Speaker of the Irish House of Commons
The Speaker of the Irish House of Commons was the presiding officer of the Irish House of Commons until its disestablishment in 1800.
The Irish House of Commons in session under Speaker Pery.
Image: Robert Rochfort
Image: Alan Brodrick
Image: Alan Brodrick
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.
Irish House of Commons
Drawing of the front of the Irish Parliament House with the dome, seen from the street-level, in the 18th century
Engraving of section of the Irish House of Commons chamber by Peter Mazell based on the drawing by Rowland Omer 1767
Henry Boyle, speaker between 1733 and 1756