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, 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 vast majority of parliamentary boroughs were pocket boroughs, the private property of an aristocratic patron. When these boroughs were disfranchised at the 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.
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 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.
Notes
Parliament of 1374
William de Karlell, Kilkenny
John de Karlell, Kilkenny
Sir Richard Plunkett, Meath
Parliament of 1375
Sir Richard Plunkett, Meath
Henry Mitchell
John Tirel
Parliament of 1380
Sir Richard Plunkett
John Tirel
Parliament of 1429
Sir Richard FitzEustace, Kildare
Parliament of 1450
John Chevir, Kilkenny, Speaker
Members
Patrick Barnewall
Sir William Brabazon
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
Speaker: Sir Thomas Cusack
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
Members: List of Irish MPs 1585–86
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' Tipperary
Humphrey Farnham, Enniskillen
William Ferrar, Clogher
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
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' 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
Sir Richard Wingfield, Marshal of the Army, Downpatrick
Members:
Sir Nathaniel Catelyn, Speaker
John Clotworthy
Patrick Darcy
Sir Edward Fitzharris
Maurice Fitzgerald
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
Members: List of Irish MPs 1639–49
Members: List of Irish MPs 1661–66
Members:
Sir John Temple, Carlow
Sir Thomas Burdett, 1st Baronet, Carlow
Nicholas Plunkett, Meath
Sir Audley Mervyn, Tyrone, Speaker
Sir Arthur Forbes, later Earl of Granard, Tyrone
Sir Maurice Eustace junior, Knocktopher
Sir William Domville, Dublin City
St. John Broderick
Randolph Clayton
Sir Henry Ingoldsby, 1st Baronet, Clare
Sir William Davys, Dublin City
Sir MIchael Cole
Sir Robert Cole
Sir Arthur Gore, 1st Baronet, Mayo
Matthew Harrison
Sir James Ware, University of Dublin
Lord John Butler, University of Dublin
Sir William King
Robert Oliver
Sir John Cole, 1st Baronet
Sir Paul Davys, Kildare
Sir Robert King. 1st Baronet, Ballyshannon
Henry Bellingham
John Blennerhassett
Robert Blennerhassett
Sir John Skeffington
Sir Toby Poyntz
Richard Southwell, Askeaton
Sir Richard Bulkeley, 1st Baronet, Baltinglass
Sir Arthur Chichester
Sir Thomas Bramhall
Nicholas Ward, Downpatrick
Sir Edward Dering, 2nd Baronet, Lismore
Sir Nicholas Purdon, Baltimore
Richard Townsend, Baltimore
Sir Randal Berseford, Coleraine
Moses Hill, Drogheda
Sir Robert Reading, Ratoath
Sir William Flower, St. Canice
Oliver Wheeler, St. Canice
John Ponsonby, County Kilkenny
Daniel Redman, County Kilkenny
William Handcock, Westmeath
John Chambers, Ardee
John Ruxton, Ardee
Richard Boyle, Cork County
Roger Boyle, Cork County
Sir Henry Tynte, Cork County
Sir John Perceval, Cork County
John St Leger, Cork County
Henry Mervyn, Augher
Richard Palfrey, Augher
Francis Harvey, Clonmines
John Povey, Swords
Sir George Bingham, 2nd Baronet, Castlebar
Moses Hill, Drogheda
Sir Richard Reynell, 1st Baronet, Athboy
Henry O'Brien, Lord Ibrackan, Clare
Sir Edward Smith, Lisburn
Oliver Jones, Roscommon County
Joshua Boyle, Clonakilty
Arthur Freke, Clonakilty
Colonel Carey Dillon, Banagher
Dudley Colley, Philipstown
Sir John Lyndon, Carrickfergus
Members:
Parliaments of William III and Mary II
Members: List of Irish MPs 1692–93
Members: List of Irish MPs 1695–99
Members: List of Irish MPs 1703–13
Members: List of Irish MPs 1713–14
Members: List of Irish MPs 1715–27
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)
John Ponsonby
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
Members: List of Irish MPs 1761–68
Members: List of Irish MPs 1769–76
Members: List of Irish MPs 1776–83
Members:List of Irish MPs 1783–90
Members: List of Irish MPs 1790–97
Members:List of Irish MPs 1798–1800
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 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.
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".
