Historic Dáil constituencies
This page lists Dáil constituencies that have been used for elections to Dáil Éireann from the 1918 to the forthcoming general election. In the case of the First Dáil, the constituencies were created for the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; in the case of the Second Dáil, they were created for the Northern Ireland House of Commons and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. Although only Sinn Féin members took their seats as TDs in the first two Dáileanna, MPs from other parties were invited to these two assemblies; on this basis, all constituencies used in 1918 and 1921 are included in this list of Dáil constituencies. From the Fourth Dáil on, they were adjusted by Irish legislation.
First Dáil (1919–21)
The British general election of 1918 in Ireland was, in Irish republican theory, to fill the 105 seats in Dáil Éireann for the First Dáil. Only the Sinn Féin MPs took their seats as Teachtaí Dála (TDs) in Dublin. This Dáil first assembled on 21 January 1919 and last met on 10 May 1921. Under a resolution passed at its last meeting, the First Dáil was dissolved upon the assembly of the Second Dáil, which took place on 16 August 1921.
The Oireachtas members database regards the First Dáil as having existed from 21 January 1919 to 10 May 1921.
Second Dáil (1921–22)
The 1921 Irish elections comprised separate elections in the six counties of Northern Ireland and the twenty-six counties of Southern Ireland. In Irish republican theory, this was a single election to fill the 180 seats (52 from Northern Ireland and 128 from Southern Ireland) in the Second Dáil. In practice, only the Sinn Féin MPs took their seats as TDs in Dublin. This Dáil first assembled on 16 August 1921, and last met (at least in the view of the subsequent Irish Free State) on 8 June 1922.
The Second Dáil was not formally dissolved, but following the precedent of 1921, it should perhaps be regarded (from the viewpoint of the Irish Free State) as dissolved upon the assembling of the Third Dáil. The Third Dáil was first summoned to meet on 1 July 1922. It was prorogued on five occasions, and eventually met on 9 September 1922.
The Oireachtas members database regards the Second Dáil as having existed from 24 May 1921 to 16 June 1922.
According to Irish republican legitimism, the Second Dáil continued in operation, and no subsequent Dáileanna were legitimate, as they only represented part of Ireland.
Summary of constituencies and Teachta Dála
Constituencies by number of seats
| Period | x1 | x2 | x3 | x4 | x5 | x6 | x7 | x8 | x9 | Total C | Total TDs | Elections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918–1921 | 101 | 2 | 103 | 105 | 1918 | |||||||
| 1921–1922 | 3 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 38 | 180 | 1921 | |||
| 1922–1923 | 3 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 128 | 1922 | |||
| 1923–1937 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 153 | 1923, June 1927, Sept. 1927, 1932, 1933 | |||
| 1937–1948 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 34 | 138 | 1937, 1938, 1943, 1944 | |||||
| 1948–1961 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 40 | 147 | 1948, 1951, 1954, 1957 | ||||||
| 1961–1969 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 38 | 144 | 1961, 1965 | ||||||
| 1969–1977 | 26 | 14 | 2 | 42 | 144 | 1969, 1973 | ||||||
| 1977–1981 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 42 | 148 | 1977 | ||||||
| 1981–1992 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 41 | 166 | 1981, Feb. 1982, Nov. 1982, 1987, 1989 | ||||||
| 1992–1997 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 41 | 166 | 1992 | ||||||
| 1997–2002 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 41 | 166 | 1997 | ||||||
| 2002–2007 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 42 | 166 | 2002 | ||||||
| 2007–2011 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 43 | 166 | 2007 | ||||||
| 2011–2016 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 43 | 166 | 2011 | ||||||
| 2016–2020 | 13 | 16 | 11 | 40 | 158 | 2016 | ||||||
| 2020–date | 9 | 17 | 13 | 39 | 160 | 2020 |
List of constituencies
Notes
- (1) Constituencies which include all or part of two or more counties are attributed to the first county mentioned in the constituency name or (if none) the predominant county.
- (2) Constituency names are based upon those used in the Oireachtas database of former members, except that borough division names in 1918 and 1997 are not placed in brackets. These names are sometimes not identical to those used in electoral legislation, i.e. compass points always follow the county or borough name in the database.
