough | Clare | 1613 (27 February)[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Enniscorthy | Borough | Wexford | 1613 (25 May)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Enniskillen | Borough | Fermanagh | 1613 (27 February)[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Fermanagh | County | Fermanagh | 1585 (September)[5] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Ferns | County | Wexford | By 1579[9] | Freeholders | Already disfranchised[n 6] |
Fethard | Borough | Tipperary | 1613 (15 April)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Fethard | Borough | Wexford | 1613 (15 April)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Fore | Borough | Westmeath | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Galway Borough | County borough | Galway[n 3] | By 1560[3] | Freemen | One seat |
Galway County | County | Galway | By 1579 [10] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Gorey (also Newburgh) | Borough | Wexford | 1620 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Gowran | Borough | Kilkenny | 1608 (15 September)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Granard | Borough | Longford | 1679 | Manor | Disfranchised |
Harristown | Borough | Kildare | 1684 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Hillsborough | Borough | Down | 1662 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Inistioge | Borough | Kilkenny | By 1585[3] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Jamestown | Borough | Leitrim | 1622 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kells | Borough | Meath | By 1560[3] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kerry | County | Kerry | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Kilbeggan | Borough | Westmeath | 1613 (27 February)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kildare Borough | Borough | Kildare | By 1560[3] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kildare County | County | Kildare | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Kilkenny City | County borough | Kilkenny[n 3] | 1299? | Freeholders and Freemen | One seat |
Kilkenny County | County | Kilkenny | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Killybegs | Borough | Donegal | 1616 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Killyleagh | Borough | Down | 1613 (10 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kilmallock | Borough | Limerick | By 1560[3] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
King's County | County | King's County | 1556 [11][12] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Kinsale | Borough | Cork | 1334? | Corporation and Freemen | One seat |
Knocktopher | Borough | Kilkenny | 1665 | Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Lanesborough | Borough | Longford | 1642 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Leitrim | County | Leitrim | 1583 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Lifford | Borough | Donegal | 1613 (27 February)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Limerick City | County borough | Limerick[n 3] | 1299 | Freeholders and Freemen | One seat |
Limerick County | County | Limerick | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Lisburn | Borough | Antrim | 1661 | Potwalloper | One seat |
Lismore | Borough | Waterford | 1613 (6 May)[4] | Manor | Disfranchised |
Londonderry City | Borough | Londonderry | 1613 (29 March)[4][13] | Corporation | One seat |
Londonderry County | County | Londonderry | 1613 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Longford Borough | Borough | Longford | 1669 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Longford County | County | Longford | 1571[14][15] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Louth | County | Louth | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Mallow | Borough | Cork | 1613 (27 February)[4] | Manor | One seat |
Maryborough | Borough | Queen's County | 1571 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Mayo | County | Mayo | By 1579[10] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Meath | County | Meath | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Midleton | Borough | Cork | 1671 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Monaghan Borough | Borough | Monaghan | 1613 (26 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Monaghan County | County | Monaghan | 1585 (September)[5] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Mullingar | Borough | Westmeath | By 1560[3] | Manor | Disfranchised |
