Act of Union

The Act of Union, 1800 and Swords

Prior to 1800 the Borough of Swords returned two members to the Irish Parliament which sat in what is now the Bank of Ireland premises. When the Irish Parliament was abolished in 1800 under the terms of the Act of Union, the sum of £15,000 was granted to compensate the officials who had been made redundant. This money was never paid because of “pot walloping” in Swords. The Commissioners appointed the Lord Chancellor, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, the Provost of Trinity College, the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral and the Vicar of Swords as trustees of the fund, and they decided that the dividends from the £15,000 be used to maintain a school and to provide `one frugal meal’ per day for the children. The money was also used to provide cheap coal and medicine. If there was any money left, it was to be used to apprentice pupils to useful trades and to give prizes in order that agriculture and industry might be promoted in Swords. The apprenticeship money became known as the “Fee”. (See separate note) The trustees were granted a Royal Charter on 18 February 1804, and they engaged the architect, Francis Johnston (also the architect of the GPO) to draw up the plans for a school.