The Grand Lodge of Ireland is the second oldest
Grand LodgeA Grand Lodge, or "Grand Orient", is the usual governing body of "Craft", or "Blue Lodge", Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was established in England in 1717 as the Premier Grand Lodge of England....
of
FreemasonryFreemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around 5 million, including just under two million in the United States and around 480,000 in...
in the world. 1725 is the year celebrated in Grand Lodge anniversaries, since the first evidence for its existence comes from the
DublinDublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath ; the English name comes from the Irish Dubh Linn meaning "black pool". It is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the...
Weekly Journal of June 26 1725. This describes a meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ireland to install the new
Grand MasterA Grand Lodge, or "Grand Orient", is the usual governing body of "Craft", or "Blue Lodge", Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was established in England in 1717 as the Premier Grand Lodge of England....
, the 1st
Earl of RosseEarl of Rosse is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, both times for members of the Parsons family. It is not to be confused with the Scottish title of Earl of Ross. The Parsons family were originally an English family of which five brothers settled in Ireland during the...
, on June 24. The Grand Lodge has jurisdiction over 13 Provincial Grand Lodges covering all the Freemasons of the
IslandAn island or isle is any piece of land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls are called islets. A key or cay is another name for a small island or islet. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot, .There are two main types of islands:...
of
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
, and another 12 provinces worldwide.
There is considerable evidence of Masonic Lodges meeting in Ireland prior to the eighteenth century. The story of the "Lady Freemason", Elizabeth St. Leger, dates to a time prior to the existence of the Grand Lodge, also there are records of a Lodge meeting in
Trinity College, DublinTrinity College Dublin , corporately designated as the Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", and is the only constituent college of...
as far back as the 1680s. The oldest artifact of Fraternal Masonry in Ireland, and one of the oldest masonic artifacts in the world is the Baal's Bridge Square, which dates from 1507. The brass square was recovered from Baals Bridge in
LimerickLimerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland,
[Information based on Central Statistics Office figures from 2006, which is the most recent census information available.] and the principal city in County Limerick...
during excavations and is inscribed with the phrase,
"I will strive to live with love and care, upon the level and by the square."
During the eighteenth century most Lodges met at inns, taverns and coffee houses. The meetings of the Grand Lodge however, generally took place in civic and guild buildings. During the early 1800s the Grand Lodge was leasing No. 19,
Dawson StreetDawson Street is one of the main streets of central Dublin, running parallel to Grafton Street, to which it is connected by Duke Street and South Anne Street...
in
DublinDublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath ; the English name comes from the Irish Dubh Linn meaning "black pool". It is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the...
which is the current home of the
Royal Irish AcademyThe Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has approximately 404 Members,...
. From
Dawson StreetDawson Street is one of the main streets of central Dublin, running parallel to Grafton Street, to which it is connected by Duke Street and South Anne Street...
, the Grand Lodge moved to Commercial Buildings on
Dame StreetDame Street is a large thoroughfare in Dublin, Ireland. The street is the location of many banks such as AIB, Ulster Bank and the Central Bank of Ireland. It is close to Ireland's oldest university, Trinity College Dublin , the entrance to which is a popular meeting spot.During the day, the street...
until Grand Lodge along with most Metropolitan Lodges moved to a new, purpose built facility on
Molesworth StreetThere are at least two notable streets called Molesworth Street:*Molesworth Street, Dublin, Ireland*Molesworth Street, Wellington, New ZealandThere are also Molesworth Streets in the following places:*North Adelaide, Australia*Wellesley, Ontario, Canada...
.
In 1869 the present, purpose built headquarters of Irish Freemasonry, Freemasons' Hall on
Molesworth StreetThere are at least two notable streets called Molesworth Street:*Molesworth Street, Dublin, Ireland*Molesworth Street, Wellington, New ZealandThere are also Molesworth Streets in the following places:*North Adelaide, Australia*Wellesley, Ontario, Canada...
, opened, housing dramatically decorated Lodge rooms, a library, museum, offices and dining areas.
Provincial Grand Lodges in Ireland
- Antrim
- Armagh
- North Connaught
- South Connaught
- Down
- Londonderry & Donegal
- Meath
- Midland Counties
- Munster
- North Munster
- South Eastern
- Tyrone & Fermanagh
- Wicklow & Wexford
Provincial Grand Lodges Overseas
- Bermuda
- Far East
- Ghana
- India
- Jamaica
- Malaysia
- Natal
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- South Africa Northern
- Southern Cape Province
- Sri Lanka
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Metropolitan Area
- The Metropolitan Area of Dublin contains 34 Masonic Lodges which are managed by a board under the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
Grand Masters
| Election | Name |
|---|
| 1725 |
Richard Parsons, 1st Earl of Rosse Richard Parsons was the first Earl of Rosse, from Parsonstown, King's County .A freemason and founder member of the Hell-Fire Club, Parsons was a notable Libertine , rebelling against the norms of the day....
