Irish Protestant Home Rule Association was founded in Belfast in the Castle Restaurant in Donegall Place on 21 May 1886[1] to support Gladstones Home Rule bill for Ireland among members of the various Protestant faiths, following a defeat in the House of Commons.
On 23 June 1886, the inaugural meeting of the Dublin branch of the Irish Protestant Home Rule Association held in the Central Hall, Westmoreland St., Dublin.
One of the founders was Portadown Liberal Thomas Shillington, a losing candidate in the 1885 election in North Armagh.
The trade unionist Alexander Bowman served as its secretary, other members included Prof. Charles Hubert Oldham who managed the southern branch of the IPHRA.
The association held meetings around Ireland, which were addressed by Protestant members of civic society including clergy of the main Protestant denominations.