Naas | Borough | Kildare | By 1560[3] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Navan | Borough | Meath | 1469 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
New Ross | Borough | Wexford | By 1560[3] | Corporation | One seat |
Newcastle | Borough | Dublin | 1613 (30 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Newry | Borough | Down | 1613 (27 February)[4] | Potwalloper | One seat |
Newtown Limavady | Borough | Londonderry | 1613 (30 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Newtownards | Borough | Down | 1613 (25 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Old Leighlin | Borough | Carlow | Between 1614 and 1692 | Ecclesiastical corporation | Disfranchised |
Philipstown | Borough | King's County | 1571 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Portarlington | Borough | Queen's County | 1668 | Corporation | One seat |
Queen's County | County | Queen's County | 1556 [11][12] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Randalstown | Borough | Antrim | 1683 | Freeman / Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Rathcormack | Borough | Cork | Between 1614 and 1692 | Potwalloper / Manor | Disfranchised |
Ratoath | Borough | Meath | Between 1614 and 1692 | Manor | Disfranchised |
Roscommon Borough | Borough | Roscommon | 1613 (27 February)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Roscommon County | County | Roscommon | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
St Canice | Borough | Kilkenny[n 7] | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
St Johnstown | Borough | Donegal | 1618 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
St Johnstown | Borough | Longford | 1628 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Sligo Borough | Borough | Sligo | 1613 (30 March)[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Sligo County | County | Sligo | By 1579[10] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Strabane | Borough | Tyrone | 1613 (18 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Swords | Borough | Dublin | By 1585[3] | Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Taghmon | Borough | Wexford | bef. 1642 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tallow | Borough | Waterford | 1613 (1 May)[4] | Manor / Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Thomastown | Borough | Kilkenny | 1541 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tipperary | County | Tipperary | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Cross Tipperary | County | Tipperary | by 1585 | Freeholders | Already disfranchised[n 8] |
Tralee | Borough | Kerry | 1613 (31 March)[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Trim | Borough | Meath | By 1560[3] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tuam | Borough | Galway | 1613 (30 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tulsk | Borough | Roscommon | 1663 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tyrone | County | Tyrone | 1585 (September)[5] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Liberty of Ulster | County | Multiple[n 9] | 1297 | Already disfranchised[n 9] | |
Waterford City | County borough | Waterford[n 3] | 1299 | Freemen and freeholders | One seat |
Waterford County | County | Waterford | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Westmeath | County | Westmeath | 1543[16] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Wexford Borough | Borough | Wexford | By 1560[3] | Freemen | One seat |
Wexford County | County | Wexford | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Wicklow Borough | Borough | Wicklow | 1613 (30 March)[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Wicklow County | County | Wicklow | 1577[17][18] 1606[19] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Youghal | Borough | Cork | 1374 | Corporation and Freemen | One seat |
- Notes
- The date of either: the earliest Parliament at which it is known to have received a writ of election or sent representatives; or else: the earliest charter or statute granting representation. Outside the Pale, places enfranchised after the Norman conquest often had long periods unrepresented prior to the Tudor reconquest.
