- Donegal (Dáil Éireann constituency)
-
Donegal Former Dáil Éireann
Parliamentary constituency1921–1937 1977–1981 Seats 6 (1921–1923)
8 (1923–1937)
5 (1977–1981)County/City council County Donegal Donegal was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1921 to 1937 and from 1977 to 1981. The method of election was the single transferable vote form of proportional representation (PR-STV).
Contents
History and boundaries
The Donegal constituency was created in 1921 under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, for the 1921 election to the House of Commons of Southern Ireland, whose members formed the 2nd Dáil. It elected 6 deputies in 1921, and again at the 1922 general election. It covered the whole territory of County Donegal in north-west Ireland.
Under the Electoral Act 1923, the constituency's boundaries remained unchanged, and were defined simply as "the administrative county of Donegal". However, its representation was increased from 6 to 8 seats.[1]
The Donegal constituency was abolished by the Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935, with effect from the 1937 general election. It was replaced by two new constituencies: the 4 seat Donegal East and the 3 seat Donegal West.[2]
1977 to 1981
A Donegal constituency was re-established under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974 (popularly known as "the "Tullymander"), and first used at the 1977 general election to the 21st Dáil. The new 5 seat constituency did not cover all of County Donegal; an area in the south of the county, including the towns of Ballyshannon and Bundoran, was included in the Sligo–Leitrim constituency.[3]
The revived constituency was short-lived, as under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1980, it was replaced by two new 3 seat constituencies, Donegal North East and Donegal South West.[4]
TDs
TDs 1921–1937
Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Donegal 1921–1937[5] Key to partiesDáil Election Deputy
(Party)Deputy
(Party)Deputy
(Party)Deputy
(Party)Deputy
(Party)Deputy
(Party)Deputy
(Party)Deputy
(Party)2nd 1921[6] Joseph McGinley
(SF)Patrick McGoldrick
(SF)Joseph O'Doherty
(SF)Samuel O'Flaherty
(SF)Joseph Sweeney
(SF)Peter Ward
(SF)6 seats
1921–19233rd 1922[7] Joseph McGinley
(Pro-Treaty)Patrick McGoldrick
(Pro-Treaty)Joseph O'Doherty
(Anti-Treaty)Samuel O'Flaherty
(Anti-Treaty)Joseph Sweeney
(Pro-Treaty)Peter Ward
(Pro-Treaty)4th 1923[8] Eugene Doherty
(CnaG)Patrick McGoldrick
(CnaG)Joseph O'Doherty
(Rep)Peadar O'Donnell
(Rep)Patrick McFadden
(CnaG)Peter Ward
(CnaG)James Myles
(Ind)John White
(FP)1924 by-election[9] Denis McCullough
(CnaG)5th 1927 (Jun)[10] Neal Blaney
(FF)Frank Carney
(FF)Daniel McMenamin
(NL)Michael Óg McFadden
(CnaG)Hugh Law
(CnaG)6th 1927 (Sep)[11] Archie Cassidy
(Lab)7th 1932[12] Daniel McMenamin
(CnaG)James Dillon
(Ind)Brian Brady
(FF)John White
(CnaG)8th 1933[13] Hugh Doherty
(FF)Joseph O'Doherty
(FF)James Dillon
(NCP)Michael Óg McFadden
(CnaG)9th 1937 Constituency abolished. See Donegal East and Donegal West Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.
TDs 1977–1981
Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Donegal 1977–1981[5] Key to partiesDáil Election Deputy
(Party)Deputy
(Party)Deputy
(Party)Deputy
(Party)Deputy
(Party)21st 1977[14] James White
(FG)Neil Blaney
(IFF)Paddy Harte
(FG)Joseph Brennan
(FF)Hugh Conaghan
(FF)1980 by-election[15] Clement Coughlan
(FF)22nd 1981 Constituency abolished. See Donegal North East and Donegal South West Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.
Elections
1980 by-election
A by-election was held on 6 November 1980 to fill the vacancy caused by the death on 13 July 1980 of the Fianna Fáil TD Joseph Brennan. It was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Clement Coughlan, who died in a road accident in early 1983, triggering a by-election in the Donegal South West constituency.