- (3) The official designation of borough and county constituencies ended in 1969. After that time, constituencies that included more than a small part of the county boroughs of Cork and Dublin are referred to as borough constituencies in this article, to preserve the continuity of the tables.
| Constituency | Type | County | Created | Abolished | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim | county | Antrim | 1921 | 1922 | 7 |
| Antrim East | county | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Antrim Mid | county | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Antrim North | county | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Antrim South | county | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Armagh | county | Armagh | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
| Armagh Mid | county | Armagh | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Armagh North | county | Armagh | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Armagh South | county | Armagh | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Athlone–Longford | county | Longford | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
| Belfast Cromac | borough | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Belfast Duncairn | borough | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Belfast East | borough | Antrim | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
| Belfast Falls | borough | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Belfast North | borough | Antrim | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
| Belfast Ormeau | borough | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Belfast Pottinger | borough | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Belfast Shankill | borough | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Belfast South | borough | Antrim | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
| Belfast St. Anne's | borough | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Belfast Victoria | borough | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Belfast West | borough | Antrim | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
| Belfast Woodvale | borough | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Carlow | county | Carlow | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Carlow–Kildare | county | Carlow / Kildare | 1937 | 1948 | 4 |
| Carlow–Kilkenny[1] | county | Carlow / Kilkenny | 1921 | 1937 | 4,5 |
| Carlow–Kilkenny | county | Carlow / Kilkenny | 1948 | next | 5 |
| Cavan[2] | county | Cavan | 1921 | 1977 | 3,4,3 |
| Cavan East | county | Cavan | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Cavan–Monaghan | county | Cavan / Monaghan[3] | 1977 | next | 5,4,5 |
| Cavan West | county | Cavan | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Clare[4] | county | Clare | 1921 | next | 4,5,4,3,4 |
| Clare East | county | Clare | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Clare–Galway South | county | Clare / Galway | 1969 | 1977 | 3 |
| Clare West | county | Clare | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Cork Borough[5] | borough | Cork | 1921 | 1969 | 4,5,4,5 |
| Cork City | borough | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 2 |
| Cork City | borough | Cork | 1977 | 1981 | 5 |
| Cork City North-West | borough | Cork | 1969 | 1977 | 3 |
| Cork City South-East | borough | Cork | 1969 | 1977 | 3 |
| Cork East | county | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Cork East | county | Cork | 1923 | 1937 | 5 |
| Cork East | county | Cork | 1948 | 1961 | 3 |
| Cork East | county | Cork | 1981 | next | 4 |
| Cork East and North East | county | Cork | 1921 | 1923 | 3 |
| Cork Mid | county | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Cork Mid[6] | county | Cork | 1961 | 1981 | 4,5 |
| Cork Mid, North, South, South East and West |
county | Cork | 1921 | 1923 | 8 |
| Cork North | county | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Cork North[7] | county | Cork | 1923 | 1961 | 3,4,3 |
| Cork North-Central[8] | borough | Cork | 1981 | next | 5,4 |
| Cork North East | county | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Cork North-East[9] | county | Cork | 1961 | 1981 | 5,4 |
| Cork North-West | county | Cork | 1981 | next | 3 |
| Cork South | county | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Cork South | county | Cork | 1948 | 1961 | 3 |
| Cork South-Central[10] | borough | Cork | 1981 | next | 5,4 |
| Cork South East | county | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Cork South-East | county | Cork | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
| Cork South-West | county | Cork | 1961 | next | 3 |
| Cork West | county | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Cork West[11] | county | Cork | 1923 | 1961 | 5,3 |
| Donegal[1] | county | Donegal | 1921 | 1937 | 6,8 |
| Donegal | county | Donegal | 1977 | 1981 | 5 |
| Donegal | county | Donegal | 2016 | next | 5 |
| Donegal East | county | Donegal | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Donegal East | county | Donegal | 1937 | 1961 | 4 |
| Donegal–Leitrim | county | Donegal / Leitrim | 1969 | 1977 | 3 |
| Donegal North | county | Donegal | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Donegal North-East | county | Donegal | 1961 | 1977 | 3 |
| Donegal North-East | county | Donegal | 1981 | 2016 | 3 |
