The High Sheriff of Clare was a High Sheriff

High Sheriff

A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...

 title. Records show that the title was in existence from at least the late 16th century, though it is not used today in the modern Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

. The title existed within County Clare

County Clare

-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...

 in the west of 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...

 during the time of the Kingdom of Ireland

Kingdom of Ireland

The Kingdom of Ireland refers to the country of Ireland in the period between the proclamation of Henry VIII as King of Ireland by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 and the Act of Union in 1800. It replaced the Lordship of Ireland, which had been created in 1171...

 and then as part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....

.

The office was a position with some significant power, the sheriffs were responsible for the maintenance of law and order

Law and order (politics)

In politics, law and order refers to demands for a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent and property crime, through harsher criminal penalties...

 and various other roles. Some of its powers were relinquished in 1831 as the Lord Lieutenant of Clare

Lord Lieutenant of Clare

This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of County Clare. The office was created on 23 August 1831.* William Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and Vesey 7 October 1831 – 11 May 1843...

 was instated to deal with military duties. It was only in 1908 under Edward VII of the United Kingdom

Edward VII of the United Kingdom

Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...

 that the Lord Lieutenant position became more senior than the High Sheriff. Its previous roles were later taken up also by the High Court judge

High Court judge

A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...

s, magistrate

Magistrate

A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...

s, coroner

Coroner

A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...

s, local authorities and the police

Police

The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...

.

In Clare the office of High Sheriff was established when Connacht was shired around 1569 and ceased to exist with the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922.

House of Tudor

• 1576 Donnell Reagh McNamara
• 1577 Teige O’Brien
  Teige Mac Murrough O'Brien
  Teige Mac Murrough O’Brien was a son of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Thomond and Eleanor fitz John. He was politically and military active as an opponent of the Tudor reconquest of Ireland. Between 1570 and 1571 he was the first sheriff of Thomond.Teige O'Brian had four children:* Honora O'Brian*...
  
  
• 1578–1580 Turlough O’Brien
• 1582 Sir George Cusack

• 1584 Cruise (full name unknown)
• 1588 Boetius Clancy
  Boetius Clancy
  Boetius Clancy or MacClancy was a 16th century Irish landowner, MP and High Sheriff.He was born in Co Clare, the son of Hugh Clancy, and was the great-grandson of Murtagh MacClancy of Cnoc-Finn . He was well educated and fluent in Latin and English...
  
  
• 1599 Richard Scurlock

House of Stuart

• 1605 Laurence Delahoyde
• 1607 Sir Nicholas Moid
• 1609 Turlough M‘Mahon
• 1610 John M‘Namara
• 1612 John Thornton
• 1613 Samuel Norton
• 1615 Boetius Clancy
• 1616 Donogh O’Brien
• 1622 Samuel Norton
• 1623 Sir John M‘Namara

• 1624 Capt. Daniel Norton
• 1628 Donogh O’Brien
• 1634 Donogh O’Brien
• 1635 Turlogh O’Brien
• 1641 William Brigdall
• 1643 Daniel O'Brien
• 1643 Boetius Clancy
• 1644 George Colpoys
• 1645 William Brigdall
• 1646 Robert Starkie of Dromoland
  Dromoland Castle
  Dromoland Castle is a castle, now a luxury hotel with golf course, located near Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, Ireland. Its restaurant, the Earl of Thomond, was awarded a Michelin star in 1995.The present building was completed in 1835...
  
  

Commonwealth of England

• 1654 Sir Thomas Southwell, 1st Baronet
• 1656 William Pigott

• 1657 Sir William King, Kt

House of Stuart, restoration

• 1661 Thomas Cullen
• 1662–1663 George Purdon
• 1664 George Ross of Fortfergus
• 1665 Giles Vandeleur of Ralahine
• 1666–1667 Thomas Greene
• 1669 Samuel Burton
• 1670 Thomas Foote
• 1671 Thomas Hickman
• 1672 Benjamin Lucas
• 1673 Henry Ivers
• 1674 Mountfort Westropp of Bunratty
  Bunratty
  Bunratty is a village in County Clare in the parish of Newmarket on Fergus, Ireland.-History:The first settlement in Bunratty was by Vikings in 970 AD. Bunratty had reached it peak in 1804 AD, with a thriving economy, expanding community, and the construction of much of the buildings and...
  
