Each County & Borough was represented in the Irish Parliament, often by two or three members.
A county representative in parliament was known as a “Knight of the Shire” for that county.
Between 1613 & 1795 members of the Blennerhassett family were many times elected to the Irish parliament in Dublin, representing Counties Kerry, Limerick & Fermanagh and Boroughs Tralee & Dingle. Two of the name sat in the Irish parliaments of 1661, 1727 & 1760; three sat in the parliament of 1743.
County FERMANAGH
1662-64 Henry Blennerhassett of Crevenish Castle (c1630-1677; N)
Borough of CLONMEL, Co.Tipperary
1692-95 Robert Blennerhassett of Dublin (c1652-1713; R)
Recorder of Cashel; 2nd Justice; Master of the Rolls in Ireland
His Majesty's Prime Serjeant-at-law” 1711-13
County LIMERICK
1703 Robert Blennerhassett of Dublin (c1652-1713; R) as above
Borough of DINGLE, Co.Kerry
1695-99 Col. Sir John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (c1665-1709)
Borough of TRALEE, Co.Kerry
1613-15 Robert Blennerhassett of Ballycarty (c1565-bef.1654; C)
The first MP for Tralee (also first Provost of Tralee 1611-1613)
1634-39 Robert Blennerhassett of Ballycarty (c1565-bef.1654; C) as above
1661 John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (c1630-1677; C & B)
His father John Blennerhassett was MP for Kerry in 1661
1692 Col. Sir John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (c1665-1709; B)
1713-15 Col.John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (c1691/2-1775; B) *
1723-24 Conway Blennerhassett Sr of Castle Conway (1693-1724; K)
NOTE: Luke Gardiner elected in his place 1724
1727-43 Col.John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (c1691/2-1775; B) *
1727-43 Arthur Blennerhassett of Riddlestown Co.Limerick (1687/8-1758; R)
1743-60 Col.John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (c1691/2-1775; B) *
1743 Arthur Blennerhassett of Riddlestown Co.Limerick (1687/8-1758; R)
“His Majesty's Prime Serjeant-at-law” 1742-43
Served this second term only briefly, resigning on becoming a
Judge in 1743; he was succeeded by Hon.Thomas Southwell,
who was then unseated on petition by......
1743-60 Arthur Blennerhassett “the younger” (1719-1799; B),
later of London; son of “The Great Colonel John”
1760-69 Col.John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (c1691/2-1775; B) *
County KERRY
1661-66 John Blennerhassett of Ballycarty & Ballyseedy (c1593-1673; C)
He unseated Richard Chute; His son John was MP for Tralee in 1661
1703-09 Col.John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (c1665-1709; B)
NOTE: KING (p.263) in error has two John
Blennerhassetts as MP for Co.Kerry in 1704
1709-13 Col.John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (c1691/2-1775; B)
“The Great Colonel John” (who unseated Thomas Crosbie);
elected 1709 at about the age of 17 years (under legal age of 21)
1715-27 Col. John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (c1691/2-1775; B) *
1751-60 John Blennerhassett Jr of Ballyseedy (1715-1763; B)
(elected 1751 on the death of Sir Maurice Crosbie, elected 1743)
1760-63 John Blennerhassett Jr of Ballyseedy (1715-1763; B)
1769-75 Col. John Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy (c1691/2-1775; B) *
1775-83 Arthur Blennerhassett of Co.Kerry & later of Bath (1731-1810; B)
1790-94 John Blennerhassett of Elmgrove, Ballyseedy (1769/70-1794; B)
1795-98 Following John Blennerhassett's death in 1794, his seat was taken (in 1795)
by John Gustavus Crosbie who had shot the other Kerry MP,
Sir Barry Denny “the younger”, in a duel...
* = “The Great Colonel John”, “Father of the Irish House of Commons”