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Irish House of Commons

{{Short description|Lower house of the Parliament of Ireland that existed from 1297 until 1800}}

{{About||the current house of representatives in Ireland|Dáil Éireann|the body which existed between 1921 and 1922|House of Commons of Southern Ireland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox legislature

| name = Irish House of Commons

| coa_pic = Arms of Ireland (historical).svg

| coa_res = 150px

| coa_caption =

| house_type = Lower house

| houses =

| legislature =

| established = 1297

| preceded_by =

| succeeded_by = House of Commons of the United Kingdom

| disbanded = 1 January 1801

| leader1_type = Speaker of the House

| leader1 = John Foster (1785–1800)

| election1 =

| members = 300{{efn|group=boxn|In 1800.}}

| house1 =

| house2 =

| house3 =

| voting_system1 = Plurality block voting with limited suffrage

| session_room = The_Irish_House_of_Commons_in_1780_by_Francis_Wheatley.jpg

| session_res = 220px

| meeting_place = The Irish House of Commons (by Francis Wheatley, 1780)

| footnotes = {{notelist|group=boxn}}

}}

The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland that existed from 1297 until the end of 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 Great Britain. Catholics were disqualified from sitting in the Irish parliament from 1691, even though they comprised the vast majority of the Irish population.

The Irish executive, known as the Dublin Castle administration, 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.

From 1 January 1801, it ceased to exist and was succeeded by the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

Franchise

The limited franchise was exclusively male. From 1728 until 1793, Catholics were disfranchised, as well as being ineligible to sit in the Commons. Most of the population of all religions had no vote. In counties, forty-shilling freeholders were enfranchised while in most boroughs it was either only the members of self-electing corporations or a highly restricted body of freemen that were eligible to vote for the borough's representatives. The vast majority of parliamentary boroughs were pocket boroughs, the private property of an aristocratic patron.

Abolition

The House of Commons was abolished under the Acts of Union 1800, which merged the Kingdom of Ireland into the Kingdom of Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland with effect from 1 January 1801. The Irish House of Commons sat for the last time in Parliament House, Dublin on 2 August 1800. One hundred of its members were designated or co-opted to sit with the House of Commons of Great Britain, forming the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The patron of pocket boroughs that were disfranchised under the Act of Union was awarded £15,000 compensation for each.{{cite book|last=Porritt|first=Edward|title=The Unreformed House of Commons. Parliamentary Representation Before 1832|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4LI8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA185|access-date=23 July 2013|year=1963|publisher=CUP Archive|pages=185–187}}

Speaker of the Commons

File:GILBERT(1896) p109 PROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE, DUBLIN.jpg with the dome, seen from the street-level, in the 18th century]]

{{main article|Speaker of the Irish House of 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

File:Irish Commons.jpg

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. By the time of the Union, there were 150 constituencies, each electing two members by plurality block voting; an elector could vote for one or two of the candidates, with the two receiving most votes being returned. The constituencies had different franchises as follows: {{sfn|Johnston-Liik|2006|p=222}}

Following the Act of Union, from 1801, there were 100 MPs from Ireland in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The Irish constituencies at Westminster were a subset of those in the Irish House of Commons as follows:

  • the 32 counties and two most populous county borough constituencies, Cork City and Dublin City, retained two MPs each;
  • the 6 other county boroughs, the university, and the 25 most populous boroughs were reduced to one MP each;
  • the 84 least populous Irish parliamentary boroughs were disfranchised after the Union

class="wikitable sortable"

