Callan (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

History

Callan was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800. Based on Callan, County Kilkenny, it was established by royal charter in 1585, apparently at the request of Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond. He was a cousin of Elizabeth I on her mother's side, and one of the few Irish leaders in whom she had complete trust. It functioned largely as a Butler controlled borough, with parliamentary seats dominated by families such as the Comerfords, who were closely aligned with the Butlers.

In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by James II, Callan was represented with two members.

Members of Parliament, 1585–1801

• 1585 Gerald Comerford and Edward Brennan
• 1613–1615 Pierce Hayden and William Rothe (died and replaced by Richard Forrestal)
• 1634–1635 Edward Comerford and Lord Maltravers
• 1639–1649 Edward Comerford and Sir Thomas Wharton (resigned and replaced 1640 by Richard Bellings (expelled 1642))
• 1661–1666 John Campbell and Henry Baker (Baker died and replaced 1662 by Matthew Harrison)

1689–1801

Notes

References

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