Laois Representation at Westminster

Laois representation at Westminster

1801-1918

At the start of the nineteenth century Irish representation at Westminster was very limited as was Irish M.P.’s power. There was a passionate Irish nationalism that contended with a determined British imperialism and a desire for social and economic justice and self-determination rebelled against social degradation and economic expoitation. With regard to politics and nationalism, the English imposed their form and terms on Irish-English relationships. More, they structured the Irish political mind but they did not and could not, provide its content.

That is to say, the Irish did not contrive their own political framework and ideologies, they accepted what the British had contrived for them as they had no other choice.

Within my essay I am going to discuss the changing factors of the elections of County Laois and how from 1801-1922 the parliamentary representations at Westminster for the county went from being members of the protestant landed class to more energetic party members and businessmen within the county until finally Ireland received homerule in 1922. I will look at where possible, how the people got elected, the pledges they made to the electorate, the stances they took on national matters and if or not their was any corruption or bribery within the county with regards to elections.

Each county in Ireland had M.P’s that represented the county in Westminster. Laois or Queens county as it was called had two M.P’s. A law passed in 1801 ensured that members of parliament represented the interest of property and privilege. This law co-in sided with the huge amount of landed class in Ireland at the time. However this changed somewhat in 1918 when a new law was passed giving all voters equal value as M.P’s had to represent the population as a whole. In 1801 in Laois the landed class was very much to the fore and landlordism was evident within the results of the election.

Sir John Parnell (gran-uncle to C.S. Parnell) owned estates in Laois