! Constituency !! Type !! County !! Creation{{efn|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.}} !! Franchise !! Fate after the union

data-sort-value="antrim"| County AntrimCountyAntrim1570[https://archive.org/stream/reportofdeputyke1113irel#page/n237/mode/2up Fiants Ire. Eliz. No 1530]Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
AntrimBoroughAntrim1666Potwalloper{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
ArdeeBoroughLouth1378Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
ArdfertBoroughKerry1639?Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
ArdsCountyDowndata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560{{cite book |last=Hardiman |first=James |author-link=James Hardiman |title=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 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/tractsrelatingto02irisuoft#page/n316/mode/1up |series=Tracts relating to Ireland|volume=II|year=1842|publisher=Irish Archaeological Society|location=Dublin|chapter=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.}}{{hs|0}}Previously disfranchised{{efn|The territory of Ards, one of the medieval sheriffdoms of the Earldom of Ulster, was included in the reconstituted County Down in 1570.}}
data-sort-value="armagh"| County ArmaghCountyArmagh1585 (September){{Cite book|author=Moody, T.W. |author2=Martin, F.X. |author3=Byrne, F.J. |title=Early Modern Ireland, 1534-1691 |location=Oxford University Press|year=1991|page=166|isbn=9780198202424 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c8M1p3ySwI4C&q=Armagh+%22shired%22&pg=PA750}}[https://books.google.com/books?id=WUepqE-K4PAC&dq=%22Inquisitionum+in+Officio+Rotulorum+Cancellariae%22&pg=PR54 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']Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
ArmaghBoroughArmagh1613 (26 March) {{cite journal|last=Moody |first=T.W. |title=The Irish Parliament under Elizabeth and James I |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy |volume=45 |year=1939 |number=6 |pages=72–76}}Ecclesiastical corporation - Bishop's borough{{hs|1}}One seat
AskeatonBoroughLimerick1613 (30 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
AthboyBoroughMeathdata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560{{efn|"Athboy was an ancient borough by prescription with a charter dated 1410, 9 Henry IV. There were further charters of 9 Henry VII and 8 James I all confirming the liberties and privileges of the corporate or free borough."{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=301}}}}Manor{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
AthenryBoroughGalway1310?{{efn|"Athenry was a very old town with writs with grants and charters going back to at least the reign of Edward II. There is one for 14 October 1310 and there are a number for the reign of Richard II in the 1390s."{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=240}}}}Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
AthloneBoroughWestmeath1606 (10 December)Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
AthyBoroughKildaredata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
AugherBoroughTyrone1613 (15 April)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
BallynakillBoroughQueen's County1612 (10 December)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
BallyshannonBoroughDonegal1613 (23 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
BaltimoreBoroughCork1613 (25 March)Potwalloper{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
BaltinglassBoroughWicklow1664Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
BanagherBoroughKing's County1629Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
BandonbridgeBoroughCork1613 (30 March)Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
BangorBoroughDown1613 (18 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
BannowBoroughWexforddata-sort-value="1614"| Between 1614 and 1634{{efn|"Bannow was a borough by prescription, and no charter could be found for it in 1800"{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=356}}}}Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
BelfastBoroughAntrim1613 (27 April)Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
BelturbetBoroughCavan1613 (30 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
BlessingtonBoroughWicklow1670Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
BoyleBoroughRoscommon1613 (25 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
CallanBoroughKilkennyBy 1585{{efn|"Callan was a medieval borough by prescription, with charters and grants from the reigns of Edward III, Richard II and Henry IV."{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=253}}}}Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