1980 by-election: Donegal[15] Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count Fianna Fáil Clement Coughlan 23,456 39.0 1 Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 20,022 33.3 Independent Fianna Fáil Patrick Kelly 14,198 23.6 Sinn Féin (Workers' Party) Séamus Rodgers 2,401 4.0 Electorate: 81,340 Valid: 60,077 Quota: 30,039 Turnout: 73.9% 1977 general election
1977 general election: Donegal[14] Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count Fine Gael James White 10,672 17.6 1 1 Independent Fianna Fáil Neil Blaney 10,499 17.3 2 1 Fine Gael Paddy Harte 8,483 13.9 3 Fianna Fáil Joseph Brennan 6,448 10.6 4 Fianna Fáil Hugh Conaghan 5,413 8.9 5 Fianna Fáil Bernard McGlinchey 5,693 9.4 Fianna Fáil Patrick Delap 4,583 7.5 Independent Paddy Keaveney 3,325 5.5 Fine Gael Séamus Gill 2,946 4.8 Sinn Féin (Workers' Party) Séamus Rodgers 2,505 4.1 Independent Charles Long 256 0.4 Electorate: 77,813 Valid: 60,823 Quota: 10,138 Turnout: 78.2% 1933 general election
1933 general election: Donegal[13] Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count Independent James Myles 10,784 15.5 1 1 Cumann na nGaedheal Michael Óg McFadden 4,725 6.8 2 Cumann na nGaedheal Daniel McMenamin 5,261 7.6 3 National Centre Party James Dillon 5,319 7.7 4 Fianna Fáil Brian Brady 7,615 11.0 5 Fianna Fáil Neal Blaney 7,310 10.5 6 Fianna Fáil Joseph O'Doherty 7,384 10.6 7 Fianna Fáil Hugh Doherty 7,055 10.1 8 Fianna Fáil Archie Cassidy 6,036 8.7 Cumann na nGaedheal Michael McGilligan 4,306 6.2 Cumann na nGaedheal Eugene Doherty 3,779 5.4 Electorate: 88,666 Valid: 69,574 Quota: 7,731 Turnout: 78.5% 1932 general election
1932 general election: Donegal[12] Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count Independent James Myles 10,077 15.6 1 1 Independent James Dillon 7,645 11.8 2 1 Fianna Fáil Neal Blaney 7,416 11.4 3 1 Cumann na nGaedheal Daniel McMenamin 4,050 6.3 4 Cumann na nGaedheal John White 4,654 7.2 5 Cumann na nGaedheal Eugene Doherty 4,313 6.7 6 Fianna Fáil Frank Carney 3,874 6.0 7 Fianna Fáil Brian Brady 4,955 7.6 8 Fianna Fáil Hugh Doherty 4,691 7.2 Cumann na nGaedheal Michael Óg McFadden 3,737 5.8 Fianna Fáil Patrick Doherty 3,370 5.2 Cumann na nGaedheal Hugh Law 2,795 4.3 Labour Party Archie Cassidy 2,506 3.9 Labour Party Charles Sweeney 733 1.1 Electorate: 87,413 Valid: 64,816 Quota: 7,202 Turnout: 74.1% September 1927 general election
September 1927 general election: Donegal[11] Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count Independent James Myles 7,934 14.5 1 1 Fianna Fáil Neal Blaney 6,877 12.6 2 1 Cumann na nGaedheal Eugene Doherty 6,108 11.2 3 1 Fianna Fáil Frank Carney 4,811 8.8 4 Cumann na nGaedheal Hugh Law 5,224 9.6 5 Labour Party Archie Cassidy 3,675 6.7 6 Cumann na nGaedheal Michael Óg McFadden 4,740 8.7 7 Farmers' Party John White 4,637 8.5 8 Cumann na nGaedheal Patrick McGoldrick 3,889 7.1 Fianna Fáil Patrick McGinley 2,463 4.5 Cumann na nGaedheal Edward Kelly 2,067 3.8 Fianna Fáil John O'Flaherty 1,973 3.6 Independent Kate McCarry 164 0.3 Electorate: 90,224 Valid: 54,552 Quota: 6,062 Turnout: 60.5% June 1927 general election