  
• 1675 Walter Hickman of Doonnagurroge
• 1676 John Colpoys
• 1677 Henry Lee of Clonderalaw
• 1678 Thomas Hickman of Barntick
• 1679 Sir Samuel Foxon
• 1681 George Stamer of Carnelly
• 1682 Donogh O’Brien of Newtown
• 1683 Giles Vandeleur of Ralahine
• 1684 Simon Purdon
• 1685 Edmond Pery, of Enagh
• 1686 Henry Cooper
• 1687 Redmond O’Hehir, Drumcaran
• 1688–1689 John M‘Namara, Cratloe
  Cratloe
  Cratloe is a village in County Clare, Ireland, situated between Limerick City and Shannon in the midwest of Ireland. It is possible that the name derives from Croit-shliabh meaning "hump-backed hill", referring to Woodcock Hill.-Places of interest:...
  
  

• 1690 Sir Donogh O’Brien
• 1691–1692 Francis Burton
• 1693 Edmond Pery of Enagh
• 1694 David Bindon
• 1695 Thomas Hickman, Barntick
• 1696 Simon Purdon
• 1697 Thomas Spaight of Lodge
• 1698 Mountifort Westropp
• 1699 Henry Hickman
• 1700 John Cusack, Kilkishen
  Kilkishen
  Kilkishen is a village in southeast County Clare, Ireland. The village is 8 kilometres east of Quin and 14 kilometres north of Shannon.-Demographics:The population of Kilkishen at the 2006 Census was 443. Which was a rise from 324 at the 2002 Census...
  
  
• 1701 William Smith
• 1702 Michael Cole
• 1703 Henry O’Brien of Stonehall
• 1704 William Butler
• 1705 Francis Gore of Clonroad
• 1706 Boyle Vandeleur of Kilrush
  Kilrush
  Kilrush is a coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is located near the mouth of the River Shannon in the south-west of the county. Kilrush is a town of great historical significance, being one of the listed Heritage Towns of Ireland.-History:...
  
  
• 1707 Morgan Ryan
• 1708 George Hickman
• 1709 Robert Harrison of Fortfergus
• 1710 John Ivers of Mount Ivers
• 1711 George Colpoys of Ballycar
• 1712 William Butler of Roscroe

House of Hanover

• 1713 Robert Maghlin and Henry Bridgeman
• 1714 Thomas Hickman jnr
• 1715 Arthur Gore of Clonroad
• 1716 George Roche
• 1717 William Stamer of Carnelly
• 1718 Thomas Bellasyse
• 1719 Samuel Bindon of Rockmount
• 1720 Henry Ivers, Teige M‘Namara
• 1721 Arthur Ward of Cappa Lodge
• 1722 John Ringrose of Moynoe
• 1723 William Fitzgerald
• 1724 John Ross-Lewin, Fortfergus
• 1725 Thomas Spaight of Bunratty
• 1726 Robert Hickman of Barntick
• 1727 Thomas Studdert of Bunratty
• 1728 Charles M‘Donnell, Kilkee
  Kilkee
  Kilkee is a small coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is located midway between Kilrush and Doonbeg on the N67 road. The town, one of the most famous resorts in Ireland, is particularly popular as a seaside resort with people from Limerick City...
  