CarlingfordBoroughLouthdata-sort-value="1300"|13?{{efn|"Carlingford was another ancient borough, with charters going back to the reign of Edward II."{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=289}}}}Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="carlow"|County CarlowCountyCarlow1297{{cite book |last=Betham |first=William |author-link=William Betham (1779–1853) |date=1830 |title=Dignities, Feudal and Parliamentary |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112104222106&view=1up&seq=306&skin=2021 |location=London |publisher=Thomas and William Boone |page=262 |isbn=}}{{efn|name="Liberty"}}Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
CarlowBoroughCarlow1613 (19 April)Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
CarrickBoroughLeitrim1613 (30 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
CarrickfergusCounty boroughAntrim{{efn|name="cobo"|A separate county corporate.}}1326Freeholder and householder{{hs|1}}One seat
CarysfortBoroughWicklow1629Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
CashelBoroughTipperaryBy 1585{{efn|"Cashel was a medieval foundation said to have been established in the year 1216 by Donat, Archbishop of Cashel, and incorporated under his successor, Marianus O'Brien, in 1233. It had various subsequent charters before it emerged in its modern form by a 1585 charter of 26 Eliz. I and a 1638 charter of Charles I."{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=327}}}}Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
CastlebarBoroughMayo1613 (26 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
CastlemartyrBoroughCork1676Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="cavan"|County CavanCountyCavan1579[https://archive.org/stream/calendarireland02greauoft#page/184/mode/2up "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] or 1584[https://archive.org/stream/calendarireland02greauoft#page/537/mode/2up "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]Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
CavanBoroughCavan1610 (15 November)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
CharlemontBoroughArmagh1613 (29 April)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
CharlevilleBoroughCork1673Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="clare"|County ClareCountyClaredata-sort-value="1376"|By 1376{{efn|It was represented in the Parliament of 1376}}{{cite book |last1=Richardson |first1=Henry Gerald |author-link1=Henry Gerald Richardson |last2=Sayles |first2=George Osborne |author-link2=G. O. Sayles|date=1952 |title=The Irish Parliament in the Middle Ages |location=Philadelphia |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |page=78, note 29 |isbn=}}Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
ClogherBoroughTyroneBy 1613{{efn|"It was probably a borough by prescription confirmed by a 1630 charter, 5 Chas. I ..."}}Ecclesiastical corporation - Bishop's borough{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
ClonakiltyBoroughCork1613 (5 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
ClonmelBoroughTipperarydata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
ClonminesBoroughWexforddata-sort-value="1614"| Between 1614 and 1634{{efn|"Clonmines, like Bannow, was a borough by prescription, and no charter was available"}}Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="coleraine"|County ColeraineCountyLondonderry1585 (September)Freeholders{{hs|0}}Previously disfranchised
ColeraineBoroughLondonderry1613 (25 March)Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
ConnachtCountyMultiple{{efn|name="connacht"}}1297{{hs|0}}Previously disfranchised{{efn|name="connacht"|The medieval county of Connacht was subdivided in 1570 into the modern counties of Galway and Mayo.}}
County CorkCountyCork1297Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
Cork CityCounty boroughCork{{efn|name="cobo"}}1299Freeholder and Freemen{{hs|2}}Two seats
DingleBoroughKerryBy 1585{{efn|Then called Dengenechoyshe.}}Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="donegal"|County DonegalCountyDonegal1585 (September)Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
Donegal BoroughBoroughDonegal1613 (27 February)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
DoneraileBoroughCork1640Manor{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="down"|County DownCountyDown1570Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
DownpatrickBoroughDownBy 1585{{efn|"Downpatrick was recognised as early as the reign of Henry IV, when letters of protection were granted to the inhabitants. No charter of incorporation is extant, but it returned two MPs to the 1586-7 parliament of Elizabeth I"{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=221}}}}Potwalloper{{hs|1}}One seat
DroghedaCounty boroughLouth{{efn|name="cobo"}}1299Freeholders and freemen{{hs|1}}One seat
data-sort-value="dublin"|County DublinCountyDublin1297Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
Dublin CityCounty boroughDublin{{efn|name="cobo"}}1299Freeholders and freemen{{hs|2}}Two seats
