Lord Lieutenant of Ireland facts for kids
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was a very important job in Ireland for many centuries. This person was the King or Queen of Britain's main representative in Ireland. They were also the head of the Irish government from 1171 until 1922. The name is pronounced 'Lord Lef-tenant of Ireland'.
Sometimes, this job was called the Judiciar a long time ago, or the Lord Deputy later on. People also often called them the viceroy, which means "deputy king" in French. In the Middle Ages, some Irish noblemen held this job. Later, only noblemen from Great Britain were chosen for it.
Contents
What Did the Lord Lieutenant Do?
The Lord Lieutenant had several big responsibilities. They were:
- The King's representative, like a "deputy king."
- The leader of the government in Ireland.
- A member of the British Cabinet (a group of top government officials).
- Sometimes, the leader of the army in Ireland (the Commander-in-Chief).
- The Grand Master of the Order of St. Patrick, a special group of knights.
How the Government Worked
The Lord Lieutenant had help to run the country. They worked with the Irish Privy Council. This was a group of people chosen to advise the Lord Lieutenant. They usually met in a special room at Dublin Castle.
The Lord Lieutenants stayed in their job until the British Government or the King decided it was time for them to leave.
How Important Was the Job?
Two Lords Lieutenant became very famous. They were Lord Hartington and the Duke of Portland. After being the King's representative in Dublin, they both went on to become Prime Minister of Great Britain. This happened in 1756 and 1783.
However, sometimes the job was used to send politicians away from London if they were no longer wanted there. By the late 1800s, the job was not as important as it used to be. Another official, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, had taken over many of the main duties of ruling the country.
Where Did the Lord Lieutenant Live?
The main official home for the Lord Lieutenant was the Viceregal Apartments inside Dublin Castle. This was also where their court was located.
Later, in 1781, the British government bought another house in Phoenix Park. This house was called the Viceregal Lodge. Today, it is known as Áras an Uachtaráin, and it is where the President of Ireland lives. After this, the Lords Lieutenant only lived in Dublin Castle during the "Social Season." This was a special time from early January to St. Patrick's Day (March 17th).
What Did Irish People Think?
Most people in Ireland did not like the office of the Lord Lieutenant. They also generally disliked the British government in Ireland. From the early 1800s, many people often asked for the job to be removed. However, the office of Lord Lieutenant continued until British rule ended in most of Ireland.
Images for kids
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The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the Grand Master of the Order of St Patrick. This uniform was worn by William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, who was Lord Lieutenant from 1902 to 1905.
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The special seat (pew) for the Viceroy in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
See also
In Spanish: Lord teniente de Irlanda para niños
