Sunday Observance Act 1695 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
Parliament of Ireland
|
|
| Long title | An Act for the better Observation of the Lord's-Day, commonly called Sunday |
|---|---|
| Citation | 7 Will. 3, c. 17 |
| Introduced by | Irish Privy Council |
| Territorial extent | Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 7 December 1695 |
| Commencement | 1 November 1695 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Statute Law Revision (Ireland) Act 1878, Statute Law Revision (Ireland) Act 1879 |
| Repealed by | Criminal Law Act 1997 (Rep. I.) |
| Status | |
| Republic of Ireland | Repealed |
| Northern Ireland | Amended |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Sunday Observance Act 1695 was a law made in 1695 by the Parliament of Ireland. Its main goal was to make sure people in Ireland kept Sunday as a special day for rest and religious activities. This law stopped certain types of work and fun activities on Sundays. Even today, some parts of this law are still in effect in Northern Ireland.
Contents
What the Law Said
This law was similar to one passed in England in 1677. It said that people should go to church on Sundays. They should not work unless it was absolutely necessary or an emergency. If someone broke this law, they could be fined 5 shillings.
Exceptions to the Rules
The law did allow some exceptions. Pubs and inns could stay open. Also, hackney carriages (like taxis) in Dublin could operate between 10 AM and 4 PM.
Banning Sports on Sundays
A big part of the law was banning sports on Sundays in Ireland. The reason given was that sports often led to "tumultuous and disorderly meetings." This meant they caused noisy and messy gatherings that interfered with keeping Sunday as a quiet, religious day.
Legal Documents and Robberies
The act also said that legal documents, like writs (official orders), could not be issued or carried out on Sundays. It also stated that local areas were not responsible for robberies that happened on Sunday. This was unless a "hue and cry" (a loud public call for help to catch a criminal) was raised.
How the Law Changed Over Time
The Sunday Observance Act had interesting effects. For example, people who were hiding from being sent to debtors' prison (a place for people who owed money) could safely come out on Sundays. This was because legal arrests were not allowed on that day.
Efforts to Stop Sunday Sports
In the 1800s, groups who believed strongly in keeping Sunday special, called Sabbatarians, tried to use this law. They wanted to stop sports from being played on Sundays, which was common in the countryside.
From 1872, the Royal Irish Constabulary (the police force at the time) had a policy. They would allow Sunday sports events unless they thought the event might cause trouble or a fight.
Changes and Repeals
Over the years, parts of the act were removed by other laws. For example, the Statute Law Revision (Ireland) Act 1878 and the Statute Law Revision (Ireland) Act 1879 repealed some sections.
In the Republic of Ireland, the entire act was eventually removed by the Criminal Law Act 1997.
The Law in Northern Ireland Today
In the 1990s, the act was still in force in Northern Ireland. Some local councils used it to close parks and leisure centres on Sundays.
In 1995, a politician named Seamus Mallon spoke in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. He criticized the act and asked for it to be removed. A government minister said they would look into changing parts of the act. He noted that leisure centers open on Sunday might technically be breaking the law. However, he also said it was very unlikely they would be successfully prosecuted.
Today, Section 7 of the act is still valid in Northern Ireland. It prevents the Police Service of Northern Ireland from issuing warrants (official permissions for arrests or searches) on Sundays.
See Also
- Sunday football in Northern Ireland
- Lord's Day Observance Society
 | William L. Dawson |
 | W. E. B. Du Bois |
 | Harry Belafonte |