- The territory of Ards, one of the medieval sheriffdoms of the Earldom of Ulster, was included in the reconstituted County Down in 1570
- Actually a separate county corporate.
- The medieval county of Connacht was subdivided in 1570 into the modern counties of Galway and Mayo.
- The University was in the county of the city of Dublin. The electorate was its Fellows and Scholars.
- The area of Ferns, corresponding to the northern part of County Wexford, was briefly made a separate shire between the 1570s before merging back into Wexford in the 1600s.
- Actually in the county of the city of Kilkenny rather than county Kilkenny
- Cross Tipperary last returned MPs in 1634, and was definitively merged with Tipperary in 1716.
- The medieval liberty of Ulster was subdivided in 1570 into the modern counties of Antrim and Down.
Sessions
Parliaments of Henry VI
Parliament of 1429
- Sir Richard FitzEustace, Kildare
Parliament of 1450
- John Chevir, Kilkenny, Speaker
Parliaments of Henry VIII
Parliament 1516
Parliament 1521–22
Parliament 1531
Parliament 1533
Parliament 1541–43
- First session held at Dublin 13 June to 20 or 23 July 1541, 7 November 1541, 22 December 1541[23]
- Second session held at Limerick 15 February to 7 or 10 March 1542[23]
- Third session held at Trim June 1542
- Dissolved 19 November 1543[23]
Speaker: Sir Thomas Cusack[24]
Parliament of Mary I
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 June 1557 | 1 March 1558 | James Stanyhurst | 3 |
Parliaments of Elizabeth I
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 January 1560 | 1 February 1560 | James Stanyhurst | 1 |
2 | 17 January 1569 | 25 April 1571 | James Stanyhurst | 10 |
Members:
- Sir Edmond Butler
- Sir Thomas Cusack, Athenry
- Sir Christopher Barnewall, Dublin County
- James Stanyhurst, Speaker
- Sir Lucas Dillon, Meath
- Sir John Alan, Kinsale
- Francis Agard, Kinsale
- John Parker, Trim
- Sir Henry Radclyffe, Carlingford
- John Walsh, Youghal
- John Portyngall, Youghal
- Richmond Archbold, Cross Tipperary
- Edmund Prendergast, Cross Tipperary
- Nicholas White, County Kilkenny
- Henry Draycott, Naas
- John Meade, Cork City
- Humphrey Warren, Carrickfergus
- Barnaby Fitzpatrick later 2nd Baron Upper Ossory
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 26 April 1585 | 14 May 1586 | Nicholas Walsh | 7 |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1585–86
Parliaments of James I
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 18 May 1613 | 24 October 1615 | Sir John Davies | ? |
Members
- Roger Atkinson, Enniskillen
- Andrew Barrett Cork County
- Richard Barry, Dublin City
- Sir John Bere, Carlow
- Sir Francis Berkeley, Limerick County
- Ralph Birchenshaw, Augher
- Sir Valentine Blake, 1st Baronet, Galway County
- Sir John Blennerhassett, Baron of the Court of Exchequer, Belfast
- Robert Blennerhassett Tralee
- Richard Bolton, Dublin City
- Sir Edward Brabazon, Wicklow County
- Edmund Butler, Cross Tipperary
- Boetius Clancy, junior, Clare
- Edmund Coppinger, Youghal
- Sir Thomas Crooke, 1st Baronet, Baltimore
- Sir John Davies, Speaker and Attorney-General, Fermanagh
- Gilbert Domville, Kildare
- Charles Doyne, Trinity College
- Sir John Everard, Catholic d. 1624, 'the acknowledged leader of the opposition'[25] Tipperary
- Humphrey Farnham, Enniskillen
- William Ferrar, Clogher[26]
- James Roche Fitz-Philip, Kinsale
- Dominick Roche Fitz-Richard, Kinsale
- Sir Henry Folliott, Fermanagh
- John Forrest, Youghal
- Sir Paul Gore, 1st Baronet, Ballyshannon
- Henry Gosnold, Second Justice of Munster, Clonakilty
- Sir James Gough, Waterford
- Sir Edward Harris, Chief Justice of Munster, Clonakilty
- Sir Robert Jacobe, Solicitor-General, Carlow
- Sir John King, Muster-master, Roscommon County
- Thomas Laffan, Cross Tipperary
- Sir Nicholas Loftus, Fethard (County Wexford)
- Gerard Lowther, Justice of the Common Pleas, Tallow
- Thomas Luttrell, Dublin County
- Dermot McCarthy Cork County
- Thomas Browne Mills, Limerick County
- Daniel Molyneaux, Ulster King of Arms, Strabane
- Samuel Molyneaux, Mallow
- Sir Garrett Moore, later Viscount Moore of Drogheda, Dungannon
- Sir Edward Moore, Charlemont
- Sir Richard Moryson, Vice-president of Munster, Bandonbridge
- Barnabas O'Brien, later Earl of Thomond, Coleraine
- Sir Daniel O'Brien, later 1st Viscount Clare, Clare
- Lawrence Parsons, Tallow
- William Parsons, Surveyor General, Newcastle
- Henry Piers (or Pierce), Secretary to the Lord Deputy, Baltimore