Dublin UniversityUniversityDublin{{efn|The University was in the county of the city of Dublin. The electorate was its provost, fellows and scholars.}}1613{{efn|"[I]n 1613 [James I] granted the University a further charter enabling it to return two members of parliament."{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=231}}}}Graduates{{hs|1}}One seat
DuleekBoroughMeathdata-sort-value="1615"| Between 1614 and 1661{{efn|"Duleek was [an] ancient borough with a charter of Edward IV."{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=303}}}}Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
DundalkBoroughLouthdata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
DungannonBoroughTyrone1612 (27 November)Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
DungarvanBoroughWaterforddata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560Potwalloper{{hs|1}}One seat
DunleerBoroughLouth1679Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
EnnisBoroughClare1613 (27 February)Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
EnniscorthyBoroughWexford1613 (25 May)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
EnniskillenBoroughFermanagh1613 (27 February)Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
data-sort-value="fermanagh"|County FermanaghCountyFermanagh1585 (September)Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
FernsCountyWexfordBy 1579{{Cite book|author=Moody, T.W. |author2=Martin, F.X. |author3=Byrne, F.J. |title=A New History of Ireland, Vol IX, Maps, Genealogies, Lists|location=Oxford University Press|year=1984|page=108}}Freeholders{{hs|0}}Previously disfranchised{{efn|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.}}
FethardBoroughTipperarydata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560{{harv|House of Lords|1878|loc=[https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=RWMUAAAAQAAJ&pg=GBS.PA632&printsec=frontcover p. 632]}}Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
FethardBoroughWexford1613 (15 April)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
ForeBoroughWestmeathdata-sort-value="1614"| Between 1614 and 1634{{efn|"Fore appears to have been a borough by prescription: the Rolls Office issued a negative certificate to the Commissioners for Union Compensation."{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=352}}, citing [https://archive.org/details/op1242624-1001/page/n49/mode/2up?view=theater Report of the Commissioners of Union Compensation - Cities, Towns and Boroughs, p. 47]}}Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="galway"|County GalwayCountyGalwayBy 1579 [https://archive.org/stream/achorographical00oflgoog#page/n321/mode/2up "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]Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
Galway BoroughCounty boroughGalway{{efn|name="cobo"}}data-sort-value="1400"|By 1400{{efn|name="14thC"|It was represented in the parliaments in the late 14th century}}{{cite book |last1=Richardson |first1=Henry Gerald |author-link1=Henry Gerald Richardson |last2=Sayles |first2=George Osborne |author-link2=G. O. Sayles|date=1952 |title=The Irish Parliament in the Middle Ages |location=Philadelphia |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |page=78, note 31 |isbn=}}Freemen{{hs|1}}One seat
Gorey (also Newburgh)BoroughWexford1620Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
GowranBoroughKilkenny1608 (15 September)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
GranardBoroughLongford1679Manor{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
HarristownBoroughKildare1684Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
HillsboroughBoroughDown1662Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
InistiogeBoroughKilkennyBy 1585Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
JamestownBoroughLeitrim1622Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
KellsBoroughMeathdata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="kerry"|KerryCountyKerry1297Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
KilbegganBoroughWestmeath1613 (27 February)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="kildare"|County KildareCountyKildare1297Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
KildareBoroughKildaredata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
Kilkenny CityCounty boroughKilkenny{{efn|name="cobo"}}1299?Freeholders and Freemen{{hs|1}}One seat
data-sort-value="kilkenny"|County KilkennyCountyKilkenny1297{{efn|name="Liberty"}}Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
KillybegsBoroughDonegal1616Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
KillyleaghBoroughDown1613 (10 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
KilmallockBoroughLimerickdata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
King's CountyCountyKing's County1556[https://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900041.pdf 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."] 303/554 - 3 & 4 Phil & Mar, c.2 (1556). The Act was [http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1962/act/29/schedule/enacted/en/html repealed in 1962].”{{cite book

