High Sheriff of Galway

The High Sheriff of Galway was the Queen's representative for County Galway, a territory known as his bailiwick. Selected from three nominated people, he holds his office over the duration of a year. He has judicial, ceremonial and administrative functions and executes High Court Writs.

History

The office of High Sheriff is the oldest under the crown. It is over 1000 years old, with its establishment before the Norman Conquest. It remained first in precedence in the counties, until the reign of Edward VII, when an Order in Council in 1908 gave the Lord-Lieutenant the prime office under the Crown as the Sovereign's personal representative. The High Sheriff remains the Sovereign's representative in the County for all matters relating to the Judiciary and the maintenance of law and order.

High Sheriffs of Galway

*1656: Sir Arthur Gore, 1st Baronetcite web | url= http://www.thepeerage.com/index_sheriff.htm| title= thePeerage| accessdate= 2007-02-14]

*1703: Frederick Trench

*1824: Nicholas Brown [ [http://www.celticcousins.net/ireland/1824galway.htm Pigots Directory of Ireland 1824-Galway ] ]

*1838: Sir John Burke, 2nd Baronet

*1840: Frederic Mason Trench, 2nd Baron Ashtown

*1861: Henry Hodson [ [http://www.libraryireland.com/Thom1862/GalwayBorough.php/index.php Galway Borough and County of the Town Directory 1862 ] ]

*1872: Sir Valentine Blake, 14th Baronet Blake of Menlough

*1883: Sir Henry George Burke, 5th Baronet

*1894 Edmond Joseph Philip Lynch Athy [ [http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Galway/1909/FEB.html Newspaper Abstracts ] ]

References