June 1927 general election: Donegal[10] Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count Independent James Myles 7,557 15.1 1 1 National League Party Daniel McMenamin 5,828 11.7 2 1 Farmers' Party John White 5,031 10.1 3 Fianna Fáil Neal Blaney 5,681 11.4 4 Fianna Fáil Frank Carney 3,002 6.0 5 Cumann na nGaedheal Eugene Doherty 4,005 8.0 6 Cumann na nGaedheal Hugh Law 3,596 7.2 7 Cumann na nGaedheal Michael Óg McFadden 3,105 6.2 8 Fianna Fáil Seamus Monaghan 2,899 5.8 Cumann na nGaedheal Patrick McGoldrick 2,750 5.5 Labour Party Archie Cassidy 2,491 5.0 Labour Party Denis Houston 2,005 4.0 Cumann na nGaedheal Patrick McFadden 1,975 3.9 Electorate: 90,224 Valid: 49,925 Quota: 5,548[16] Turnout: 55.3% 1924 by-election
A by-election was held on 20 November 1924 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation on 1 August 1924 of the Cumann na nGaedheal TD Peter Ward. There were only two candidates, and the winner was the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate Denis McCullough.
1924 by-election: Donegal[9] Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count Cumann na nGaedheal Denis McCullough 24,919 57.6 1 1 Republican Thomas Daly 18,371 42.4 Electorate: 96,777 Valid: 43,290 Quota: 21,646 Turnout: 44.7% 1923 general election
The 1923 general election to the 4th Dáil was the first in the Donegal constituency where the number of candidates exceeded the number of seats. Under the Electoral Act 1923, Donegal's representation had been increased from six to eight seats, and these were contested by no less than 19 candidates.
1923 general election: Donegal[8] Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count Independent James Myles 6,954 13.2 1 1 Cumann na nGaedheal Peter Ward 5,513 10.5 2 Cumann na nGaedheal Eugene Doherty 5,261 10.0 3 Farmers' Party John White 3,673 7.0 4 Cumann na nGaedheal Patrick McFadden 3,492 6.6 5 Cumann na nGaedheal Patrick McGoldrick 3,743 7.1 6 Republican Peadar O'Donnell 3,621 6.9 7 Republican Joseph O'Doherty 3,213 6.1 8 Republican Brian Monaghan 3,678 7.0 Labour Party Denis Houston 2,456 4.7 Farmers' Party Hugh Law 1,718 3.3 Republican Samuel O'Flaherty 1,647 3.1 Cumann na nGaedheal H. J. O'Kelly 1,489 2.8 Independent Michael McNelis 1,432 2.7 Farmers' Party Neil Faulkner 1,209 2.3 Farmers' Party Andrew Lowry 1,127 2.1 Independent Daniel McMenamin 927 1.8 Republican Edward Gallen 908 1.7 Independent Henry McGowan 69 1.3 Electorate: 96,977 Valid: 52,730 Quota: 5,859 Turnout: 54.4% 1922 general election
As at the 1921 general election, Sinn Féin stood one candidate for every seat, except those for two Dublin constituencies; the treaty had divided the party between 65 pro-treaty candidates, 57 anti-treaty and 1 nominally on both sides. Unlike the elections a year earlier, other parties stood in most constituencies forcing single transferable vote elections, with Sinn Féin losing 30 seats.