| last = Falkiner

| first = Caesar Litton

| title = Illustrations of Irish history and topography, mainly of the seventeenth century

| url = https://archive.org/stream/illustrationsir00jouvgoog#page/n147/mode/2up

| year = 1904

| publisher = Longmans, Green, & Co

| location = London

| pages = 118–9

| isbn = 1-144-76601-X

}}

Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
KinsaleBoroughCork1334?{{efn|"Kinsale was a medieval borough. The earliest charter extant is that of 1589, 31 Eliz. I, which refers to a 1334 charter of 7 Edw. III"{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=209}}}}Corporation and Freemen{{hs|1}}One seat
KnocktopherBoroughKilkenny1665Potwalloper{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
LanesboroughBoroughLongford1642Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
County LeitrimCountyLeitrim1583Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
LiffordBoroughDonegal1613 (27 February)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="limerick"|County LimerickCountyLimerick1297Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
Limerick CityCounty boroughLimerick{{efn|name="cobo"}}1299Freeholders and Freemen{{hs|1}}One seat
LisburnBoroughAntrim1661Potwalloper{{hs|1}}One seat
LismoreBoroughWaterford1613 (6 May)Manor{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
County LondonderryCountyLondonderry1613Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
Londonderry CityBoroughLondonderry1613 (29 March){{efn|Previously incorporated as Derry, 11 July 1604.}}Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
data-sort-value="longford"|County LongfordCountyLongford1571[https://archive.org/details/reportofdeputyke1113irel/page/n229/mode/2up?view=theater Fiants Ire. Eliz. No 1486] {{Cite book|author=Maginn, Christopher|title=William Cecil, Ireland, and the Tudor State |location=Oxford|year=2012|page=194|isbn=978-0-19-969715-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nw37dKDJdlcC&dq=%22Fiants+Ire+Eliz%22&pg=PA199}}[https://archive.org/stream/calendarireland01greauoft#page/440/mode/2up "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]Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
LongfordBoroughLongford1669Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="louth"|LouthCountyLouth1297Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
MallowBoroughCork1613 (27 February)Manor{{hs|1}}One seat
MaryboroughBoroughQueen's County1571Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="mayo"|County MayoCountyMayoBy 1579Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
data-sort-value="meath"|County MeathCountyMeath1297{{efn|name="Liberty"|created as a Liberty}}Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
MidletonBoroughCork1671Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="monaghan"|County MonaghanCountyMonaghan1585 (September)Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
MonaghanBoroughMonaghan1613 (26 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
MullingarBoroughWestmeathdata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560Manor{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
NaasBoroughKildaredata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
NavanBoroughMeath1469Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
New RossBoroughWexforddata-sort-value="1400"|By 1400{{efn|name=14thC}}Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
NewcastleBoroughDublin1613 (30 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
NewryBoroughDown1613 (27 February)Potwalloper{{hs|1}}One seat
Newtown LimavadyBoroughLondonderry1613 (30 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
NewtownardsBoroughDown1613 (25 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
Old LeighlinBoroughCarlowdata-sort-value="1614"| Between 1614 and 1634Ecclesiastical corporation - Bishop's borough{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
PhilipstownBoroughKing's County1571Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
PortarlingtonBoroughQueen's County1668Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
Queen's CountyCountyQueen's County1556 Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
RandalstownBoroughAntrim1683Freeman / Potwalloper{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
RathcormackBoroughCorkdata-sort-value="1615.5"| Between 1614 and 1692{{efn|"Rathcormack was ... incorporated by charter, which was produced at the Union. Some boroughs, particularly those incorporated before or during the early years of the seventeenth century ... "{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=305}}}}Potwalloper / Manor{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
RatoathBoroughMeathdata-sort-value="1615"| Between 1614 and 1661{{efn|"No charter is extant for this borough"{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=211}}}}Manor{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="roscommon"|County RoscommonCountyRoscommon1297Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
RoscommonBoroughRoscommon1613 (27 February)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
St CaniceBoroughKilkenny{{efn|In the county of the city of Kilkenny rather than county Kilkenny.}}data-sort-value="1615"| Between 1614 and 1661{{efn|"St Canice was a very ancient borough and thought to have been from remote antiquity part of the See of Ossory. In 1606 a patent appears to have been granted by James I, whereby Irishtown was to be a corporation ..., but, the muniments of the temporalities of the Bishops of Ossory having been lost during the troubles, in 1678 Charles II made a new grant of a corporation" "{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=259}}}}Ecclesiastical corporation - Bishop's borough{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
St JohnstownBoroughDonegal1618Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
St JohnstownBoroughLongford1628Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="sligo"|County SligoCountySligoBy 1579Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
SligoBoroughSligo1613 (30 March)Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
StrabaneBoroughTyrone1613 (18 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
SwordsBoroughDublinBy 1585{{efn|"Swords had the distinction of being the most notorious borough in the Irish Parliament. Its charter was lost. The memorial presented by John Beresford and Francis Synge declared that it was 'an ancient borough by prescription'; another memorial declared that it had been enfranchised from 'time immemorial'. The portreeve, James Stewart, said 'that the said corporation is an open borough by Charter' dated 11 April, 5 James II - i.e. 1690! Most memorialists simply stressed that it was of great antiquity."{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=235}}}}Potwalloper{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
TaghmonBoroughWexforddata-sort-value="1614"| Between 1614 and 1634{{efn|"Taghmon was a borough by prescription; no charter could be found for it in 1800. It is mentioned in 1642, so it must have existed before then."{{harv|Johnston-Liik|2002|p=360}}}}{{efn|It did not return members in 1613 and returned two members in 1634.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.c047928783&view=1up&seq=646&skin=2021 Members of Parliament - Return (in part) to an Order of the House of Lords, dated 13th July 1877]}}Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
TallowBoroughWaterford1613 (1 May)Manor / Potwalloper{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
ThomastownBoroughKilkenny1541Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="tipperary"|County TipperaryCountyTipperary1297Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
Cross TipperaryCountyTipperaryBy 1585Freeholders{{hs|0}}Previously disfranchised{{efn|Cross Tipperary last returned MPs in 1634, and was definitively merged with Tipperary in 1716.}}
TraleeBoroughKerry1613 (31 March)Corporation{{hs|1}}One seat
TrimBoroughMeathdata-sort-value="1560"|By 1560Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
TuamBoroughGalway1613 (30 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
TulskBoroughRoscommon1663Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
data-sort-value="tyrone"|TyroneCountyTyrone1585 (September)Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
Liberty of UlsterCountyMultiple{{efn|name="ulster"}}1297{{efn|name="Liberty"}}{{hs|0}}Previously disfranchised{{efn|name="ulster"|The medieval liberty of Ulster was subdivided in 1570 into the modern counties of Antrim and Down.}}
data-sort-value="Waterford"|County WaterfordCountyWaterford1297Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
Waterford CityCounty boroughWaterford{{efn|name="cobo"}}1299Freemen and freeholders{{hs|1}}One seat
data-sort-value="westmeath"|County WestmeathCountyWestmeath1543[https://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900041.pdf Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act 1543] (294/554) 34 Hen. 8. c. 1 (I) An Act for the division of Methe into two shires.{{cite book