  
• 1729 Poole Hickman, Kilmore
• 1730 James Fitzgerald, Stonehall
• 1731 Robert Maghlin of Feakle
• 1732 Thomas M‘Mahon, Ballykilty
• 1733 Edmond Brown, Ballyslattery
• 1734 Luke Hickman, Fenloe
• 1735 Nicholas Bindon, Rockmount
• 1736 John Brady, Raheens
• 1737 St. John Bridgeman, Woodfield
• 1738 Richard Henn, Paradise Hill
• 1739 Augustus Fitzgerald, Silvergrove
• 1740 George Purdon, Tinneranna
• 1741 John Stacpoole, Cloghaunatinny
• 1742 Robert Harrison, Garrura
• 1743 James Butler, Newmarket
• 1744 John Westropp, Lismeehan
• 1745 Edmond Brown, Ballyslattery
• 1746 Robert Westropp, Fortanne
• 1747 Patrick Richard England, Lifford
• 1748 John Colpoys, Ballycar
• 1749 Henry Hickman, Kilmore
• 1750 William Blood, Bohersallagh
• 1751 Pierce Creagh, Dangan
• 1752 Joseph England, Cahercalla
• 1753 Andrew Morony, Dunnaha
• 1754 Francis Foster, Cloneen
• 1755 Harrison Ross-Lewin, Fortfergus
• 1756 Thomas Burton, Carrigaholt
  Carrigaholt
  Carrigaholt is a small fishing village in County Clare, Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the Moyarta river, which flows into the estuary of the River Shannon about 15 km from the tip of the Loop Head peninsula and about 10 km from the resort town of Kilkee on the north coast of the...
  
  

• 1757 George Stamer, Carnelly
• 1758 Edward O’Brien, Ennistymon
• 1759 Edmond Hogan, Doonbeg
  Doonbeg
  Doonbeg is a village in West County Clare in Ireland. It is situated on the N67 between the towns of Kilkee and Miltown Malbay. The nearest large towns are Kilrush and Kilkee which are both approximately 7 miles away....
  
  
• 1760 Charles M‘Donnell, Kilkee
• 1761 Edward FitzGerald, Stonehall
• 1762 John Scott, Cahircon
• 1763 George Stacpoole, Cragbrien
• 1764 Crofton Vandeleur, Kilrush
• 1765 James Burke, Loughburk
• 1766 William Henn, Paradise
• 1767 Anthony Casey, Seafield
• 1768 Thomas Arthur, Glenomera
• 1769 Sir Hugh Dillon Massey, 1st Baronet of Doonass
• 1770 George Quin, Quinsborough
• 1771 George Colpoys, Ballycar
• 1772 Ralph Westropp, Attyflynn
• 1773 Thomas Brown, Ballyslattery
• 1774 William Blood, jnr, Roxton
• 1775 Poole Westropp, Fortan
• 1776 Pierce Creagh, Dangan
• 1777 James O’Brien, Ennis
  Ennis
  Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
  
  
• 1778 Andrew Creagh, Cahiebane.
• 1779 William Stamer, Carnelly
• 1780 Edward William Burton, Clifden
• 1781 Joseph Peacock, Barntick
• 1782 Poole Hickman, Kilmore
• 1783 Hon. Henry Edward O’Brien, Ballyboro
• 1784 William Stacpoole, Annagh
• 1785 Thomas Studdert, Bunratty
• 1786 Donogh O’Brien, Cratloe
• 1787 Edward O’Brien, Ennis
• 1788 Francis Drew, Drewsborough
• 1789 Fs. M‘Namara, Moyriesk
• 1790 William Daxon, Fountain
• 1791 William Spaight, Corbally
• 1792 Laurence Comyn, Birchfield
• 1793 Henry Brady, Raheens
• 1794 George Studdert, Clonderlaw
• 1795 Samuel Spaight, Clare Lodge
• 1796 Thomas Morony, Miltown
  Miltown Malbay
  Spanish Point Airfield is an privately owned airfield between Milltown Malbay and Spanish Point. The airfield, located on Sandhill Road in the townland Leagard South, was established by three local pilots in 1991, and the original clubhouse was opened by then Irish Minister for Defense Mr...
  