- Sir Christopher Plunket, Dublin County
- Sir Hugh Pollerde, Dungannon
- Sir Thomas Ridgeway, later Earl of Londonderry, vice-treasurer and treasurer-at-war, 'in practice recognized by both parties as leader of the house'[27] Tyrone
- Sir Robert Ridgeway, Ballynakill
- Sir Francis Roe, Tyrone
- Christopher Sibthorpe, Justice of the Court of King's Bench, Newtown Limavady
- Edward Skorye, Augher
- Sir Oliver St John, Master of the Ordnance and Vice-President of Connaught, Roscommon County
- Sir William Talbot, 1st Baronet, Kildare
- William Temple, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, Trinity College
- Sir William Usher, Clerk of the Council, Wicklow Borough
- Sir James Ware, Auditor-General, Mallow
- George Watkins, Clogher[26]
- Sir Richard Wingfield, Marshal of the Army, Downpatrick
Parliaments of Charles I
Parliament of 1634–35
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 14 July 1634 | 18 April 1635 | Sir Nathaniel Catelyn |
Members
- Sir Nathaniel Catelyn, Speaker
- John Clotworthy
- Patrick Darcy
- Sir Edward Fitzharris
- Maurice Fitzgerald
- Sir Nicholas Loftus, Fethard (County Wexford)
- Sir Henry Lynch
- Sir Thomas Luttrell
- Richard Martin
- Nicholas Plunkett
- Sir William Sarsfield
- Sir Nicholas White
- William Gallwey
- James Roche
- Guildford Slingsby
- Nicholas Barnewall
- Sir Paul Davys
- Sir John Borlase
- Sir Valentine Blake, 3rd Baronet
- Sir James Ware
- James Donnellan
- Sir Henry Spotteswood
- Edward Ayscough
- Sir William Cole
- Sir John Hume
- Sir Faithful Fortescue
- John Perkins
- Barnabas O'Brien
- Daniel O'Brien
- Christopher Wandesford
- George Radcliffe
- Sir Richard Kennedy, 1st Baronet
- Lott Peere
- Edward Skipwith
- Sir Charles Coote, later Earl of Mountrath
- James Dillon
- Sir Thomas Geogh
- Geoffrey Mockler
- Sir James Erskine
- Sir Henry Tichborne
- Sir William St Leger, Cork County
- Sir Donough MacCarty, 1st Earl of Clancarty, Cork County
- William Kingsmill, Mallow
- Robert Meredith, Augher
- James Erskine, Augher
- James Barry, later Lord Barry, Liamore
- Sir Henry Bingham, 1st Baronet, Castlebar
- John Bysse, Charlemont
- Sir Robert Talbot, 2nd Baronet, Wicklow
- Sir Jerome Alexander, Lifford
- Sir William Ryves, Belturbet
- Geoffrey Barron, Clonmel
- Sir Robert Travers, Clonakilty
- Philip Mainwaring, Clonakilty
Parliament of 1639–49
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 16 March 1639 (prorogued 1641) | 30 January 1649 | Sir Maurice Eustace | ? |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1639–49
Parliament of Charles II
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 May 1661 | 7 August 1666 | Sir Audley Mervyn | ? |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1661–66
Members:
- St. John Broderick
- Randolph Clayton
- Sir John Cole, 1st Baronet
- Sir Michael Cole
- Sir Robert Cole
- Sir Arthur Gore, 1st Baronet, Mayo
- Matthew Harrison
- Sir Robert King, 1st Baronet, Ballyshannon
- John Blennerhassett
- Robert Blennerhassett
- Richard Southwell, Askeaton
- Sir Richard Bulkeley, 1st Baronet, Baltinglass
- Sir Arthur Chichester
- Sir Thomas Bramhall
- Nicholas Ward, Downpatrick
- Sir Edward Dering, 2nd Baronet, Lismore
- Moses Hill, Drogheda
- Sir Robert Reading, Ratoath
- Sir William Flower, St. Canice
- Oliver Wheeler, St. Canice
- Daniel Redman, County Kilkenny
- John Chambers, Ardee
- John Ruxton, Ardee
- Francis Harvey, Clonmines
- John Povey, Swords
- Sir Edward Smith, Lisburn
- Sir John Lyndon, Carrickfergus
- Robert Shapcote Wicklow Borough
Parliaments of James II
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 May 1689 | 20 July 1689 | Sir Richard Nagle[28] | ? |
Members:
Parliaments of William III and Mary II
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 October 1692 | 26 June 1693 | Sir Richard Levinge | 1 |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1692–93
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 27 August 1695 | 14 June 1699 | Robert Rochfort | 2 |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1695–99
Parliaments of Anne
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 September 1703 | 6 May 1713 | Alan Brodrick; John Forster (from 19 May 1710) | 6 |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1703–13
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 25 November 1713 | 1 August 1714 on death of Queen Anne | Alan Brodrick | 1 |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1713–14
