Grand Lodge of Ireland
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| Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. Masons of Ireland | |
| Established | 1725 |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Ireland |
| Location | Dublin Ireland |
| Website | irish-freemasons.org |
The Grand Lodge of Ireland is the second most senior Grand Lodge of Freemasons in the world, and the oldest in continuous existence. Since no specific record of its foundation exists, 1725 is the year celebrated in Grand Lodge anniversaries, as the oldest reference to Grand Lodge of Ireland comes from the Dublin Weekly Journal of 26 June 1725. This describes a meeting of the Grand Lodge to install the new Grand Master, the 1st Earl of Rosse, on June 24. The Grand Lodge has jurisdiction over 13 Provincial Grand Lodges covering all the Freemasons of the island of Ireland, and another 12 provinces worldwide.
There is considerable evidence of Masonic Lodges meeting in Ireland prior to the 18th century. The story of the "Lady Freemason", Elizabeth St Leger, dates to a time prior to the existence of the Grand Lodge, also there are references to Lodge meetings across Dublin in a speech given in Trinity College, Dublin as far back as 1688. The oldest artifact of Fraternal Masonry in Ireland, and one of the oldest masonic artifacts in the world is the Baal's Bridge Square, which dates from 1507. The brass square was recovered from Baals Bridge in Limerick during excavations and is inscribed with the phrase, "I will strive to live with love and care, upon the level and by the square."(http://www.freemasonsnorthmunster.com/Baal's_Bridge_Square.htm)[citation needed]
During the 18th century individual Lodges met at inns, taverns and coffee houses, while the meetings of the Grand Lodge, generally took place in civic and guild buildings. During the early 19th century Grand Lodge began leasing buildings as semi-permanent Masonic facilities, for example, the Grand Lodge for a time held residence at No. 19, Dawson Street in Dublin which is the current home of the Royal Irish Academy. From Dawson Street, the Grand Lodge moved to Commercial Buildings on Dame Street until Grand Lodge along with most Metropolitan Lodges moved to a new, purpose built facility on Molesworth Street.[citation needed] In 1869 the current, purpose built headquarters of Irish Freemasonry, Freemasons' Hall on Molesworth Street, opened, housing dramatically decorated Lodge rooms, a library, museum, offices and dining areas.
Contents |
[edit] Provincial Grand Lodges in Ireland
- Antrim
- Armagh
- North Connaught
- South Connaught
- Down
- Derry & Donegal
- Meath
- Midland Counties
- Munster
- North Munster
- South Eastern
- Tyrone & Fermanagh
- Wicklow & Wexford
[edit] Provincial Grand Lodges Overseas
- Bermuda
- Far East
- Ghana
- India
- Jamaica
- South East Asia
- Natal
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- South Africa Northern
- Southern Cape Province
- Sri Lanka
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
[edit] Metropolitan Area
- The Metropolitan Area of Dublin contains 34 Masonic Lodges which are managed by a board under the Grand Lodge of Ireland.[citation needed]
[edit] Grand Masters
| Election | Name |
|---|---|
| 1725 | Richard Parsons, 1st Earl of Rosse |
| 1731 | James King, 4th Baron Kingston |
| 1732 | Nicholas Netterville, 5th Viscount Netterville |
| 1733 | Henry Barnewall, 4th Viscount Kingsland |
| 1735 | James King, 4th Baron Kingston |
| 1736 | Marcus Beresford, 1st Viscount Tyrone (later Earl of Tyrone) |
| 1738 | William Stewart, 3rd Viscount Mountjoy |
| 1740 | Arthur St Leger, 3rd Viscount Doneraile |
| 1741 | Charles Moore, 2nd Baron Moore of Tullamore |
| 1743 | Thomas Southwell, 2nd Baron Southwell |
| 1744 | John Allen, 3rd Viscount Allen |
| 1747 | Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, 6th Bt |
| 1749 | Robert King, 1st Baron Kingsborough |
| 1751 | Lord George Sackville (later Viscount Sackville) |
| 1753 | Hon. Thomas George Southwell |
| 1757 | Brinsley Butler, Lord Newtown-Butler |
| 1758 | Charles Moore, 6th Earl of Drogheda |
| 1760 | Charles Moore, 1st Earl of Charleville |
| 1761 | Sir Edward King, 5th Bt |
| 1763 | Thomas Nugent, 6th Earl of Westmeath |
| 1767 | Ford Lambart, 5th Earl of Cavan |
| 1769 | Edward King, 1st Earl of Kingston |
| 1770 | William FitzGerald, Marquess of Kildare |
| 1772 | Randal MacDonnell, Viscount Dunluce |
| 1774 | George Rochfort, 2nd Earl of Belvedere |
| 1776 | Garret Wesley, 1st Earl of Mornington |
| 1777 | William FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster |
| 1778 | Randal MacDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim |
| 1782 | Richard Wellesley, 2nd Earl of Mornington |
| 1783 | Robert Deane, 1st Baron Muskerry |
| 1785 | Arthur Hill, Viscount Kilwarlin |
| 1787 | Francis Annesley, 2nd Viscount Glerawley (later Earl of Annesley) |
| 1789 | Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 2nd Baron Donoughmore |
| 1813 | Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster |
| 1874 | James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn |
| 1886 | James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn |
| 1913 | Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 6th Earl of Donoughmore |
| 1948 | Raymond Frederick Brooke |
| 1964 | John Hely-Hutchinson, 7th Earl of Donoughmore |
| 1981 | Dermot Chichester, 7th Marquess of Donegall |
| 1992 | Darwin Herbert Templeton |
| 2001 | Eric Noel Waller |
| 2006 | George Dunlop |
[edit] References
- Waite, Arthur Edward (2007). A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. vol. I. Cosimo, Inc.. pp. 400. ISBN 1602066418.
