Irish House of Commons | |
---|---|
Arms of Ireland | |
Type | |
Type | Lower house |
Timeline | |
Established | 1297 |
Succeeded by | House of Commons of the United Kingdom |
Disbanded | 31 December 1800 |
Members | 3001 |
Election | |
Voting system | First past the post with limited suffrage |
Meeting place | |
Commons Chamber, Irish Houses of Parliament, Dublin (painting: The Irish House of Commons by Francis Wheatley, 1780) | |
See also | |
House of Commons of Great Britain | |
Footnotes | |
1In 1800 |
The Irish House of Commons (Irish: Teach na nGnáthduine) 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: 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, Roman 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 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 who, in the absence of a government chosen from and answerable to the Commons, was the dominant political figure in the parliament. 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 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 | Enfranchised | Fate after the union |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antrim Borough | Borough | County Antrim | 1666 | Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Antrim County | County | County Antrim | Two seats | ||
Ardee | County Louth | 1378 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Ardfert | County Kerry | 1639? | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Armagh Borough | Borough | County Armagh | 1613 | Corporation | One seat |
Armagh County | County | County Armagh | Two seats | ||
Askeaton | County Limerick | 1614 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Athboy | County Meath | 1613 | Manor | Disfranchised | |
Athenry | County Galway | 1310? | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Athlone | County Westmeath | 1607 | Corporation | One seat | |
Athy | County Kildare | 1614 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Augher | County Tyrone | 1614 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Ballynakill (also Ballynakill) | Queen's County | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Ballyshannon | County Donegal | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Baltimore | County Cork | 1614 | Potwalloper | Disfranchised | |
Baltinglass | County Wicklow | 1664 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Banagher | King's County | 1629 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Bandonbridge | County Cork | 1614 | Corporation | One seat | |
Bangor | County Down | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Bannow | County Wexford | ? | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Belfast | County Antrim | 1613 | Corporation | One seat | |
Belturbet | County Cavan | 1614 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Blessington | County Wicklow | 1670 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Boyle | County Roscommon | 1614 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Callan | County Kilkenny | 1264 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Carlingford | County Louth | 13?? | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Carlow Borough | County Carlow | 1613 | Corporation | One seat | |
Carlow County | County | County Carlow | Two seats | ||
Carrick | County Leitrim | 1614 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Carrickfergus | County Antrim | 1326 | Freeholder and householder | One seat | |
Carysfort | County Wicklow | 1629 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Cashel | County Tipperary | ? | Corporation | One seat | |
Castlebar | County Mayo | 1614 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Castlemartyr | County Cork | 1676 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Cavan Borough | Borough | County Cavan | 1611 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Cavan County | County | County Cavan | Two seats | ||
Charlemont | County Armagh | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Charleville | County Cork | 1673 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Clare | County | County Clare | Two seats | ||
Clogher | County Tyrone | 1264 | Ecclesiastical | Disfranchised | |
Clonakilty | County Cork | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Clonmel | County Tipperary | ? | Corporation | One seat | |
Clonmines | County Wexford | ? | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Coleraine | County Londonderry | 16?? | Corporation | One seat | |
Cork City | County Cork | 1264 | Freeholder and Freemen | Two seats | |
Cork County | County | County Cork | Two seats | ||
Dingle | County Kerry | 1607 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Donegal Borough | Borough | County Donegal | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Donegal County | County Donegal | Two seats | |||
Doneraile | County Cork | 1640 | Manor | Disfranchised | |
Down | County | County Down | Two seats | ||
Downpatrick | County Down | 1586 | Potwalloper | One seat | |
