Kildare North by-election, 2005

On 31 October 2004, the Teachta Dála (TD) for Kildare North, Charlie McCreevy, officially resigned as a member of Dáil Éireann to take up his new position as a European Commissioner. His resignation resulted in the need for a by-election. As McCreevy was a Fianna Fáil member, that party had the responsibility of deciding when the by-election should take place.

On 15 February 2005 the campaign began in earnest when it was announced that polling would take place on 11 March. Eight candidates contested the vacant seat, with victory going to the Independent candidate, Catherine Murphy. Her 23.64% share of the first-preference vote was the lowest recorded at any by-election since Patrick Kinane won the Tipperary by-election in October 1947 with a 21.44% share. [http://www.electionsireland.org/results/general/byelectiondail.cfm]

As a result of her election, Kildare North was the only constituency in the Republic of Ireland that did not have a TD from one of the government parties of Fianna Fáil or the Progressive Democrats. Murphy also went into the record books as County Kildare's first ever female member of Dáil Éireann.

On the same day, a by-election took place in Meath.

Result

Out of a registered electorate of 65,080, there were 25,313 valid votes, making a turnout of 38.89%.

Irish Election box begin
title=2005 By-ElectionIrish Election box candidate with party link
candidate = Catherine Murphy
party = Independent (politician)
votes = 5,985
percentage = 23.64
seat = 1
count = 5Irish Election box candidate with party link
candidate = Áine Brady
party = Fianna Fáil
votes = 6,201
percentage = 24.50
seat =
count = Irish Election box candidate with party link
candidate = Darren Scully
party = Fine Gael
votes = 4,630
percentage = 18.29
seat =
count = Irish Election box candidate with party link
candidate = Paddy MacNamara
party = Labour Party (Ireland)
votes = 4,507
percentage = 17.81
seat =
count = Irish Election box candidate with party link
candidate = Kate Walsh
party = Progressive Democrats
votes = 2,006
percentage = 7.92
seat =
count = Irish Election box candidate with party link
candidate = J. J. Power
party = Green Party (Ireland)
votes = 1,547
percentage = 6.11
seat =
count = Irish Election box candidate with party link
candidate = Gerry Browne
party = Independent (politician)
votes = 226
percentage = 0.89
seat =
count = Irish Election box candidate with party link
candidate = Seanán Ó Coistín
party = Independent (politician)
votes = 211
percentage = 0.83
seat =
count =

ee also

* List of Irish by-elections
* Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland