This is a list of members of the Irish House of Commons in 1560.
Name Constituency Province and (for boroughs) present-day county Notes Ardee (then known as Athird)Leinster – County Louth From an Old English merchant family. Ardee (then known as Athird)Leinster – County Louth From an Old English merchant family. ArdsUlster Included in the lists of members, but not shired until 1570 and the names of the knights are blank Athboy Leinster – County Meath A local merchant. Athboy Leinster – County Meath A cousin of the Galway Blakes and a local merchant. AthenryConnacht – County Galway Former Lord Chancellor of Ireland. An "obvious outsider ... it is more surprising that he was returned for a seat outside his own home area of Meath than that he represented Athenry." AthenryConnacht – County Galway A member of the family which controlled Athenry Athy Leinster – County Kildare McGrath suggests that the constituency was not incorporated until 1613. Athy Leinster – County Kildare McGrath suggests that the constituency was not incorporated until 1613. CarlingfordLeinster – County Louth From a local merchant family CarlingfordLeinster – County Louth Constable of Maryborough CarrickfergusUlster – County Antrim Settler, soldier and constable of Dublin Castle CarrickfergusUlster – County Antrim Settler ClonmelMunster – County Tipperary Member of an important local family. ClonmelMunster – County Tipperary Merchant. A surname more usually associated with Cork than Clonmel. Connacht Connacht The province was a single large shire until 1570. The identity of the 1560 knights is unknown. Cork CityMunster – County Cork Generosus A member of one of the city's old ruling families Cork CityMunster – County Cork Generosus A member of one of the city's old ruling families County AntrimUlster Included in the lists of members, but not shired until 1570 and the names of the knights are blank County CarlowLeinster Knight Vice-Treasurer of Ireland, although McGrath says that he was Chief Governor County CarlowLeinster Gentleman A younger son of James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond County ClareMunsterThe list of members of the 1560 parliament includes Clare, but not its MPs County CorkMunster The names of the knights are blank in the list in 'Tracts relating to Ireland'. County DownUlster Included in the lists of members, but not shired until 1570 and the names of the knights are blank County DublinLeinster Of Holmpatrick – Armiger A major landowner in the county and an influential member of his community County DublinLeinster Of Westphailstown – ArmigerMcGrath cites A major landowner in the county and an influential member of his community County KerryMunster The names of the knights are blank in the list in 'Tracts relating to Ireland'. County KildareLeinster Of Cradokeston A Roman Catholic from an old-established Old English local gentry family County KildareLeinster Of Johnstown A Roman Catholic from an old-established Old English local gentry family County KilkennyLeinster Of Whitehall, Wexford From Knocktopher – a member of a local Old English family with substantial property in the area citing County KilkennyLeinster From Gallstown – a member of a local Old English family with substantial property in the area. He served as High Sheriff of Wexford in 1562 and as High Sheriff of County Kilkenny in 1572 citing See also County LimerickMunster The identity of the 1560 knights is unknown. County LouthLeinster Of Ballebragane – from a family established in the area for many centuries County LouthLeinster Of Glassepistell – from a family established in the area for many centuries County MeathLeinster Knight – member of the local commission for musters and an important landowner in the county – one of the leaders of the anti-cess campaign County MeathLeinster Of Stackallan – Armiger – member of the local commission for musters and an important landowner in the county – his son was MP for the county in 1569 and 1585 (which describes him as of Crickstown) County TipperaryMunster From an old Norman family. County TipperaryMunster From an old Norman family. County WaterfordMunster Of Comshen From a major local Old English landholding family represented in every Parliament until 1639 except 1585. County WaterfordMunster Of Faithlike From a major local Old English landholding family. County WestmeathLeinster Knight – New English – Marshall of the Army (1553) and Commissioner for Ecclesiastical Causes (1562) citing County WestmeathLeinster Knight – Old English County WexfordLeinster Of Harperstown – among the county's major landholders County WexfordLeinster Of Ballybrennan – among the county's major landholders – he was MP for Ferns in 1585 and his son Walter was MP for County Wexford in 1613 DroghedaLeinster – Counties Louth and Meath Apparently a local merchant, of a family originally from Dublin DroghedaLeinster – Counties Louth and Meath Apparently a local merchant, presumably of the north Dublin family usually based at Castleknock Dublin CityLeinster – County Dublin Recorder of Dublin Dublin CityLeinster – County Dublin Alderman Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1558-9 DundalkLeinster – County Louth A Roman Catholic. DundalkLeinster – County Louth A Roman Catholic. Dungarvan Munster – County Waterford New English with no local connections. Dungarvan Munster – County Waterford Secretary of State (Ireland) – new English with no local connections. citing Fethard (County Tipperary)Munster – County Tipperary A member of an old English merchant family of strictly local significance which had been settled in the town for centuries. Fethard (County Tipperary)Munster – County Tipperary A member of an old English merchant family of strictly local significance which had been settled in the town for centuries. Galway TownConnacht – County Galway One of the Galway Lynches and an alderman of the city. Galway TownConnacht – County Galway One of the Galway Lynches and an alderman of the city. Kells Leinster – County Meath From a family influential only within the Kells barony. Kells Leinster – County Meath From a family influential only within the Kells barony. Kildare Leinster – County Kildare Little is known of him. Kildare Leinster – County Kildare Little is known of him. Kilkenny CityLeinster – County Kilkenny From an important catholic merchant family Father of Elias Shee, MP for Kilkenny City in 1585 See also Kilkenny CityLeinster – County Kilkenny From an important catholic merchant family See also KilmallockMunster – County Limerick The identity of the 1560 knights is unknown. King's CountyLeinster The identity of its 1560 knights is unknown KinsaleMunster – County Cork Knight A complete outsider KinsaleMunster – County Cork Armiger A complete outsider. Constable of Ferns and Wexford Castles, and Commissioner for Ecclesiastical Causes. citing Limerick CityMunster – County Limerick Wealthy, prominent citizen, an alderman who might have been expected to represent his city in Parliament. Mayor of Limerick in 1558.Limerick City Council – List of mayors Limerick CityMunster – County Limerick Wealthy, prominent citizen, an alderman who might have been expected to represent his city in Parliament. Mayor of Limerick in 1557. Mullingar Leinster – County Westmeath A local Catholic merchant Mullingar Leinster – County Westmeath A local Catholic merchant, from a commercial family of equivalent local importance citing Naas Leinster – County Kildare A member of a local merchant family Naas Leinster – County Kildare Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland and a new English settler Navan Leinster – County Meath Member of a local family also called "Waring" – related to Thomas Warren (MP for Navan in 1585) and John Warren (lawyer and MP for Navan in 1613–15). Navan Leinster – County Meath New English settler, who acquired lands near Navan by 1547 and married Oliver Plunkett, 1st Baron Louth's daughter. Father of Thomas Wakeley, MP for Navan in 1585. The father and son both had many interests in King's County. New Ross Leinster – County Wexford Burgess – apparently from the local merchant community New Ross Leinster – County Wexford Burgess – apparently from the local merchant community Queen's CountyLeinster Its 1560 members are unknown ThomastownLeinster – County Kilkenny New English settler See also ThomastownLeinster – County Kilkenny New English settler Trim Leinster – County Meath Armiger – Englishman and Master of the Rolls Trim Leinster – County Meath Local merchant Waterford CityMunster – County Waterford From a family active in the government and commercial life of the city and which also had other property in the county and surrounding areas. Waterford CityMunster – County Waterford From a family active in the government and commercial life of the city and which also had other property in the county and surrounding areas. Wexford Leinster – County Wexford Active in the town's government and a member of its oligarchy. Seems to have been part of the town's strong merchant community. Wexford Leinster – County Wexford Active in the town's government and a member of its oligarchy. A member of a local family. Seems to have been part of the town's strong merchant community. YoughalMunster – County Cork From one of the borough's old-established merchant families. YoughalMunster – County Cork From one of the borough's old-established merchant families.
The following present-day counties did not yet exist:
Connaught: County Galway County Leitrim County Mayo County Roscommon County Sligo Leinster: County Longford County Wicklow Ulster: County Armagh County Cavan County Donegal County Fermanagh County Londonderry County Monaghan County Tyrone
As appears from the above list: -
1. No county in the province of Ulster sent members. 2. The only borough in Ulster which sent members was Carrickfergus. 3. The province of Connacht constituted a single large county, which did not send members. 4. The only boroughs in Connacht which sent members were Athenry and Galway. 5. The only counties in Munster which sent members were Tipperary and Waterford, the two easternmost counties.
As appears from the above list, the House of Commons contained the following serving members of the administration: -
1. John Challoner, Secretary of State (Ireland).
2. Sir William FitzWilliam, Vice-Treasurer of Ireland.
It also contained the following former members of the administration: -
1. John Alan, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, 1548–1551.
2. Thomas Cusack, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, 1551–1554.
The following officials sat in the House of Lords: -
1. Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond, Lord Treasurer of Ireland.
2. Archbishop Hugh Curwen, Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
Notes
References
Sources
Tracts relating to Ireland, Irish Archaeological Society, 1841–43, Volume 2, page 134