Parliament of George I
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 November 1715 | 11 June 1727 | William Conolly | 6 |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1715–27
Parliament of George II
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 28 November 1727 | 25 October 1760 on death of King George II | William Conolly; Sir Ralph Gore, Chancellor of the Exchequer (from 13 October 1729); Henry Boyle (from 4 October 1733); John Ponsonby (from 26 April 1756) | 17 |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1727–60
Members: (elected 1727)
- St John Brodrick
- Henry Boyle
- Sir Richard Cox, 2nd baronet
- Sir Matthew Deane, 3rd Baronet
- Charles Viscount Dungarvan
- Anthony Malone, Westmeath (married Speaker Ralph Gore's daughter),
- Thomas Carter
- Luke Gardiner, Tralee Thomastown to 1755
- Sir Arthur Acheson, 5th Baronet, for Mullingar
- Edward Lovett Pearce
- Robert Marshall
- Eaton Stannard
Members: (elected 1728/29)
Members: (elected 1739)
Members: (in 1747)
- Henry Gore, Tulsk
- Frederick Gore, Killybegs
- Sir Ralph Gore, Donegal County
- Arthur Hyde
- John Macarell, Carlingford
- Henry Mitchell, Castlebar
Members: (elected 1751/1752)
- Thomas Newenham, Cork
- Sir Richard Cox, Cork
- Cosby Nesbitt, Cavan
- Frederick Gore, Killybegs
- Henry Gore, Tulsk
- Sir Ralph Gore, Donegal County
- John Macarell, Carlingford
- Henry Mitchell, Castlebar
Members: (elected 1753/1754)
- Francis Pierpoint Burton, Killybegs
- Robert Fitzgerald, Kerry
- Henry Gore, Tulsk
- Frederick Gore, Killybegs
- Sir Ralph Gore, Donegal County
- John Macarell, Carlingford
- Henry Mitchell, Castlebar
- Cosby Nesbitt, Cavan County
- Mervyn Archdall
- William Brownlow, Armagh, Independent
- Francis Pierpoint Burton, Killybegs
- Charles Viscount Dungarvan
- Robert French
- John Gore
- Henry Gore, Tulsk
- Frederick Gore, Killybegs
- Sir Ralph Gore, Donegal County
- Anthony Malone
- John Macarell, Carlingford
- Henry Mitchell, Castlebar
- Edmund Pery, Independent
- John Ponsonby
- Abel Ram (Committee of Commons unseated Robert Leigh), Wexford
Members:
- Sir Archibold Acheson
- John Bowes
- Benjamin Burton
- Sir Charles Burton, Dublin
- Francis Pierpoint Burton, Killybegs
- Nathaniel Clements
- Cunninghame
- James Dunn, Dublin
- Sir William Fownes
- John Gore
- Henry Gore
- Frederick Gore
- John Hely-Hutchinson, Cork
- Henry Lyons
- Anthony Malone
- Cosby Nesbitt, Cavan County
- Charles O'Hara
- Edmond Pery, Independent
- Sir Thomas Prendergast
- Stone
- Philip Tisdall
Parliaments of George III
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 October 1761 | 28 May 1768 Octennial Act | John Ponsonby | 4 |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1761–68
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 17 October 1769 | 5 April 1776 | John Ponsonby to 4 March 1771, Edmond Pery Sexton | 5 |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1769–76
Grattan's Parliament
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 18 June 1776 | 25 July 1783 | Edmund Sexton Pery | 4 |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1776–83
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 | 14 October 1783 | 8 April 1790 | Edmund Sexton Pery, then John Foster from 5 September 1785 | 7 |
Members:List of Irish MPs 1783–90
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 2 July 1790 | 11 July 1797 | John Foster | 8 |
Members: List of Irish MPs 1790–97
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 9 January 1798 | 31 December 1800 | John Foster | 3 |
Members:List of Irish MPs 1798–1800
Means of resignation
Until 1793 members could not resign their seats. They could cease to be a member of the House only by one of four ways:
- death
- expulsion
- taking Holy Orders
- being awarded a peerage and so a seat in the Irish House of Lords.
In 1793 a methodology for resignation was created, equivalent to the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds or the Manor of Northstead as a means of resignation from the British House of Commons. From that date, Irish members could be appointed to the Escheatorship of Munster, the Escheatorship of Leinster, the Escheatorship of Connaught or the Escheatorship of Ulster. Possession of one of these Crown offices, "office of profit under the Crown" with a 30-shilling salary, terminated one's membership of the House of Commons.
