Poynings Law (redirected from Poynings' Law)

Poynings’ Law 

the name given to statutes promulgated in 1495 by a parliament in Drogheda (eastern Ireland) that was convened in late 1494 by the English lord deputy E. Poynings in the Pale—the part of Ireland conquered by England. Poynings’ Law reflected the desire of the new house of Tudor to strengthen the English position in Ireland. Poynings’ Law barred the convening of the Irish Parliament and its drafting of legislation without the previous sanction of the English crown and the privy council. At the same time all legislative acts in force in England were extended to the Pale. The law was finally repealed by the Renunciation Act of 1783, in response to pressure from Ireland’s national liberation movement.

PUBLICATIONS

In Irish Historical Documents, 1172–1922. Edited by E. Curtis and R. B. MacDowell. London [1943].