| Donegal South | county | Donegal | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Donegal South-West | county | Donegal | 1961 | 1969 | 3 |
| Donegal South-West | county | Donegal | 1981 | 2016 | 3 |
| Donegal West | county | Donegal | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Donegal West | county | Donegal | 1937 | 1961 | 3 |
| Down | county | Down | 1921 | 1922 | 8 |
| Down East | county | Down | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Down Mid | county | Down | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Down North | county | Down | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Down South | county | Down | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Down West | county | Down | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin Artane | borough | Dublin | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
| Dublin Ballyfermot | borough | Dublin | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
| Dublin Bay North | borough | Dublin | 2016 | next | 5 |
| Dublin Bay South | borough | Dublin | 2016 | next | 4 |
| Dublin Cabra | borough | Dublin | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
| Dublin Central | borough | Dublin | 1969 | 1977 | 4 |
| Dublin Central[12] | borough | Dublin | 1981 | next | 5,4,3,4 |
| Dublin Clontarf | borough | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin Clontarf | borough | Dublin | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
| Dublin College Green | borough | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin County[13] | county | Dublin | 1921 | 1969 | 6,8,5,3,5 |
| Dublin County Mid | county | Dublin | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
| Dublin County North[14] | county | Dublin | 1969 | 1981 | 4,3 |
| Dublin County South | county | Dublin | 1969 | 1981 | 3 |
| Dublin County West | county | Dublin | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
| Dublin Fingal | county | Dublin | 2016 | next | 5 |
| Dublin Finglas | borough | Dublin | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
| Dublin Harbour | borough | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin Mid | borough | Dublin | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
| Dublin Mid-West[15] | county | Dublin | 2002 | next | 3,4 |
| Dublin North | county | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin North | borough | Dublin | 1923 | 1937 | 8 |
| Dublin North[16] | c,b(nt) | Dublin | 1981 | 2016 | 3,4 |
| Dublin North-Central[17] | borough | Dublin | 1948 | 2016 | 3,4,3,4,3 |
| Dublin North-East[18] | borough | Dublin | 1937 | 1977 | 3,5,4 |
| Dublin North-East[19] | borough | Dublin | 1981 | 2016 | 4,3 |
| Dublin North-West | borough | Dublin | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
| Dublin North-West[18] | borough | Dublin | 1937 | 1977 | 5,3,4 |
| Dublin North-West[20] | borough | Dublin | 1981 | next | 4,3 |
| Dublin Pembroke | county | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin Rathdown | borough | Dublin | 2016 | next | 3 |
| Dublin Rathmines | county | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin Rathmines West | borough | Dublin | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
| Dublin South | county | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin South[1] | borough | Dublin | 1921 | 1948 | 4,7 |
| Dublin South[21] | bc, cc | Dublin | 1981 | 2016 | 5 |
| Dublin South-Central[22] | borough | Dublin | 1948 | next | 5,4,3,5,4,5,4 |
| Dublin South-East[23] | borough | Dublin | 1948 | 2016 | 3,4 |
| Dublin South-West[24] | borough | Dublin | 1948 | 1977 | 5,4 |
| Dublin South-West[25] | county | Dublin | 1981 | next | 4,5,4,5 |
| Dublin St. James's | borough | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin St. Michan's | borough | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin St. Patrick's | borough | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin St. Stephen's Green | borough | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Dublin Townships | borough | Dublin | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
| University of Dublin[26] | university | Universities | 1918 | 1937 | 2,4,3 |
| Dublin West[21][25] | bc, cc | Dublin | 1981 | next | 5,4,3,4 |
| Dún Laoghaire[27] | borough | Dublin | 1977 | next | 4,5,4 |
| Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown[28] | borough | Dublin | 1948 | 1977 | 3,4 |
| Fermanagh and Tyrone | county | Fermanagh / Tyrone | 1921 | 1922 | 8 |
| Fermanagh North | county | Fermanagh | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Fermanagh South | county | Fermanagh | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Galway[1] | county | Galway | 1921 | 1937 | 7,9 |
| Galway Connemara | county | Galway | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Galway East | county | Galway | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Galway East | county | Galway | 1937 | 1948 | 4 |
| Galway East | county | Galway | 1961 | 1969 | 5 |
| Galway East[29] | county | Galway | 1977 | next | 4,3,4,3 |
| Galway North | county | Galway | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Galway North | county | Galway | 1948 | 1961 | 3 |
| Galway North-East | county | Galway | 1969 | 1977 | 3 |
| Galway South | county | Galway | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Galway South | county | Galway | 1948 | 1961 | 3 |