In Donegal, Sinn Féin's six outgoing TDs from the 2nd Dáil were elected unopposed. Two had opposed the treaty, and for supported it; they are listed here in alphabetical order
1922 general election: Donegal[7] Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count Sinn Féin (Pro-Treaty) Joseph McGinley Unopposed N/A 1 Sinn Féin (Pro-Treaty) Patrick McGoldrick Unopposed N/A 2 Sinn Féin (Anti-Treaty) Joseph O'Doherty Unopposed N/A 3 Sinn Féin (Anti-Treaty) Samuel O'Flaherty Unopposed N/A 4 Sinn Féin (Pro-Treaty) Joseph Sweeney Unopposed N/A 5 Sinn Féin (Pro-Treaty) Peter Ward Unopposed N/A 6 1921 general election
At the 1921 general election to the 2nd Dáil, no seats were contested in the 26 counties which became the Irish Free State. In Donegal, six Sinn Féin candidates were nominated for the constituency's eight seats. No ballot was needed, and all six candidates were elected unopposed after the close of nominations on 24 May 1921. The 6 TDs elected are listed here in alphabetical order:[5]
1921 general election: Donegal[6] Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count Sinn Féin Joseph McGinley Unopposed N/A 1 Sinn Féin Patrick McGoldrick Unopposed N/A 2 Sinn Féin Joseph O'Doherty Unopposed N/A 3 Sinn Féin Samuel O'Flaherty Unopposed N/A 4 Sinn Féin Joseph Sweeney Unopposed N/A 5 Sinn Féin Peter Ward Unopposed N/A 6 See also
- Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland
- Politics of the Republic of Ireland
- List of historic Dáil Éireann constituencies
- Elections in the Republic of Ireland
References
- ^ "Electoral Act, 1923: Eighth Schedule (Constituencies)". Irish Statute Book database. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1923/en/act/pub/0012/sched8.html#sched8. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
- ^ "Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act, 1935: First Schedule (Revised constituencies)". Irish Statute Book database. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1935/en/act/pub/0005/sched1.html. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
- ^ "Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1974: Schedule (Constituencies)". Irish Statute Book database. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1974/en/act/pub/0007/sched1.html. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
- ^ "Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1980: Schedule (Constituencies)". Irish Statute Book database. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1980/en/act/pub/0017/sched1.html. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
- ^ a b c Walker, Brian M, ed (1992). Parliamentary election results in Ireland, 1918–92. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0 901714 96 8. ISSN 0332-0286.
- ^ a b "General election 1921: Donegal". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1921&cons=68. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- ^ a b "General election 1922: Donegal". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1922&cons=68. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- ^ a b "General election 1923: Donegal". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1923&cons=68. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ a b "By-election 1924: Donegal". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1923B&cons=68&ref=10. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ a b "General election June 1927: Donegal". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1927jun&cons=68. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ a b "General election September 1927: Donegal". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1927sep&cons=68. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ a b "General election 1932: Donegal". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1932&cons=68. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ a b "General election 1933: Donegal". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1933&cons=68. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
- ^ a b "General election 1977: Donegal". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1977&cons=68. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ a b "By-election 1980: Donegal". ElectionsIreland.org. http://www.electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1977B&cons=68&ref=103. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
- ^ The sources disagree on the size of the quota. Walker (1992) lists it at 5,738 votes, but ElectionsIreland.org lists it at 5,548. The figure of 5,548 tallies with a calculation using the Droop quota#Formula.
External links
Parliamentary constituencies in County Donegal Parliament of Ireland
to 1800Ballyshannon (1613–1800) · Donegal Borough (1613–1800) · Donegal County (1613–1800) · Killybegs (1613–1800) · Lifford (1613–1800) · St Johnstown (1618–1800)
Westminster 1801–1922
and First Dáil 1918Donegal (1801–1885) · East Donegal (1885–1922) · North Donegal (1885–1922) · South Donegal (1885–1922) · West Donegal (1885–1922)
Dáil Éireann
1918–presentDonegal (1921–1937, 1977–1981) · Donegal East (1937–1961) · Donegal West (1937–1961) · Donegal–Leitrim (1969–1977) · Donegal North–East (1961–1977, 1981– ) · Donegal South–West (1961–1969, 1981– )
European Parliament
1979–presentConnacht–Ulster (1979–2004) · North-West (2004– )
Irish counties: Carlow · Cavan · Clare · Cork · Donegal · Dublin · Galway · Kerry · Kildare · Kilkenny · Laois · Leitrim · Limerick · Longford · Louth · Mayo · Meath · Monaghan · Offaly · Roscommon · Sligo · Tipperary · Waterford · Westmeath · Wexford · WicklowCategories:- Dáil Éireann constituencies in the Republic of Ireland (historic)
- Historic constituencies in County Donegal
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