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.
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 but was doubled by the Stuart monarchs.Constituency | Type | County | Creation | Enfranchised | Fate after the union |
Antrim Borough | Borough | Antrim | 1666 | Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Antrim County | County | Antrim | 1570 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Ardee | Borough | Louth | 1378 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ards | County | Down | By 1560 | Already disfranchised | |
Ardfert | Borough | Kerry | 1639? | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Armagh Borough | Borough | Armagh | 1613 | Corporation | One seat |
Armagh County | County | Armagh | 1585 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Askeaton | Borough | Limerick | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Athboy | Borough | Meath | By 1560 | Manor | Disfranchised |
Athenry | Borough | Galway | 1310? | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Athlone | Borough | Westmeath | 1606 | Corporation | One seat |
Athy | Borough | Kildare | By 1560 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Augher | Borough | Tyrone | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ballynakill | Borough | Queen's County | 1612 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ballyshannon | Borough | Donegal | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Baltimore | Borough | Cork | 1613 | Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Baltinglass | Borough | Wicklow | 1664 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Banagher | Borough | King's County | 1629 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Bandonbridge | Borough | Cork | 1613 | Corporation | One seat |
Bangor | Borough | Down | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Bannow | Borough | Wexford | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Belfast | Borough | Antrim | 1613 | Corporation | One seat |
Belturbet | Borough | Cavan | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Blessington | Borough | Wicklow | 1670 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Boyle | Borough | Roscommon | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Callan | Borough | Kilkenny | 1585 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Carlingford | Borough | Louth | 13?? | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Carlow Borough | Borough | Carlow | 1613 | Corporation | One seat |
Carlow County | County | Carlow | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Carrick | Borough | Leitrim | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Carrickfergus | County borough | Antrim | 1326 | Freeholder and householder | One seat |
Carysfort | Borough | Wicklow | 1629 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Cashel | Borough | Tipperary | By 1585 | Corporation | One seat |
Castlebar | Borough | Mayo | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Castlemartyr | Borough | Cork | 1676 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Cavan Borough | Borough | Cavan | 1610 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Cavan County | County | Cavan | 1579 or 1584 or 1585 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Charlemont | Borough | Armagh | 1613 | 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 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Clonmel | Borough | Tipperary | By 1560 | Corporation | One seat |
Clonmines | Borough | Wexford | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Coleraine | Borough | Londonderry | 1613 | Corporation | One seat |
Connacht | County | Multiple | 1297 | Already disfranchised | |
Cork City | County borough | Cork | 1299 | Freeholder and Freemen | Two seats |
Cork County | County | Cork | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Coleraine County | County | Londonderry | 1585 | Freeholders | Already disfranchised |
Dingle | Borough | Kerry | By 1585 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Donegal Borough | Borough | Donegal | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Donegal County | County | Donegal | 1585 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Doneraile | Borough | Cork | 1640 | Manor | Disfranchised |
Down | County | Down | 1570 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Downpatrick | Borough | Down | 1586 | Potwalloper | One seat |
Drogheda | County borough | Louth | 1299 | Freeholders and freemen | One seat |
Dublin City | County borough | Dublin | 1299 | Freeholders and freemen | Two seats |
Dublin County | County | Dublin | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Dublin University | University | Dublin | 1603 | Graduates | One seat |
Duleek | Borough | Meath | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Dundalk | Borough | Louth | By 1560 | Corporation | One seat |
Dungannon | Borough | Tyrone | 1612 | Corporation | One seat |
Dungarvan | Borough | Waterford | By 1560 | Potwalloper | One seat |
Dunleer | Borough | Louth | 1679 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ennis | Borough | Clare | 1613 | Corporation | One seat |
Enniscorthy | Borough | Wexford | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Enniskillen | Borough | Fermanagh | 1613 | Corporation | One seat |
Fermanagh | County | Fermanagh | 1585 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Ferns | County | Wexford | By 1579 | Freeholders | Already disfranchised |
Fethard | Borough | Tipperary | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Fethard | Borough | Wexford | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Fore | Borough | Westmeath | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Galway Borough | County borough | Galway | By 1560 | Freemen | One seat |
Galway County | County | Galway | By 1579 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Gorey | Borough | Wexford | 1620 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Gowran | Borough | Kilkenny | 1608 | 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 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Jamestown | Borough | Leitrim | 1622 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kells | Borough | Meath | By 1560 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kerry | County | Kerry | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Kilbeggan | Borough | Westmeath | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kildare Borough | Borough | Kildare | By 1560 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kildare County | County | Kildare | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Kilkenny City | County borough | Kilkenny | 1299? | Freeholders and Freemen | One seat |
Kilkenny County | County | Kilkenny | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Killybegs | Borough | Donegal | 1616 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Killyleagh | Borough | Down | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kilmallock | Borough | Limerick | By 1560 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