| Galway West[30] | county | Galway | 1937 | next | 3,4,5 |
| Kerry | county | Kerry | 1923 | 1937 | 7 |
| Kerry | county | Kerry | 2016 | next | 5 |
| Kerry East | county | Kerry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Kerry–Limerick West | county | Kerry / Limerick | 1921 | 1923 | 8 |
| Kerry North | county | Kerry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Kerry North[31] | county | Kerry | 1937 | 2011 | 4,3 |
| Kerry North–West Limerick | county | Kerry | 2011 | 2016 | 3 |
| Kerry South | county | Kerry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Kerry South | county | Kerry | 1937 | 2016 | 3 |
| Kerry West | county | Kerry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Kildare | county | Kildare | 1923 | 1937 | 3 |
| Kildare[32] | county | Kildare | 1948 | 1997 | 3,4,3,5 |
| Kildare North | county | Kildare | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Kildare North[33] | county | Kildare | 1997 | next | 3,4 |
| Kildare South | county | Kildare | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Kildare South[34] | county | Kildare | 1997 | next | 3,4 |
| Kildare–Wicklow | county | Kildare / Wicklow | 1921 | 1923 | 5 |
| Kilkenny | county | Kilkenny | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
| Kilkenny North | county | Kilkenny | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Kilkenny South | county | Kilkenny | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| King's County | county | King's | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Laois | county | Laois | 2016 | 2020 | 3 |
| Laoighis–Offaly | county | Laois / Offaly | 1961 | 2007 | 5 |
| Laois–Offaly | county | Laois / Offaly | 2020 | next | 5 |
| Laois–Offaly | county | Laois / Offaly | 2007 | 2016 | 5 |
| Leitrim | county | Leitrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Leitrim | county | Leitrim | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
| Leitrim–Roscommon North | county | Leitrim / Roscommon | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
| Leitrim–Sligo | county | Leitrim / Sligo | 1923 | 1937 | 7 |
| Leix–Offaly[1] | county | Laois / Offaly | 1921 | 1961 | 4,5 |
| Limerick | county | Limerick | 1923 | 1948 | 7 |
| Limerick | county | Limerick | 2011 | 2016 | 3 |
| Limerick City | borough | Limerick | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Limerick City | borough | Limerick | 2011 | next | 4 |
| Limerick City–Limerick East | county | Limerick | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
| County | county | Limerick | 2016 | next | 3 |
| Limerick East | county | Limerick | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Limerick East[23] | county | Limerick | 1948 | 2011 | 4,5 |
| Limerick West | county | Limerick | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Limerick West | county | Limerick | 1948 | 2011 | 3 |
| Londonderry | county | Londonderry | 1921 | 1922 | 5 |
| Londonderry City | borough | Londonderry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Londonderry North | county | Londonderry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Londonderry South | county | Londonderry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Longford | county | Longford | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Longford–Roscommon | county | Longford / Roscommon | 1992 | 2007 | 4 |
| Longford–Westmeath[1] | county | Longford / Westmeath | 1921 | 1937 | 4,5 |
| Longford–Westmeath[28] | county | Longford / Westmeath | 1948 | 1992 | 5,4 |
| Longford–Westmeath | county | Longford / Westmeath | 2007 | next | 4 |
| Louth | county | Louth | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Louth[35] | county | Louth | 1923 | next | 3,4,5 |
| Louth–Meath | county | Louth / Meath | 1921 | 1923 | 5 |
| Mayo[36] | county | Mayo | 1997 | next | 5,4 |
| Mayo East | county | Mayo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Mayo East | county | Mayo | 1969 | 1997 | 3 |
| Mayo North | county | Mayo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Mayo North[37] | county | Mayo | 1923 | 1969 | 4,3 |
| Mayo North and West | county | Mayo | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
| Mayo South | county | Mayo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Mayo South[11] | county | Mayo | 1923 | 1969 | 5,4 |
| Mayo South–Roscommon South | county | Mayo / Roscommon | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
| Mayo West | county | Mayo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Mayo West | county | Mayo | 1969 | 1997 | 3 |
| Meath | county | Meath | 1923 | 1937 | 3 |
| Meath[38] | county | Meath | 1948 | 2007 | 3,4,5 |
| Meath East | county | Meath | 2007 | next | 3 |
| Meath North | county | Meath | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Meath South | county | Meath | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Meath West | county | Meath | 2007 | next | 3 |
| Meath–Westmeath | county | Meath / Westmeath | 1937 | 1948 | 5 |
| Monaghan | county | Monaghan | 1921 | 1977 | 3 |
| Monaghan North | county | Monaghan | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Monaghan South | county | Monaghan | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| National University of Ireland[26] | university | Universities | 1918 | 1937 | 1,4,3 |
| Offaly | county | Offaly | 2016 | 2020 | 3 |
