2015 Carlow–Kilkenny by-election

A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann Carlow–Kilkenny constituency in Ireland on Friday, 22 May 2015, to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Fine Gael Teachta Dála (TD) Phil Hogan on his appointment as European Commissioner. It was held on the same day as national referendums on marriage equality and the age of eligibility for election to the office of president.[1] The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 stipulates that a by-election in Ireland must be held within six months of a vacancy occurring.[2] The by-election writ was moved in the Dáil on 29 April 2015.[3]

2015 Carlow–Kilkenny by-election

22 May 2015
Turnout	68,900 (65.3%)
Nominee Bobby Aylward David Fitzgerald Kathleen Funchion Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Sinn Féin First preferences 18,572 13,744 10,806 Percentage 27.8 20.6 16.2 Final count 26,529 21,632 –   Nominee Patrick McKee Willie Quinn Malcolm Noonan Party Renua Labour Green First preferences 6,365 4,673 3,549 Percentage 9.5 7.0 5.3 Final count – – –   Nominee Adrienne Wallace Breda Gardner Conor MacLiam Party People Before Profit Independent Anti-Austerity Alliance First preferences 2,377 2,792 2,194 Percentage 3.6 4.2 3.3 Final count – – –
Carlow–Kilkenny shown within Ireland
TD before election Phil Hogan Fine Gael Elected TD Bobby Aylward Fianna Fáil

At the 2011 general election, the constituency elected three Fine Gael TDs, one Labour Party TD and one Fianna Fáil TD.[4] In the May 2014 local elections, Carlow County Council elected 6 Fine Gael, 5 Fianna Fáil, 3 Sinn Féin, 2 Labour and 2 Independent Councillors, while Kilkenny County Council elected 10 Fianna Fáil, 7 Fine Gael, 3 Sinn Féin, 2 Labour, 1 Green Party and 1 Independent Councillor. Patrick McKee, who stood for Renua Ireland, had been elected to Kilkenny County Council for Fianna Fáil.[5]

Former TD Bobby Aylward of Fianna Fáil won the by-election on the 9th count, having received 27.8% of the first-preference votes. Aylward had previously represented Carlow–Kilkenny from 2007 until 2011.[6] The result marked the first by-election win for Fianna Fáil since 1996, and the first time they had gained a seat from Fine Gael in a by-election since the Donegal–Leitrim contest in 1970.

Result

2015 Carlow–Kilkenny by-election[6][7]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	Fianna Fáil	Bobby Aylward	27.8	18,572	18,713	18,845	19,223	19,480	19,898	20,950	22,826	26,529
	Fine Gael	David Fitzgerald	20.6	13,744	13,826	13,895	14,174	14,289	15,058	16,612	18,875	21,632
	Sinn Féin	Kathleen Funchion	16.2	10,806	11,006	11,501	11,974	13,113	13,879	14,632	16,437
	Renua	Patrick McKee	9.5	6,365	6,530	6,736	7,225	7,678	8,532	9,269
	Labour	Willie Quinn	7.0	4,673	4,803	4,853	4,954	5,252	5,775
	Green	Malcolm Noonan	5.3	3,549	3,651	3,836	4,257	4,528
	Independent	Breda Gardner	4.2	2,792	3,016	3,226
	People Before Profit	Adrienne Wallace	3.6	2,377	2,644	3,256	3,640
	Anti-Austerity Alliance	Conor MacLiam	3.3	2,194	2,296
	Independent	Peter O'Loughlin	1.4	930
	Independent	Daithí Holohan	0.6	374
	Independent	Noel Walsh	0.4	243
	Independent	Elizabeth Hourihane	0.3	215
Electorate: 105,449   Valid: 66,834   Spoilt: 2,066 (3.0%)   Quota: 33,418   Turnout: 68,900 (65.3%)

See also

• List of Dáil by-elections
• Dáil constituencies

References

1. "Same-sex marriage referendum to be held in May". RTÉ News. 16 December 2014.
2. "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
3. "Carlow–Kilkenny By-election: Issue of Writ". Dáil debates. Oireachtas. 29 April 2015. pp. 27–30. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
4. "Carlow–Kilkenny – General Election: 25 February 2011". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
5. "Kilkenny Fianna Fail Councillor unveiled as Renua candidate for by-election". KCLR. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
6. "By-Election: Carlow–Kilkenny". RTÉ. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
7. "Carlow–Kilkenny by-election". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 25 May 2015.