Famous members
- Henry Grattan: Went on to serve as an Irish member of the United Kingdom House of Commons.
- Boyle Roche: The "father" of Irish bulls
- Hon. Arthur Wellesley: Later became Duke of Wellington, defeated Napoleon I at Waterloo, and served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He represented his family borough of Trim, County Meath from 1790–98.
- William Conolly: A past Speaker, Conolly remains today one of the most widely known figures ever to be produced by the Irish parliament. He is famous not just for his role in parliament but also for his great wealth that allowed him to build one of Ireland's greatest Georgian houses, Castletown House.
- Nathaniel Clements: 1705–77 Government and Treasury Official, Managed extensive financial functions from 1720–77 on behalf of the Government, de facto Minister for Finance 1740–77, extensive property owner and developer. major influence on the architecture of Georgian Dublin and the Irish Palladian Country house.
- John Philpot Curran: Orator and wit, originator of the quotation "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty".
See also
- History of Ireland
- Parliament of Ireland
- List of UK Parliamentary constituencies in Ireland 1801–1832
References
- Porritt, Edward (1963). The Unreformed House of Commons. Parliamentary Representation Before 1832. CUP Archive. pp. 185–7. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- Fiants Ire. Eliz. No 1530
- Hardiman, James (1842). "Appendix III: The lordes spirituall and temporall, counties, cytties, and borough-townes, as are answerable to the Parlyament in this realme of Ireland ; and souche as weare sommoned unto the Parlyament holden before the right honorable Sir John Perrot, knyght, Lord Deputie Generall of the realme of Ireland, xxvi. die Aprilis, anno regni Regine nostre Elizabeth, vicesimo septimo. A. D. 1585.". A Statute of the fortieth Year of Edward III., enacted in a Parliament held in Kilkenny, A. D. 1367, before Lionel Duke of Clarence, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Now first printed from a MS.in the Library of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth. With a Translation and Notes. Tracts relating to Ireland. Vol.II. Dublin: Irish Archaeological Society.
- Moody, T.W.; The Irish Parliament under Elizabeth and James I, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Vol 45 (1939) No 6, PP 72-76
- Moody, T.W.; Martin, F.X.; Byrne, F.J. (1991). Early Modern Ireland, 1534-1691. Oxford University Press. p. 166.Inquisitionum in Officio Rotulorum Cancellariae Hiberniae Asservatarum Repertorium (Repertory of the Inquisitions of the Chancery of Ireland) Volume II, page xix 'An Order for the division, setting out and appoyntinge of the boundes, lymytts and circuits of sixe severall sheires or countyes within the pvince of Ulster within this realme of Ireland, viz. the countye of Tyron, the countye of Donnyngall, the countye of Fermanaghe, the countye of Colrane, the countye of Armaghe and the countye of Monohon ... the firste of September anno dei 1585, annoque d[omi]n[a]e Regin[a]e Elizabeth', 27mo'
- "Turlough Lynagh (O'Neill)'s pretence to harm ... the new made county of Cavan" Proceedings and orders of the Chancellor, Council and Gentlemen of Meath and Dublin, August 21 1579, Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, of the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth, Volume 2, 1574-1585 page 184
- "O'Reilly's country erected into the County of Cavan" Lord Deputy Perrot to Walsyngham, 16 November 1584, Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, of the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth, Volume 2, 1574-1585 page 537
- Then called Dengenechoyshe
- Moody, T.W.; Martin, F.X.; Byrne, F.J. (1984). A New History of Ireland, Vol IX, Maps, Genealogies, Lists. Oxford University Press. p. 108.
- "Orders to be observed by Sir Nicholas Malby, Knight, for the better government of the Province of Connaght" Printed in O'Flaherty's Chorographical Description of West Or H-Iar Connaught: Written A.D. 1684 ed. Hardiman, P. 304
- An Act "whereby the King and Queen's Majesties, and the Heires and Successors of the Queen, be entituled to the Counties of Leix, Slewmarge, Irry, Glinmaliry, and Offaily, and for making the same Countries Shire Grounds." 3 & 4 Phil & Mar, c.2 (1556). The Act was repealed in 1962 Archived 2012-10-11 at the Wayback Machine.