| last = Falkiner

| first = Caesar Litton

| title = Illustrations of Irish history and topography, mainly of the seventeenth century

| url = https://archive.org/stream/illustrationsir00jouvgoog#page/n145/mode/2up

| year = 1904

| publisher = Longmans, Green, & Co

| location = London

| pages = 117

| isbn = 1-144-76601-X

}}

Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
data-sort-value="wexford"|County WexfordCountyWexford1297{{efn|name="Liberty"}}Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
WexfordBoroughWexforddata-sort-value="1400"|By 1400{{efn|name=14thC}}Freemen{{hs|1}}One seat
data-sort-value="wicklow"|County WicklowCountyWicklow1577;[https://archive.org/stream/reportofdeputyke1113irel#page/26/mode/2up/search/Wicklowe Fiants Ire. Eliz. No 3003, 22 March 1577]{{efn|The county of Wicklow created in 1577 seems not to have functioned and ceased to exist some time after 1586{{Cite book|last1=Moody|first1=T. W.|author-link1=Theodore William Moody|last2=Martin|first2=F. X. |author-link2=F. X. Martin|last3=Byrne|first3=F. J.|author-link3=Francis John Byrne|title=A New History of Ireland, Vol IX, Maps, Genealogies, Lists|location=Oxford University Press|year=1984|page=108}}}} 1606{{Cite book|last1=Moody|first1=T. W.|author-link1=Theodore William Moody|last2=Martin|first2=F. X. |author-link2=F. X. Martin|last3=Byrne|first3=F. J. |author-link3=Francis John Byrne|title=Early Modern Ireland, 1534-1691 |location=Oxford University Press|year=1991|page=166|isbn=9780198202424 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c8M1p3ySwI4C&q=Armagh+%22shired%22&pg=PA750}}Freeholders{{hs|2}}Two seats
WicklowBoroughWicklow1613 (30 March)Corporation{{hs|0}}Disfranchised
YoughalBoroughCork1374Corporation and Freemen{{hs|1}}One seat

