Ireland – Internal Rates 1657-1839

Following the greater legislative freedom of the Parliament of Ireland under the Constitution of 1782, a completely separate Irish Post Office was set up in 1784 under the control of that Parliament, which set its own rates. The post office in Ireland remained separate even after the parliament itself was abolished as of 1st January 1801 under the Acts of Union, and was not brought under direct control from London until 1831.

Rates were set in Irish currency until 1826, and mileages were measured in Irish miles (= 1.27 English miles) throughout. A letter between two places in the "country" that passed through Dublin originally paid two separate charges (to and from the capital); from 1814 the charge was based on the total distance travelled., which would often lessen the cost.

Letters between Britain and Ireland were charged separate British and Irish rates until 1827 – see separate page.