Irish Parliament facts for kids
The Irish Parliament (Irish: Parlaimint na hÉireann) was an important law-making group in Ireland. It was first set up in 1297. Its main job was to represent the Anglo-Irish people. These were people of English background living in the part of Ireland ruled by the English king.
Just like the English Parliament, it had two main parts: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. In 1541, King Henry VIII made Ireland a kingdom. He then invited the native Irish, known as the Gaelic Irish, to join the Parliament for the first time. However, later English kings passed strict laws. These laws, called "penal laws," stopped Roman Catholics from being part of Parliament. Since most native Irish people were Catholic, they had almost no say in their own government.
How the Irish Parliament Worked
The Irish Parliament's power was not always strong. It was limited by a rule called "Poynings' Law". This law was introduced in 1494 by Sir Edward Poynings, who was the English Lord Deputy of Ireland. It meant that the Irish Parliament could not pass new laws without the English king's approval first.
Gaining and Losing Freedom
In 1782, Poynings' Law was finally removed. This gave the Kingdom of Ireland a short time of being able to make its own laws. It was a period of greater freedom for the Irish Parliament.
However, this freedom did not last long. In 1800, the Irish Parliament passed a very important law called the Act of Union. This law decided to get rid of both the Irish Parliament and the Kingdom of Ireland itself. Instead, Ireland became part of a new country called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. After this, Irish people were represented in the British Parliament, which met in London.
- E.M. Johnston-Liik 2002. The History of the Irish Parliament 1692-1800: Commons, Constituencies and Statutes Ulster Historical Foundation. ISBN: 9781903688717