- ”Falkiner, Caesar Litton (1904). Illustrations of Irish history and topography, mainly of the seventeenth century. London: Longmans, Green, & Co. pp. 118–9. ISBN 1-144-76601-X.
- Previously incorporated as Derry, 11 July 1604
- Maginn, Christopher (2012). William Cecil, Ireland, and the Tudor State. Oxford. p. 194.
- "The Annaley, formerly governed by O’Farrale Bane and O’Farrale Boy, is erected into a shire called Longford." Lord Chancellor and Council to the Queen, March 23, 1571,Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, of the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth, Volume 1, 1509-1573, page 440
- Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act 1543 34 Henry VIII cap 1 (Ire) An Act for the division of Methe into two shires.”Falkiner, Caesar Litton (1904). Illustrations of Irish history and topography, mainly of the seventeenth century. London: Longmans, Green, & Co. p. 117. ISBN 1-144-76601-X.
- Fiants Ire. Eliz. No 3003, 22 March 1577
- The county of Wicklow created in 1577 seems not to have functioned and ceased to exist some time after 1586 - Moody, T.W.; Martin, F.X.; Byrne, F.J. (1984). A New History of Ireland, Vol IX, Maps, Genealogies, Lists. Oxford University Press. p. 108.
- Moody, T.W.; Martin, F.X.; Byrne, F.J. (1991). Early Modern Ireland, 1534-1691. Oxford University Press. p. 166.
- Hart, A.R. The History of the King's Serjeants at law in Ireland Four Courts Press 2000 pp.19-20
- Hart p.20
- Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p.102
- Alan Bryson, ‘St Leger, Sir Anthony (1496?–1559)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 14 June 2014
- O'Flanagan "[could not] say for what place he sat in Parliament, although [he had] carefully examined the List as given in the ‘Liber Munerum Publicorum Hiberniæ.’" O'Flanagan, J.Roderick Lives of the Lord Chancellors of Ireland 2 Volumes London 1870, page 219
- Moody, T.W.; The Irish Parliament under Elizabeth and James I, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Vol 45 (1939) No 6, P65
- Ceased to sit after the first session, as his borough was declared not to have the franchise
- Moody, T.W.; The Irish Parliament under Elizabeth and James I, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Vol 45 (1939) No 6, P64
- Seaward, Paul: Parliamentary History: Speakers and the Speakership. Blackwell Publishing. 2010. p 62.
Sources
- Charles Ivar McGrath, The making of the 18th century Irish Constitution; Government, Parliament and the Revenue, 1692-1714, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2000, ISBN 1-85182-554-1
- Eoin Magennis, The Irish Political System 1740-1765, Doublin: Four Courts Press, 2000, ISBN 1-85182-484-7
- Moody/Vaughan, A new history of Ireland, Oxford, 1986, ISBN 0-19-821742-0 and ISBN 0-19-821739-0
- Mary Frances Cusack, Illustrated History of Ireland, Project Gutenberg
- Return of the name of every member of the lower house of parliament of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with name of constituency represented, and date of return, from 1213 to 1874. C. 69-I. HMSO. 1878.
- Edith Mary Johnston-Liik, ed. (2002). History of the Irish parliament, 1692–1800. Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation.
External links
- Members Name Search (Commons and Lords, 1692–1800) Irish Legislation Database, Queen's University Belfast
- History of the Irish Parliament: Constituencies Ulster Historical Foundation
- Journals of the House of Commons of Ireland (proceedings from 1613)
- Index page for 14 volumes at HathiTrust
- large (~1 GB) PDF scans of 21 volumes from Oireachtas library) Index Vol.1 Index Vol.2 Vol.2 Vol.3 Vol.4 Vol.5 Vol.6 Vol.7 Vol.8 Vol.9 Vol.10 Vol.11 Vol.12 Vol.13 Vol.14 Vol.15 Vol.16 Vol.17 Vol.17 (Appendix) Vol.18 Vol.19 Vol.19 (Appendix)