;Notes:

{{notelist}}

File:Henry Boyle, 1st Earl of Shannon.jpg, speaker between 1733 and 1756]]

File:John Ponsonby P5215.jpg, speaker between 1756 and 1771]]

File:GILBERT(1896) p101 EDMOND SEXTON PERY - SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.jpg, speaker between 1771 and 1785]]

File:The Right Honorable John Foster by Gilbert Stuart, c. 1790-1791 - Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art - DSC09033.JPG, last speaker of the Irish House of Commons (1785–1800)]]

Means of resignation

Until 1793 members could not resign their seats. They could cease to be a member of the House in one of four ways:

In 1793 a means 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.

Notable members

See also

References

{{reflist|30em}}

Sources

  • Mary Frances Cusack, Illustrated History of Ireland, Project Gutenberg
  • {{cite book |title=History of the Irish parliament, 1692–1800 |editor-first=Edith Mary|editor-last=Johnston-Liik |publisher=Ulster Historical Foundation |year=2002 |location=Belfast }}
  • {{cite book |title=MPs in Dublin: Companion to the History of the Irish Parliament 1692-1800 |first=Edith Mary|last=Johnston-Liik |publisher=Ulster Historical Foundation |year=2006|location=Belfast|isbn=1903688604}}
  • {{cite book|first=Charles Ivar|last=McGrath|title=The making of the 18th century Irish Constitution: Government, Parliament and the Revenue, 1692-1714|location=Dublin|publisher=Four Courts Press|year=2000|isbn=1-85182-554-1}}
  • {{cite book|first=Eoin|last=Magennis|title=The Irish Political System 1740-1765|location=Dublin|publisher=Four Courts Press|year=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}}
  • {{cite book |last=House of Lords|title=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 |series=C. |volume=69-I |year=1878 |publisher=HMSO }}

External links

  • [http://www.qub.ac.uk/ild/?func=browse&area=names Members Name Search (Commons and Lords, 1692–1800)] Irish Legislation Database, Queen's University Belfast
  • [http://www.ancestryireland.com/history-of-the-irish-parliament/constituencies/ History of the Irish Parliament: Constituencies] Ulster Historical Foundation
  • Journals of the House of Commons of Ireland (proceedings from 1613)
  • [https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/011570754 Index page] for 14 volumes at HathiTrust
  • large (~1 GB) PDF scans of 21 volumes from Oireachtas library) [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900069.pdf Index Vol.1] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900070.pdf Index Vol.2] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900079.pdf Vol.2] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900081.pdf Vol.3] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900080.pdf Vol.4] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900082.pdf Vol.5] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900071.pdf Vol.6] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900073.pdf Vol.7] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900072.pdf Vol.8] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900074.pdf Vol.9] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900077.pdf Vol.10] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900078.pdf Vol.11] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900075.pdf Vol.12] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900076.pdf Vol.13] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900062.pdf Vol.14] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900061.pdf Vol.15] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900063.pdf Vol.16] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900064.pdf Vol.17] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900068.pdf Vol.17 (Appendix)] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900065.pdf Vol.18] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900066.pdf Vol.19] [http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library7/Library1/DC900067.pdf Vol.19 (Appendix)]

{{Irish legislatures}}

{{Kingdom of Ireland}}

{{National lower houses}}

Commons

Category:Defunct lower houses

Category:1297 establishments in Europe

Category:1290s establishments in Ireland

Category:1801 disestablishments in Ireland