Statutes of Kilkenny facts for kids
Parliament of Ireland
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| Long title | A Statute of the Fortieth Year of King Edward III., enacted in a parliament held in Kilkenny, A.D. 1367, before Lionel Duke of Clarence, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. |
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| Citation | 40 Edw. 3 |
| Introduced by | The Duke of Clarence |
| Territorial extent | Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Repealed | 1983 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1983 |
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Status: Repealed
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Statute of Kilkenny were a set of laws made by the English in 1367 to try and save the English colony in Ireland.
Contents
Why were they made?
To understand why these laws were made, we need to know a bit about what was happening in Ireland at the time. The English had started coming to Ireland in the 1100s. Over time, some of these English settlers began to adopt Irish customs, like speaking the Irish language, wearing Irish clothes, and even marrying Irish people.
The English rulers back in England didn't like this at all. They wanted the English settlers in Ireland to stay English and follow English ways. They worried that if the English settlers became too much like the Irish, they might not be loyal to England anymore. So, they created the Statutes of Kilkenny to stop the English settlers from becoming too Irish.
What did the statutes say?
The Statutes of Kilkenny were a long list of rules. Here are some of the things they said:
1. Language: The English settlers were not allowed to speak the Irish language. They had to speak English.
2. Clothing: The English settlers couldn't wear Irish clothes. They had to wear English-style clothing.
3. Names: The English settlers couldn't give their children Irish names. They had to use English names.
4. Marriage: The English settlers were not allowed to marry Irish people. They had to marry other English people. This was a big rule to keep the two groups separate.
5. Games: The English settlers couldn't play Irish games like hurling (a very old Irish sport) or use Irish sports equipment. They had to stick to English games.
6. Law: If an English person broke these rules, they would be punished. The punishments could be very harsh, like losing their land or even being sent back to England.
Who made these laws?
The Statutes of Kilkenny were made by the English Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lionel of Antwerp, who was the Duke of Clarence, and the Irish Parliament, which was controlled by the English at the time. They gathered in Kilkenny, a town in Ireland, to create and pass these laws. That's why they're called the Statutes of Kilkenny!
Why Kilkenny?
Kilkenny was an important town in Ireland during that time. It was a stronghold for the English settlers, and it was a good place for them to meet and make important decisions.
Did the statutes work?
Well, not really. While the Statutes of Kilkenny tried to keep the English and Irish separate, it didn't really work in the long run. Many English settlers continued to mix with the Irish, and Irish culture continued to influence them. It's hard to stop people from getting along and sharing their cultures!
What happened after?
Over the years, the Statutes of Kilkenny became less and less important. People started to ignore them, and they weren't really enforced anymore. Eventually, they were forgotten. But they remain an important part of history because they show us how people tried to control and separate different groups of people in the past.
Why are they important today?
The Statutes of Kilkenny are important because they teach us about history, culture, and how people from different backgrounds can live together. They remind us that it's important to be tolerant and respectful of other cultures, even if they are different from our own.
Fun facts about the Statutes of Kilkenny
- The Statutes were written in French, which was the language of the English court at the time.
- Kilkenny Castle, a famous castle in Kilkenny, was an important place during this time.
- The Statutes of Kilkenny were just one of many attempts by the English to control Ireland.
- Some people think the Statutes of Kilkenny were a way to protect English culture, while others think they were unfair to the Irish.
See also
In Spanish: Estatutos de Kilkenny para niños