|
| 1731 |
James King, 4th Baron Kingston |
| 1732 |
Nicholas Netterville, 5th Viscount Netterville |
| 1733 |
Henry, 4th Viscount Kinsland |
| 1735 |
James King, 4th Baron Kingston |
| 1736 |
Marcus Beresford, 1st Viscount Tyrone (Earl of Tyrone) |
| 1738 |
William Stewart, 3rd Viscount Mountjoy |
| 1740 |
Arthur St Leger, 3rd Viscount Doneraile |
| 1741 |
Charles Moore, 2nd Baron Moore of Tullamore |
| 1743 |
Thomas Southwell, 2nd Baron Southwell Thomas Southwell, 2nd Baron Southwell PC , FRS , styled The Honourable from 1717 until 1720, was an Irish peer, politician and freemason.-Background:...
|
| 1744 |
John Allen, 3rd Viscount Allen John Allen, 3rd Viscount Allen was an Irish peer and politician.He was the son of the 2nd Viscount Allen. Allen was a Member of Parliament for Carysfort from 1733 until 1742, when he succeeded his father as Viscount Allen.He never married and on his death his titles passed to his...
|
| 1735 |
James King, 4th Baron Kingston |
| 1747 |
Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, 6th Bt |
| 1749 |
Robert King, 1st Baron Kingsborough |
| 1751 |
Lord George Sackville (Viscount Sackville) |
| 1753 |
Hon. Thomas George Southwell Thomas George Southwell, 1st Viscount Southwell , styled The Honourable from birth until 1766, was an Irish politician and freemason.-Background:...
|
| 1757 |
Brinsley Butler, Lord Newtown-Butler Brinsley Butler, 2nd Earl of Lanesborough, PC was an Irish politician and peer.From 1751 until 1768, he was a Member of Parliament for Cavan Borough in the Irish House of Commons. In 1757, he was appointed as Grand Master of the Freemasons in Ireland....
|
| 1758 |
Charles Moore, 6th Earl of Drogheda Field Marshal Charles Moore, 1st Marquess of Drogheda KP, PC was a British peer and military officer, styled Viscount Moore until 1758....
|
| 1760 |
Charles, 1st Earl of Charleville |
| 1761 |
Sir Edward King, 5th Bt |
| 1763 |
Thomas Nugent, 6th Earl of Westmeath Thomas Nugent, 6th Earl of Westmeath KP PC was an Irish peer and Freemason, styled Lord Delvin from 1752 to 1754. He gained the title Earl of Westmeath in 1754 on the death of his father John Nugent, 5th Earl of Westmeath...
|
| 1767 |
Ford Lambart, 5th Earl of Cavan Ford Lambart, 5th Earl of the County of Cavan was born in 1718 in Maryborough.From 1767 to 1769, he was Grand Master of the Freemasons in Ireland....
|
| 1769 |
Edward, 1st Earl of Kingston |
| 1770 |
William FitzGerald, Marquess of Kildare William FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster KP, PC was an Irish liberal politician and landowner.-Career:...
|
| 1772 |
Randal MacDonnell, Viscount Dunluce |
| 1774 |
George Rochfort, 2nd Earl of Belvidere, Viscount Bellfield |
| 1776 |
Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington was an Anglo-Irish politician and composer, best known today for fathering several distinguished British military commanders and politicians.-Life:...
|
| 1777 |
William FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster William FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster KP, PC was an Irish liberal politician and landowner.-Career:...
|
| 1778 |
Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim |
| 1782 |
Richard Wellesley, 2nd Earl of MorningtonRichard Colley Wesley, later Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley KG, PC , styled Viscount Wellesley from birth until 1781, was an Irish politician and colonial administrator. He was the eldest son of Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington, an Irish peer, and brother of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of...
|
| 1783 |
Robert, 1st Baron Muskerry |
| 1785 |
Arthur Hill, Viscount Kilwarlin |
| 1787 |
Francis, 2nd Viscount Glerawley, 1st Earl of Annesley |
| 1789 |
Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 2nd Baron Donoughmore Richard Hely Hely-Hutchinson, 1st Earl of Donoughmore , styled The Honourable from 1783 to 1788, was an Irish peer and politician....
|
| 1813 |
Augustus Fitzgerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster, PC, PC was an Irish peer, styled Marquess of Kildare from birth until 1804....
|
| 1874 |
James, 1st Duke of Abercorn, K.G. |
| 1886 |
James, 2nd Duke of Abercorn, K.G. |
| 1913 |
Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 6th Earl of Donoughmore Richard Walter Hely-Hutchinson, 6th Earl of Donoughmore KP was an Earl in the Peerage of Ireland who sat in the House of Lords as Viscount Hutchinson in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.He attended Eton College....
|
| 1948 |
Raymond Fredrick Brooke |
| 1964 |
John, 7th Earl of Donoughmore |
| 1981 |
Dermot, 7th Marquess of Donegall |
| 1992 |
Darwin Herbert Templeton, C.B.E. |
| 2001 |
Eric Noel Waller |
| 2006 |
George Dunlop |