King's County | County | King's County | 1556 | 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 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Limerick City | County borough | Limerick | 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 | Manor | Disfranchised |
Londonderry City | Borough | Londonderry | 1613 | Corporation | One seat |
Londonderry County | County | Londonderry | 1613 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Longford Borough | Borough | Longford | 1669 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Longford County | County | Longford | 1571 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Louth | County | Louth | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Mallow | Borough | Cork | 1613 | Manor | One seat |
Maryborough | Borough | Queen's County | 1571 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Mayo | County | Mayo | By 1579 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Meath | County | Meath | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Midleton | Borough | Cork | 1671 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Monaghan Borough | Borough | Monaghan | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Monaghan County | County | Monaghan | 1585 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Mullingar | Borough | Westmeath | By 1560 | Manor | Disfranchised |
Naas | Borough | Kildare | By 1560 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Navan | Borough | Meath | 1469 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
New Ross | Borough | Wexford | By 1560 | Corporation | One seat |
Newcastle | Borough | Dublin | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Newry | Borough | Down | 1613 | Potwalloper | One seat |
Newtown Limavady | Borough | Londonderry | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Newtownards | Borough | Down | 1613 | 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 | 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 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Roscommon County | County | Roscommon | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
St Canice | Borough | Kilkenny | 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 | Corporation | One seat |
Sligo County | County | Sligo | By 1579 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Strabane | Borough | Tyrone | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Swords | Borough | Dublin | By 1585 | Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Taghmon | Borough | Wexford | bef. 1642 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tallow | Borough | Waterford | 1613 | 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 |
Tralee | Borough | Kerry | 1613 | Corporation | One seat |
Trim | Borough | Meath | By 1560 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tuam | Borough | Galway | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tulsk | Borough | Roscommon | 1663 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tyrone | County | Tyrone | 1585 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Liberty of Ulster | County | Multiple | 1297 | Already disfranchised | |
Waterford City | County borough | Waterford | 1299 | Freemen and freeholders | One seat |
Waterford County | County | Waterford | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Westmeath | County | Westmeath | 1543 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Wexford Borough | Borough | Wexford | By 1560 | Freemen | One seat |
Wexford County | County | Wexford | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Wicklow Borough | Borough | Wicklow | 1613 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Wicklow County | County | Wicklow | 1577 1606 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Youghal | Borough | Cork | 1374 | Corporation and Freemen | One seat |
;Notes:
Sessions
Parliaments of Edward III">Edward III of England">Edward III
Parliament of 1374- William de Karlell, Kilkenny
- John de Karlell, Kilkenny
- Sir Richard Plunkett, Meath
- Sir Richard Plunkett, Meath
- Henry Mitchell
- John Tirel
Parliaments of [Richard II]
- Sir Richard Plunkett
- John Tirel
Parliaments of Henry VI">Henry VI of England">Henry VI
- Sir Richard FitzEustace, Kildare
- John Chevir, Kilkenny, Speaker
Parliaments of Henry VIII">Henry VIII of England">Henry VIII
Parliament 1516
Parliament 1521–22
Parliament 1531
Parliament 1533
Parliament 1536–37
Members- Patrick Barnewall
- Sir William Brabazon
Parliament 1541–43
- First session held at Dublin 13 June to 20 or 23 July 1541, 7 November 1541, 22 December 1541
- Second session held at Limerick 15 February to 7 or 10 March 1542
- Third session held at Trim June 1542
- Dissolved 19 November 1543
Parliament of Mary I">Mary I of England">Mary I
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
1 | 1 June 1557 | 1 March 1558 | James Stanyhurst | 3 |
Parliaments of Elizabeth I">Elizabeth I of England">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">James I of England">James I
Members
Parliaments of Charles I">Charles I of England">Charles I
Parliament of 1634–35
Members
Parliament of 1639–49
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
2 | 16 March 1639 | 30 January 1649 | Sir Maurice Eustace | ? |
Members:
List of Irish MPs 1639–49
Parliament of Charles II">Charles II of England">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">James II of England">James II
Parliaments of William III">William III of England">William III and Mary II">Mary II of England">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">Anne, Queen of Great Britain">Anne
Number | Opened | Dismissed | Speaker | Sessions |
1 | 21 September 1703 | 6 May 1713 | Alan Brodrick; John Forster | 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">George I of England">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">George II of England">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 ; Henry Boyle ; John Ponsonby | 17 |
Members:
List of Irish MPs 1727–60
Members:
- St John Brodrick
- Henry Boyle
- Sir Richard Cox, 2nd baronet
- Sir Matthew Deane, 3rd Baronet
- Charles Viscount Dungarvan
- Anthony Malone, Westmeath,
- Thomas Carter
- Luke Gardiner, Tralee Thomastown to 1755
- Sir Arthur Acheson, 5th Baronet, for Mullingar
- Edward Lovett Pearce
- Robert Marshall
- Eaton Stannard
Members:
- John Ponsonby
- Henry Gore, Tulsk
- Frederick Gore, Killybegs
- Sir Ralph Gore, Donegal County
- Arthur Hyde
- John Macarell, Carlingford
- Henry Mitchell, Castlebar
- 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
- 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, Wexford
- 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">George III of England">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.
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".