Drogheda | County Louth | 1264 | Freeholders and freemen | One seat | |
Dublin City | County Dublin | 1264 | Freeholders and freemen | Two seats | |
Dublin County | County | County Dublin | Two seats | ||
Dublin University | One seat | ||||
Duleek | County Meath | 1727 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Dundalk | County Louth | 1264 | Corporation | One seat | |
Dungannon | County Tyrone | 1613 | Corporation | One seat | |
Dungarvan | County Waterford | 1610 | Potwalloper | One seat | |
Dunleer | County Louth | 1679 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Ennis | County Clare | 1613 | Corporation | One seat | |
Enniscorthy | County Wexford | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Enniskillen | County Fermanagh | 1613 | Corporation | One seat | |
Fermanagh | County | County Fermanagh | Two seats | ||
Fethard | County Tipperary | 1608 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Fethard | County Wexford | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Fore | County Westmeath | ? | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Galway Borough | Borough | County Galway | 1264 | Freemen | One seat |
Galway County | County | County Galway | Two seats | ||
Gorey (also Newburgh) | County Wexford | 1620 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Gowran | Borough | County Kilkenny | 1609 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Granard | County Longford | 1679 | Manor | Disfranchised | |
Harristown | County Kildare | 1684 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Hillsborough | County Down | 1662 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Inistioge | County Kilkenny | ? | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Jamestown | County Leitrim | 1622 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Kells | County Meath | 1561 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Kerry | County | County Kerry | Two seats | ||
Kilbeggan | County Westmeath | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Kildare Borough | Borough | County Kildare | 15?? | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kildare County | County | County Kildare | Two seats | ||
Kilkenny City | County Kilkenny | 1264? | Freeholders and Freemen | One seat | |
Kilkenny County | County | County Kilkenny | Two seats | ||
Killybegs | County Donegal | 1616 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Killyleagh | County Down | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Kilmallock | County Limerick | 15?? | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
King's County | County | King's County | Two seats | ||
Kinsale | County Cork | 1334? | Corporation and Freemen | One seat | |
Knocktopher | County Kilkenny | 1690? | Potwalloper | Disfranchised | |
Lanesborough | County Longford | 1642 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Leitrim | County | County Leitrim | Two seats | ||
Lifford | County Donegal | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Limerick City | County Limerick | 1264 | Freeholders and Freemen | One seat | |
Limerick County | County | County Limerick | Two seats | ||
Lisburn | County Antrim | 1661 | Potwalloper | One seat | |
Lismore | County Waterford | 1614 | Manor | Disfranchised | |
Londonderry City | County Londonderry | 16?? | Corporation | One seat | |
Londonderry County | County | County Londonderry | Two seats | ||
Longford Borough | Borough | County Longford | 1669 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Longford County | County | County Longford | Two seats | ||
Louth | County | County Louth | Two seats | ||
Mallow | County Cork | 1613 | Manor | One seat | |
Maryborough | Queen's County | 1571 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Mayo | County | County Mayo | Two seats | ||
Meath | County | County Meath | Two seats | ||
Midleton | County Cork | 1671 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Monaghan Borough | Borough | County Monaghan | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Monaghan County | County | County Monaghan | Two seats | ||
Mullingar | County Westmeath | 1583 | Manor | Disfranchised | |
Naas | County Kildare | 1570 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Navan | County Meath | 1469 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
New Ross | County Wexford | ? | Corporation | One seat | |
Newcastle | County Dublin | c. 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Newry | County Down | 1612 | Potwalloper | One seat | |
Newtown Limavady | County Londonderry | 16?? | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Newtownards | County Down | 1614 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Old Leighlin | Borough | County Carlow | ? | Ecclesiastical corporation | Disfranchised |
Philipstown | King's County | 1571 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Portarlington | Borough | Queen's County | 1668 | Corporation | One seat |
Queen's County | County | Queen's County | Two seats | ||
