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 | 300[a] |
Elections | |
First past the post with limited suffrage | |
Meeting place | |
The House of Commons in session (by Francis Wheatley, 1780) | |
Footnotes | |
|
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. 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.
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.
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.[1]
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.
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:[2]
Following the Act of Union, from 1801, there were 100 MPs from Ireland in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The constituencies were adapted from those in the Irish House of Commons as follows:
Constituency | Type | County | Creation[a] | Franchise | Fate after the union |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antrim Borough | Borough | Antrim | 1666 | Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Antrim County | County | Antrim | 1570[3] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Ardee | Borough | Louth | 1378 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ards | County | Down | By 1560[4] | Previously disfranchised[b] | |
Ardfert | Borough | Kerry | 1639? | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Armagh Borough | Borough | Armagh | 1613 (26 March) [5] | Corporation | One seat |
Armagh County | County | Armagh | 1585 (September)[6] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Askeaton | Borough | Limerick | 1613 (30 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Athboy | Borough | Meath | By 1560[4] | Manor | Disfranchised |
Athenry | Borough | Galway | 1310? | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Athlone | Borough | Westmeath | 1606 (10 December)[5] | Corporation | One seat |
Athy | Borough | Kildare | By 1560[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Augher | Borough | Tyrone | 1613 (15 April)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ballynakill | Borough | Queen's County | 1612 (10 December)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ballyshannon | Borough | Donegal | 1613 (23 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Baltimore | Borough | Cork | 1613 (25 March)[5] | Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Baltinglass | Borough | Wicklow | 1664 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Banagher | Borough | King's County | 1629 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Bandonbridge | Borough | Cork | 1613 (30 March)[5] | Corporation | One seat |
Bangor | Borough | Down | 1613 (18 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Bannow | Borough | Wexford | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Belfast | Borough | Antrim | 1613 (27 April)[5] | Corporation | One seat |
Belturbet | Borough | Cavan | 1613 (30 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Blessington | Borough | Wicklow | 1670 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Boyle | Borough | Roscommon | 1613 (25 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Callan | Borough | Kilkenny | 1585 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Carlingford | Borough | Louth | 13?? | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Carlow Borough | Borough | Carlow | 1613 (19 April)[5] | Corporation | One seat |
Carlow County | County | Carlow | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Carrick | Borough | Leitrim | 1613 (30 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Carrickfergus | County borough | Antrim[c] | 1326 | Freeholder and householder | One seat |
Carysfort | Borough | Wicklow | 1629 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Cashel | Borough | Tipperary | By 1585[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Castlebar | Borough | Mayo | 1613 (26 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Castlemartyr | Borough | Cork | 1676 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Cavan Borough | Borough | Cavan | 1610 (15 November)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Cavan County | County | Cavan | 1579[7] or 1584[8] or 1585[6] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Charlemont | Borough | Armagh | 1613 (29 April)[5] | 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)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Clonmel | Borough | Tipperary | By 1560[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Clonmines | Borough | Wexford | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Coleraine | Borough | Londonderry | 1613 (25 March)[5] | Corporation | One seat |
Connacht | County | Multiple[d] | 1297 | Previously disfranchised[d] | |
Cork City | County borough | Cork[c] | 1299 | Freeholder and Freemen | Two seats |
Cork County | County | Cork | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Coleraine County | County | Londonderry | 1585 (September)[6] | Freeholders | Previously disfranchised |
Dingle | Borough | Kerry | By 1585[4][e] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Donegal Borough | Borough | Donegal | 1613 (27 February)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Donegal County | County | Donegal | 1585 (September)[6] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Doneraile | Borough | Cork | 1640 | Manor | Disfranchised |
Down | County | Down | 1570[3] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Downpatrick | Borough | Down | 1586 | Potwalloper | One seat |
Drogheda | County borough | Louth[c] | 1299 | Freeholders and freemen | One seat |
Dublin City | County borough | Dublin[c] | 1299 | Freeholders and freemen | Two seats |
Dublin County | County | Dublin | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Dublin University | University | Dublin[f] | 1603 | Graduates | One seat |
