Manor of Kilmainham
Encyclopedia
The Manor of Kilmainham was a manor
encompassing the village of Kilmainham
in County Dublin
, Ireland
, just outside the city of Dublin. It one of several manors, or liberties, that existed in Dublin after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. The manors were town lands united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction.
The boundaries of this liberty were first drawn up by John, when Lord of Ireland
, in 1192, referring to a former charter of local franchises granted by king Henry II (now lost). The lands on the banks of the Liffey at Kilmainham
, near Dublin, first belonged to the Knights Templars, an order founded in 1118 for the protection of pilgrims in the Holy Land
. Strongbow
had a castle constructed for them. They acquired many grants of land not only in Dublin but also in surrounding counties and became wealthy and strong. In 1307 King Edward II started to suppress the order in England, and ordered his deputy in Ireland, John Wogan, to do the same without delay. The knights were imprisoned and examined at Dublin Castle
, but were not burned at the stake, as many of their order were in other countries. Their lands and privileges were given to the priory of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem
, who remained in possession until the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century.
Until the time of Queen Elizabeth
, when Dublin Castle
became the centre of English power, the lord lieutenants
often held court at the manor of Kilmainham. In 1559, the earl of Sussex, on being again appointed lord lieutenant, found that the building at Kilmainham had been damaged by a storm, and had to hold court at the Palace of St. Sepulchre
. The following year Elizabeth ordered that Dublin Castle be upgraded to enable the lord lieutenant to reside there.
In 1813 the population of this manor was 2149 males and 2569 females.
, where it was allowed to try all crimes except "forestalling, rape, treasure-trove and arson"), free customs, freedom from certain taxes and services, impose its own fines, have its own coroners, rights of salvage, maintain its own fairs and markets, regulate weights and measures, etc.
These rights and privileges ended in 1840.
, former lords (or chairmen, as they were later called) of this manor included Lord Cloncurry
and Sir Edward Newenham. John "Bully" Egan, from Charleville, County Cork, was chairman from 1790 to 1800. In the final debate in the Irish Parliament on the Act of Union
, Egan delivered a strong speech against the motion and exclaimed, after sitting down upon finishing his speech: "Ireland – Ireland for ever! and damn Kilmainham!" With the Act passing, his vote against the Union saw him deprived of his chairmanship.
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
encompassing the village of Kilmainham
Kilmainham
Kilmainham is a suburb of Dublin south of the River Liffey and west of the city centre, in the Dublin 8 postal district.-History:In the Viking era, the monastery was home to the first Norse base in Ireland....
in County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, just outside the city of Dublin. It one of several manors, or liberties, that existed in Dublin after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. The manors were town lands united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction.
History
Lordship of Ireland
The Lordship of Ireland refers to that part of Ireland that was under the rule of the king of England, styled Lord of Ireland, between 1177 and 1541. It was created in the wake of the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169–71 and was succeeded by the Kingdom of Ireland...
, in 1192, referring to a former charter of local franchises granted by king Henry II (now lost). The lands on the banks of the Liffey at Kilmainham
Kilmainham
Kilmainham is a suburb of Dublin south of the River Liffey and west of the city centre, in the Dublin 8 postal district.-History:In the Viking era, the monastery was home to the first Norse base in Ireland....
, near Dublin, first belonged to the Knights Templars, an order founded in 1118 for the protection of pilgrims in the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
. Strongbow
Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke , Lord of Leinster, Justiciar of Ireland . Like his father, he was also commonly known as Strongbow...
had a castle constructed for them. They acquired many grants of land not only in Dublin but also in surrounding counties and became wealthy and strong. In 1307 King Edward II started to suppress the order in England, and ordered his deputy in Ireland, John Wogan, to do the same without delay. The knights were imprisoned and examined at Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
, but were not burned at the stake, as many of their order were in other countries. Their lands and privileges were given to the priory of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
, who remained in possession until the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century.
Until the time of Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, when Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
became the centre of English power, the lord lieutenants
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
often held court at the manor of Kilmainham. In 1559, the earl of Sussex, on being again appointed lord lieutenant, found that the building at Kilmainham had been damaged by a storm, and had to hold court at the Palace of St. Sepulchre
Manor of St. Sepulchre
The Manor of St. Sepulchre was one of several manors, or liberties, that existed in Dublin, Ireland since the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. They were town lands united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction.St...
. The following year Elizabeth ordered that Dublin Castle be upgraded to enable the lord lieutenant to reside there.
In 1813 the population of this manor was 2149 males and 2569 females.
Privileges
In return for the support of the Lord of the Manor, or to alleviate certain hardships suffered by Englishmen, privileges were granted to the manor at various times and by various kings of England. These allowed the manor to have its own courts of justice (Court leetCourt leet
The court leet was a historical court baron of England and Wales and Ireland that exercised the "view of frankpledge" and its attendant police jurisdiction, which was normally restricted to the hundred courts.-History:...
, where it was allowed to try all crimes except "forestalling, rape, treasure-trove and arson"), free customs, freedom from certain taxes and services, impose its own fines, have its own coroners, rights of salvage, maintain its own fairs and markets, regulate weights and measures, etc.
These rights and privileges ended in 1840.
Administration
After the ReformationEnglish Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
, former lords (or chairmen, as they were later called) of this manor included Lord Cloncurry
Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry
Valentine Brown Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry , was an Irish politician and landowner. He lived in Lyons, under Lyons Hill Ardclough County Kildare.-Birth:...
and Sir Edward Newenham. John "Bully" Egan, from Charleville, County Cork, was chairman from 1790 to 1800. In the final debate in the Irish Parliament on the Act of Union
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
, Egan delivered a strong speech against the motion and exclaimed, after sitting down upon finishing his speech: "Ireland – Ireland for ever! and damn Kilmainham!" With the Act passing, his vote against the Union saw him deprived of his chairmanship.