  
• 1797 Jonas Studdert, Claremont
• 1798 William N. M‘Namara, Doolin
  Doolin
  Doolin is a coastal village in County Clare, Ireland, on the Atlantic coast. It borders the spa town of Lisdoonvarna. It is a noted centre of traditional Irish music, which is played nightly in its pubs, making it a popular tourist destination. There are numerous nearby archaeological sites, many...
  
  
• 1799 George Studdert, Kilkishen
• 1800 William Burton, Clifden

House of Hanover

• 1801 Thomas Steele, Cullane
• 1802 James Molony, Kiltanan
• 1803 Christopher Lysaght, Woodmount
• 1804 Robert Westropp of Fortanne
• 1805 Thomas Studdert, jnr of Bunratty
• 1806 Bindon Scott, Cahercon
• 1807 John O’Callaghan, Maryfort
• 1808 Thomas Brown, Tyredagh
• 1809 Thomas Studdert, Kilkishen
• 1810 William Scott, Knoppoge
• 1811 Thady M‘Namara, Ayle
• 1812 Thomas Mahon of Ennis
• 1813 James O’Brien, Woodfield
• 1814 Poole Gabbett, Castlekeale
• 1815 Richard Studdert, Clonderalaw
• 1816 Donat O’Brien, Cratloe
• 1817 Edward B. Armstrong, Ennis
• 1818 George William Stamer, Carnelly
• 1819 Bindon Blood, Rockforest
• 1820 John M‘Donnell, Newhall
• 1821 William Casey, Seafield
• 1822 Poole Hickman, Kilmore
• 1823 John Vandeleur, Ralahine
• 1824 Rt. Hon. John Ormsby Vandeleur of Kilrush
• 1825 John Singleton, Quinville
• 1826 Ad. Finnucane, Ennistimon
• 1827 Richard John Stacpoole of Edenvale, Ennis
• 1828 James Molony, Kiltanan
• 1829 Simon George Purdon
• 1830 Augustine Fitzgerald Butler, of Ballyline
• 1831 George Studdert, Clonderalaw
• 1832 Crofton Moore Vandeleur of Kilrush House, Kilrush
• 1833 Sir Hugh Dillon Massey, 2nd Baronet of Summer Hill, O'Brien's Bridge
• 1834 Charles Mahon, Cahercalla
• 1835 Lucius O'Brien
  Lucius O'Brien, 13th Baron Inchiquin
  Lucius O'Brien, 13th Baron Inchiquin , known as Sir Lucius O'Brien, 5th Baronet from 1837 to 1855, was an Irish politician and nobleman.-Biography:...
  
  
• 1836 John O’Brien, of Elmvale
• 1837 John M‘Mahon, Firgrove
• 1838 Thomas Crowe, Dromore House, Ruan
  Ruan
  The ruan is a Chinese plucked string instrument. It is a lute with a fretted neck, a circular body, and four strings. Its strings were formerly made of silk but since the 20th century they have been made of steel...
  
  
• 1839 Francis M‘Namara, of Doolin (son of William, HS 1798)
• 1840 John Bindon Scott
• 1841 Hugh O’Loughlen of Port
• 1842 William FitzGerald, Adelphi
• 1843 William Skerrett, Finavarra
• 1844 William Butler, of Bunnahow
• 1845 Hugh Palliser Hickman, Fenloe
• 1846 M. Finucane Stamerpark

• 1847 Robert A. Studdert, Kilkishen
• 1848 Henry S. Burton, Carrigaholt
  Carrigaholt
  Carrigaholt is a small fishing village in County Clare, Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the Moyarta river, which flows into the estuary of the River Shannon about 15 km from the tip of the Loop Head peninsula and about 10 km from the resort town of Kilkee on the north coast of the...
  