Duleek | Borough | Meath | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Dundalk | Borough | Louth | By 1560[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Dungannon | Borough | Tyrone | 1612 (27 November)[5] | Corporation | One seat |
Dungarvan | Borough | Waterford | By 1560[4] | Potwalloper | One seat |
Dunleer | Borough | Louth | 1679 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Ennis | Borough | Clare | 1613 (27 February)[5] | Corporation | One seat |
Enniscorthy | Borough | Wexford | 1613 (25 May)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Enniskillen | Borough | Fermanagh | 1613 (27 February)[5] | Corporation | One seat |
Fermanagh | County | Fermanagh | 1585 (September)[6] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Ferns | County | Wexford | By 1579[9] | Freeholders | Previously disfranchised[g] |
Fethard | Borough | Tipperary | 1613 (15 April)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Fethard | Borough | Wexford | 1613 (15 April)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Fore | Borough | Westmeath | Between 1614 and 1692 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Galway Borough | County borough | Galway[c] | By 1560[4] | 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)[5] | 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[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Jamestown | Borough | Leitrim | 1622 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kells | Borough | Meath | By 1560[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kerry | County | Kerry | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Kilbeggan | Borough | Westmeath | 1613 (27 February)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kildare Borough | Borough | Kildare | By 1560[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kildare County | County | Kildare | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Kilkenny City | County borough | Kilkenny[c] | 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)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Kilmallock | Borough | Limerick | By 1560[4] | 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)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Limerick City | County borough | Limerick[c] | 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)[5] | Manor | Disfranchised |
Londonderry City | Borough | Londonderry | 1613 (29 March)[5][h] | Corporation | One seat |
Londonderry County | County | Londonderry | 1613 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Longford Borough | Borough | Longford | 1669 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Longford County | County | Longford | 1571[13][14] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Louth | County | Louth | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Mallow | Borough | Cork | 1613 (27 February)[5] | 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)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Monaghan County | County | Monaghan | 1585 (September)[6] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Mullingar | Borough | Westmeath | By 1560[4] | Manor | Disfranchised |
Naas | Borough | Kildare | By 1560[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Navan | Borough | Meath | 1469 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
New Ross | Borough | Wexford | By 1560[4] | Corporation | One seat |
Newcastle | Borough | Dublin | 1613 (30 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Newry | Borough | Down | 1613 (27 February)[5] | Potwalloper | One seat |
Newtown Limavady | Borough | Londonderry | 1613 (30 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Newtownards | Borough | Down | 1613 (25 March)[5] | 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)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Roscommon County | County | Roscommon | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
St Canice | Borough | Kilkenny[i] | 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)[5] | Corporation | One seat |
Sligo County | County | Sligo | By 1579[10] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Strabane | Borough | Tyrone | 1613 (18 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Swords | Borough | Dublin | By 1585[4] | Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Taghmon | Borough | Wexford | bef. 1642 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tallow | Borough | Waterford | 1613 (1 May)[5] | Manor / Potwalloper | Disfranchised |
Thomastown | Borough | Kilkenny | 1541 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tipperary | County | Tipperary | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Cross Tipperary | County | Tipperary | by 1585 | Freeholders | Previously disfranchised[j] |
Tralee | Borough | Kerry | 1613 (31 March)[5] | Corporation | One seat |
Trim | Borough | Meath | By 1560[4] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tuam | Borough | Galway | 1613 (30 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tulsk | Borough | Roscommon | 1663 | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Tyrone | County | Tyrone | 1585 (September)[6] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Liberty of Ulster | County | Multiple[k] | 1297 | Previously disfranchised[k] | |
Waterford City | County borough | Waterford[c] | 1299 | Freemen and freeholders | One seat |
Waterford County | County | Waterford | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Westmeath | County | Westmeath | 1543[15][16] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Wexford Borough | Borough | Wexford | By 1560[4] | Freemen | One seat |
Wexford County | County | Wexford | 1297 | Freeholders | Two seats |
Wicklow Borough | Borough | Wicklow | 1613 (30 March)[5] | Corporation | Disfranchised |
Wicklow County | County | Wicklow | 1577;[17][l] 1606[19] | Freeholders | Two seats |
Youghal | Borough | Cork | 1374 | Corporation and Freemen | One seat |
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 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.