The High Sheriff of Galway Town was the Sovereign's judicial representative in the county of the Town of Galway. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the

Provisions of Oxford The Provisions of Oxford were constitutional reforms developed during the Oxford Parliament of 1258 to resolve a dispute between King Henry III of England and his barons. The reforms were designed to ensure the king adhered to the rule of law and ...

in 1258. Besides his judicial importance, he had ceremonial and administrative functions and executed High Court Writs.

History

The first (High) Shrievalties were established before the

Norman Conquest The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Con ...

in 1066 and date back to Saxon times. In 1908, an

Order in Council An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in many countries, especially the Commonwealth realms. In the United Kingdom this legislation is formally made in the name of the monarch by and with the advice and consent of the Privy Council (''Kin ...

made the Lord-Lieutenant the Sovereign's prime representative in a county and reduced the High Sheriff's precedence. Despite however that the office retained his responsibilities for the preservation of law and order in a county. The first High Sheriff of the town was appointed in 1841 and the last one in 1899.

Victoria, 1841–1899

*1841: Martin Morris *1843: Nicholas Lynch *1845: Patrick Marcus Lynch *1848: T A. Joyce of Rahasau,

Loughrea Loughrea ( ; ) is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The town lies to the north of a range of wooded hills, the Slieve Aughty Mountains, and the lake from which it takes its name. The town's cathedral, St Brendan's, dominates the town's skyline ...

. *1849: Michael Morris *1850: Thomas Moore Persse *1851: Mark Anthony Lynch *1856: Ambrose Rush *1857: Peter Sarsfield Comyn *1858: John Wilson Lynch of Duras and

Renmore Renmore () is a suburb of Galway City, Ireland, situated approximately 2 km to the east of the city. Renmore runs east along the coast and south of Dublin Road, from the shore of Lough Atalia on its west side to Lurgan Park on its east. The ...

. *1860: George Morris *1862: Henry Hodgsen *1867: Pierce John Joyce *1868: Henry Sadleir Persse *1868: Francis Comyn of Woodstock *1870: Marcus Lynch, JP of Barna House. *1872: Sir Valentine Blake, 14th Bt. *1874: Charles French Blake-Forster *1878: Francis O'Donnellan Blake-Forster *1881: Rickard Blake. *1882: Robert William Waithman. *1884: Thomas G.P. Halett. *1885: Walter Martin Blake. *1886: Llewellyn Blake. *1887: Arthur Henry Courtenay. *1888: William Henry Persse. *1890: De Burgh Fitzpatrick Persse. *1892: Robert French Blake. *1893: John Joseph Chevers. *1898: Sir William Henry Mahon, 5th Baronet of Castlebar,

Ahascragh Ahascragh () is a village in east Galway, Ireland. It is located (7 mi) north-west of Ballinasloe on the Ahascragh/Bunowen River, a tributary of the River Suck. The R358 regional road passes through the village. History The patron saint ...

. *1899: Thomas William Moffett.

References

{{High Shrievalties Galway Town Politics of Galway (city)