Randalstown | County Antrim | 1683 | Freeman / Potwalloper | Disfranchised | |
Rathcormack | County Cork | c. 1611 | Potwalloper / Manor | Disfranchised | |
Ratoath | County Meath | ? | Manor | Disfranchised | |
Roscommon Borough | County Roscommon | ? | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Roscommon County | County | County Roscommon | Two seats | ||
St Canice | County Kilkenny | 1264? | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
St Johnstown | County Donegal | 1618 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
St Johnstown | County Longford | 1628 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Sligo Borough | County Sligo | 1614 | Corporation | One seat | |
Sligo County | County | County Sligo | Two seats | ||
Strabane | County Tyrone | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Swords | County Dublin | ? | Potwalloper | Disfranchised | |
Taghmon | County Wexford | bef. 1642 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Tallow | County Waterford | ? | Manor / Potwalloper | Disfranchised | |
Thomastown | County Kilkenny | 1541 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Tipperary | County | County Tipperary | Two seats | ||
Cross Tipperary | County | County Tipperary | by 1585 | after 1634 | Two seats |
Tralee | Borough | County Kerry | 1613 | Corporation | One seat |
Trim | County Meath | 1572 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Tuam | County Galway | 1614 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Tulsk | County Roscommon | 1663 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Tyrone | County | County Tyrone | Two seats | ||
Waterford City | County Waterford | 1264 | Freemen and freeholders | One seat | |
Waterford County | County | County Waterford | Two seats | ||
Westmeath | County | County Westmeath | Two seats | ||
Wexford Borough | County Wexford | ? | Freemen | One seat | |
Wexford County | County | County Wexford | Two seats | ||
Wicklow Borough | County Wicklow | 1614 | Corporation | Disfranchised | |
Wicklow County | County | County Wicklow | Two seats | ||
Youghal | County Cork | ? | Corporation and Freemen | One seat |
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 January 1559 | 1 February 1559 | ? | |
2 | 17 January 1568 | 25 April 1571 | ? |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 26 April 1585 | 14 May 1586 | Nicholas Walsh | ? |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
? | 18 May 1613 | 24 October 1615 | ? |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 14 July 1634 | 18 April 1635 | ? |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 16 March 1639 (prorogued 1641) | 30 January 1649 | ? |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 May 1661 | 7 August 1666 | ? |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 May 1689 | 20 July 1689 | Sir Richard Nagle[1] | ? |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 October 1692 | 26 June 1693 | Sir Robert Levinge | 1 |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 27 August 1695 | 14 June 1699 | Robert Rochford | 2 |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 21 September 1703 | 6 May 1713 | Alan Brodrick | 6 |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 | 25 November 1713 | 1 August 1714 on death of Queen Anne | Alan Brodrick | 1 |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 November 1715 | 11 June 1727 | William Conolly | 6 |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 28 November 1727 | 25 November 1760 on death of King George II | Sir Ralph Gore, Chancellor of the Exchequer | 17 |
Members: (elected 1727)
Members: (elected 1728/29)
Members: (elected 1739)
Members: (in 1747)
Members: (elected 1751/1752)
Members: (elected 1753/1754)
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 October 1761 | 28 May 1768 Octennial Act | John Ponsonby | 4 |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 17 October 1769 | 5 April 1776 | John Ponsonby to 4 March 1771, Edmond Pery Sexton | 5 |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 18 June 1776 | 25 July 1783 | Edmund Sexton Pery | 4 |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 | 14 October 1783 | 8 April 1790 | Edmund Sexton Pery | 7 |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 2 July 1790 | 11 July 1797 | John Foster | 8 |
Members:
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 9 January 1798 | 31 December 1800 | John Foster | 3 |
Members:
Until 1793 members could not resign their seats. They could cease to be a member of the House only by one of four ways:
In 1793 a methodology for resignation was created, equivalent to the Chiltern Hundreds in the British House of Commons. Irish members could now be appointed to either the Escheatorship of Munster, the Escheatorship of Leinster, the Escheatorship of Connaught or the Escheatorship of Ulster. Possession of one of these Crown offices, with entailed a 30/ (30 shilling) salary, automatically terminated one's membership of the House of Commons.
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