Lord High Constable of Ireland


The office of Lord High Constable of Ireland was used during coronations of the monarch of the United Kingdom after the Acts of Union 1800. The office was abolished after the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

Medieval holders

  • Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath "the Constable of Ireland, as he is named in the "Annals of the Four Masters""
  • Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath
  • Sir John de Verdun, Lord of Westmeath and husband of Margaret, daughter of Gilbert de Lacy and coheir of the last-mentioned Walter de Lacy " married John de Verdon, who thereby obtained the moiety of Meath, and also the office of Constable of Ireland."
  • Theobald de Verdon, 1st Baron Verdon
  • Theobald de Verdun, 2nd Baron Verdun
The Barony of Verdon fell into abeyance on the death of Theobald in 1316.
  • John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford, husband of Maud Nevill, 6th Baroness Furnivall, great-granddaughter of Joan de Verdun, daughter of the above-mentioned Theobald, described himself as "Senescallus ac Constabularius Hiberniae" or "Steward and Constable of Ireland"
  • George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford, great-grandson of the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, was described as "Senescallus ac Constabularius Hiberniae" or "Steward and Constable of Ireland" in a deed of 2 July, 24 Henry VII and in two deeds of 19 July, 13 Henry VIII

    Lords High Constable of Ireland at Coronations

At this point, the office merged with the Crown and was revived only for coronations. It was held at coronations by the following individuals:
NameYearNotesSources
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne1821Coronation of King George IV
Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster1831Coronation of King William IV and Queen Adelaide
Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster1838Coronation of Queen Victoria
James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn1902Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra
James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn1911Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary