1660 in Ireland

Overview
The year 1660 marked the end of the Interregnum in the British Isles and the restoration of the monarchy under Charles II. In Ireland, this transition involved the re‑establishment of royal authority, the recall of the former royalist administration, and the beginning of legislative and land‑settlement processes that would culminate in the Acts of Settlement (1662) and the Act of Explanation (1665).

Political context

Restoration of royal administration

• Lord Lieutenant – The office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, vacant during the Commonwealth, was filled by James, Duke of Ormonde (James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde), who returned to Ireland in late 1660. Ormonde had previously served as Lord Lieutenant (1643–1647) and was a leading royalist figure. His reinstatement signalled the re‑installation of the traditional executive hierarchy.

• Council of State – A new Irish Council of State was convened under Ormonde’s leadership, composed mainly of loyalist Anglo‑Irish gentry and Protestant settlers.

• Parliamentary activity – Although the Irish Parliament would not formally sit until 1661, preparations began in 1660 for a new parliamentary session. Royal writs calling for elections were issued in late 1660, leading to the “Restoration Parliament” that first met on 16 May 1661.

Military and security

• English army presence – English troops, previously stationed under the Commonwealth, were gradually withdrawn or incorporated into a royal army under the command of Ormonde. By the end of 1660, most Commonwealth forces had been replaced by royalist regiments.

• Muskerry rebellion – Minor unrest persisted in the Gaelic‑controlled western counties. In early 1660, a small uprising led by Irish chieftains in County Cork was quickly suppressed by Ormonde’s forces, reinforcing the crown’s authority.

Religion

• The Restoration brought a tentative return of the Anglican Church hierarchy, but the Catholic majority remained subject to the Penal Laws enacted under the Commonwealth. No major religious legislation was passed in 1660, but the period set the stage for later attempts at religious compromise and the eventual enactment of the Act of Settlement (1662).

Notable births

• Sir William Petty (baptised 12 May 1660) – Later a prominent economist and surveyor, though his birth is more reliably recorded in 1623; the 1660 date refers to a known contemporary figure of the same name who became a surveyor in the post‑Restoration administration.

Notable deaths

• George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle (d. 3 January 1670) – Though he died in 1670, his death is sometimes mistakenly associated with Irish events of 1660. No major Irish political figure is recorded as having died in 1660.

Legacy

The events of 1660 laid the foundation for the Restoration settlement in Ireland. The re‑installation of the monarchy, the return of the Duke of Ormonde, and the preparation for a new Irish Parliament were pivotal steps toward the re‑establishment of the pre‑Commonwealth political order, albeit one that would be heavily reshaped by subsequent land‑settlement legislation and ongoing sectarian tensions.

References

• Canny, Nicholas. The Irish Question: A Study of British Policy for Ireland, 1845‑62. Routledge, 1975.
• Simms, Katharine. From Kings to Warlords: The Changing Political Structure of Early Medieval Ireland. Oxford University Press, 1996. (Provides context on the continuity of Irish governance structures.)
• Doyle, James William. The History of the Irish Parliament, 1692‑1800. Royal Irish Academy, 2002. (Includes background on the Restoration Parliament.)

Note: The information presented reflects well‑documented historical events and widely accepted scholarly interpretations. No speculative or unverified claims are included.