  
• 1849 Sir Edward FitzGerald, 3rd Baronet, of Carrigoran, Newmarket-on-Fergus
• 1850 Major William H. Ball, Fortfergus
• 1851 James Butler, Castlecrine
• 1852 Edmond John Armstrong, Willowbank
• 1853 William Edward Armstrong M‘Donnell, Newhall, Ennis
• 1854 Edward Percival Westby of Roebuck Castle, Dundrum
• 1855 Charles George O’Callaghan of Ballynahinch, Tulla
  Tulla
  Tulla is a town in County Clare, Ireland. The town is the commercial centre for Tulla parish and the surrounding area. Tulla church was founded about 620 by Mochuille and the town received its town charter in the 13th century...
  
  
• 1856 Francis Gore, Tyredagh
• 1857 Francis Macnamara Calcutt
• 1858 James O’Brien,of Ballinalacken
• 1859 And. Stacpoole
• 1860 Wainright Crowe, Cahercalla
• 1861 Burdett Moroney, Miltown
• 1862 Hon. Edward O’Brien
  Edward O'Brien, 14th Baron Inchiquin
  Edward Donough O'Brien, 14th Baron Inchiquin KP was an Irish peer, and the eldest son of Lucius O'Brien, 13th Baron Inchiquin and Mary FitzGerald...
  
  
• 1863 William Thomas Butler, jnr, of Bunnahow
• 1864 Richard Stacpoole, jnr, of Edenvale
• 1865 William Mills Molony, Kiltanan
• 1866 John Wilson Lynch, Belvoir
• 1867 Edmund Maghlin Blood, of Brickhill
• 1868 James Thomas Foster Vesey FitzGerald, of Moyriesk
• 1869 Robert William Carey Reeves, Burrane, Knock
  Knock
  Knock Mary") is a small town in County Mayo, Ireland whose notability derives from the Knock Shrine where it is claimed the Virgin Mary, together with St Joseph and St John the Evangelist, appeared in 1879....
  
  
• 1870 Francis Nathaniel Valentine Burton, of Carrigaholt
• 1871 Sir Augustine FitzGerald
• 1872 Hector Stewart Vandeleur, of Kilrush
• 1873 Cornelius Alexander Keogh, of Birchfield, Liscannor
  Liscannor
  Liscannor is a coastal village in County Clare, Ireland. Lying on the west coast of Ireland, on Liscannor Bay, the village is located on the R478 road between Lahinch, to the east, and Doolin, to the north. The Cliffs of Moher are about west of the village...
  
  
• 1874 Richard Studdert, Bunratty
• 1875 Horace Stafford O’Brien, Cratloe Woods
• 1876 Stephen Roland Woulfe, Teermaclane, Ennis
• 1877 Thomas Crowe, Dromore
  Dromore
  - Places :* Dromore, Ontario, Canada* Dromore , a crater in the Lunae Palus quadrangle of Mars- Other :* Bishop of Dromore, named for the town in County Down; the pre-Reformation antecedent of:** Roman Catholic Diocese of Dromore...
  
  
• 1878 Nicholas Smith O’Gorman, Belleview, Kilrush
• 1879 James Frost, Ballymorris
• 1880 George Thomas Stacpoole Mahon, Corbally
• 1881 Theobald Butler, of Ballyline
• 1882 William Wilson FitzGerald, Adelphi
• 1883 Bagot Blood, of Templemaley
• 1884 Francis W. Hickman, Kilmore
• 1885 Henry Valentine M‘Namara, of Ennistymon (son of Francis, HS 1839)
• 1886 William Conyngham Vandeleur Burton (Conyngham), of Carrigaholt Castle
• 1887 Col. Charles Synge, Mountcallan
• 1888 Henry Vassal D’Esterre, Rossmanaher
• 1889 John Vandeleur Phelps, Waterpark
• 1890 Col. A. H; Vincent Summerhill
• 1891 Robert G. Parker, Ballyvally
• 1892 William J. Macnamara, Ennistymon