High Sheriff of County Limerick
Encyclopedia
The High Sheriff of Limerick was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Limerick
, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Limerick County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and administrative functions and executed High Court Writs. In 1908, an Order in Council made the Lord-Lieutenant the Sovereign's prime representative in a county and reduced the High Sheriff's precedence. However the sheriff retained his responsibilities for the preservation of law and order in the county. The usual procedure for appointing the sheriff from 1660 onwards was that three persons were nominated at the beginning of each year from the county and the Lord Lieutenant then appointed his choice as High Sheriff for the remainder of the year. Often the other nominees were appointed as under-sheriffs. Sometimes a sheriff did not fulfil his entire term through death or other event and another sheriff was then appointed for the remainder of the year. The dates given hereunder are the dates of appointment. All addresses are in County Limerick unless stated otherwise.
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Limerick County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and administrative functions and executed High Court Writs. In 1908, an Order in Council made the Lord-Lieutenant the Sovereign's prime representative in a county and reduced the High Sheriff's precedence. However the sheriff retained his responsibilities for the preservation of law and order in the county. The usual procedure for appointing the sheriff from 1660 onwards was that three persons were nominated at the beginning of each year from the county and the Lord Lieutenant then appointed his choice as High Sheriff for the remainder of the year. Often the other nominees were appointed as under-sheriffs. Sometimes a sheriff did not fulfil his entire term through death or other event and another sheriff was then appointed for the remainder of the year. The dates given hereunder are the dates of appointment. All addresses are in County Limerick unless stated otherwise.
High Sheriffs of County Limerick
- 1654: Sir Thomas Southwell, 1st Baronet
- 1671: John Maunsell
- 1678: John Odell
- 1697: Thomas Maunsell
- 1707: Robert SouthwellRichard Southwell (Limerick politician)Richard Southwell was an Irish politician.He was the fifth and youngest son of Richard Southwell and his wife Lady Elizabeth O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin. His older brothers were Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell and William Southwell...
- 1709: Edward Croker
- 1713: John Gabbett
- 1714: Benjamin Barrington
- 1717: Samuel Maunsell
- 1726: William Bury
- 1729: Benjamin Barrington
- 1729: Connel Vereker
- 1735: Edward Richards Croker
- 1739: Hugh Massy, 1st Baron Massy of Duntrileague
- 1743: Richard Maunsell
- 1743: John Evans
- 1751: John Odell
- 1752: Hugh Massy
- 1755: John Prittie Croker
- 1758: Sir Richard Bourke, 1st Baronet of Castle Connell
- 1772; Simon Purdon of Tinerana
- 1779: William Odell
- 1781: John O'Grady
- 1784: Silver Oliver of Castle Oliver
- 1784: Sir Vere Hunt, Jnr, 1st Baronet of Curragh
- 1785: Darby O'Grady
- 1793: Kilner Brazier of Rivers
- 1802: Thomas FitzMaurice Hunt
- 1809: Thomas Alexander Odell
- 1811: Sir Aubrey de Vere Hunt, later Sir Aubrey de Vere de Vere, 2nd Baronet of Curragh
- 1821: Gerald de Courcy O'Grady
- 1824: Edward Atkinson
- 1824: Joseph Gubbins of Kilrush
- 1825: Hon. John Massey of Limerick
- 1827: Chidley Coote of Mount Coote, Charleville
- 1828: Samuel Dickson of Limerick
- 1830: John Frauncis FitzGerald, 24th Knight of Glin
- 1832: John Croker
- 1835: George Meares Maunsell
- 1835: William Monsell, 1st Baron Emly
- 1836: Vere Edmond De Vere, later Sir Vere Edmond de Vere, 3rd Baronet
- 1845: Edward C. Villiers of Kilpeacon
- 1846: Sir Matthew Barrington, 2nd Baronet
- 1849: Samuel F. Dickson jnr of Kilkeadly
- 1850: Eyre Lloyd of Prospect Castle, Castle Connell
- 1851: Henry Maunsell
- 1853: Hugh Massy
- 1855: Sir Richard Donnellan Bourgho, 4th Baronet of Castle Connell
- 1858: Caleb Powell
- 1859: Heffernan Considine
- 1870: Stephen Edward de Vere, later Sir Stephen Edward de Vere, 4th Baronet
- 1870: Desmond John Edmund FitzGerald, 26th Knight of Glin
- 1879: Sir Charles Burton Barrington, 5th Baronet
- 1881: Heffernan James Fritz Joseph John Considine
- 1883: Thomas John Franks
- 1885: George Eyre Massy
- 1890: William Dickson Dickson
- 1893: James O'Grady Delmege
- 1895: William Cosby Trench of Clonodfoy Castle
- 1896: Lionel Edward Massey, 5th Baron Clarina of Elm Park
- 1903: Clennell Frank Massy Drew
- 1904: Desmond FitzJohn Lloyd FitzGerald, 27th Knight of Glin
- 1912: John Beatty Barrington
- 1914: John de Courcy O'Grady
- 1915: David Roche Browning