| Queen's County | county | Queen's | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Queen's University of Belfast | university | Universities | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Queen's University of Belfast | university | Universities | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
| Roscommon[7] | county | Roscommon | 1923 | 1969 | 4,3,4 |
| Roscommon[7] | county | Roscommon | 1981 | 1992 | 3 |
| Roscommon–Galway | county | Roscommon / Galway | 2016 | next | 3 |
| Roscommon–Leitrim | county | Roscommon / Leitrim | 1969 | 1981 | 3 |
| Roscommon–South Leitrim | county | Roscommon / Leitrim | 2007 | 2016 | 3 |
| Roscommon North | county | Roscommon | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Roscommon South | county | Roscommon | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Sligo | county | Sligo | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
| Sligo–Leitrim[39] | county | Sligo / Leitrim | 1948 | 2007 | 5,4,3,4 |
| Sligo–Leitrim | county | Sligo / Leitrim | 2016 | next | 4 |
| Sligo–North Leitrim | county | Sligo / Leitrim | 2007 | date | 3 |
| Sligo–Mayo East | county | Sligo / Mayo | 1921 | 1923 | 5 |
| Sligo North | county | Sligo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Sligo South | county | Sligo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Tipperary | county | Tipperary | 2016 | next | 5 |
| Tipperary North | county | Tipperary | 1948 | 2016 | 3 |
| Tipperary East | county | Tipperary | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Tipperary Mid | county | Tipperary | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Tipperary Mid, North and South | county | Tipperary | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
| Tipperary North | county | Tipperary | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Tipperary North | county | Tipperary | 1948 | 2016 | 3 |
| Tipperary South | county | Tipperary | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Tipperary South[40] | county | Tipperary | 1948 | 2016 | 4,3,4,3 |
| Tyrone North East | county | Tyrone | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Tyrone North West | county | Tyrone | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Tyrone South | county | Tyrone | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Waterford[41] | county | Waterford | 1923 | next | 4,3,4 |
| Waterford City | borough | Waterford | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Waterford County | county | Waterford | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Waterford–Tipperary East | county | Waterford / Tipperary | 1921 | 1923 | 5 |
| Westmeath | county | Westmeath | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Westmeath | county | Westmeath | 1992 | 2007 | 3 |
| Wexford[42] | county | Wexford | 1921 | next | 4,5,4,5 |
| Wexford North | county | Wexford | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Wexford South | county | Wexford | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Wicklow[43] | county | Wicklow | 1923 | next | 3,4,5 |
| Wicklow East | county | Wicklow | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
| Wicklow West | county | Wicklow | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Legislation
Alterations in the constituencies do not take effect during the life of the Dáil Éireann sitting when revision is made; therefore, any by-elections take place according to constituency in place at the last election.
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017
In use at the 2020 general election. The total number of TDs was adjusted from 158 to 160.
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013
In use at the 2016 general election. The total number of TDs was adjusted from 166 to 158.
Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009
The 2007 report of the Constituency Commission,[44] an independent body established by the Government of Ireland to review constituency boundaries, proposed several changes to Dáil constituencies. These changes were provided for by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009. In July 2011 the Irish government established a commission to review to the current Dáil and European constituencies.[45]
This table summarises the changes in representation. It does not address revisions to the boundaries of constituencies.
| Constituency | Created | Seats | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin West | 1981 | 4 | plus 1 seat |
| Dún Laoghaire | 1977 | 4 | minus 1 seat |
| Kerry North | 1937 | 3 | abolished |
| Kerry North–West Limerick | 2011 | 3 | new constituency |
| Limerick | 2011 | 3 | new constituency |
| Limerick City | 2011 | 4 | new constituency |
| Limerick East | 1948 | 5 | abolished |
| Limerick West | 1948 | 3 | abolished |
| Louth | 1923 | 5 | plus 1 seat |
There were further boundary changes to 18 constituencies, these were: Cork East, Cork North-Central, Cork North-West, Donegal North-East, Donegal South-West, Dublin North, Dublin North-Central, Dublin North-East, Dublin South, Kerry South, Kildare North, Kildare South, Laois–Offaly, Meath East, Meath West, Roscommon–South Leitrim, Sligo–North Leitrim and Tipperary North.
Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005
In 2004 the report of the Constituency Commission,[46] proposed major changes to Dáil constituencies. Five new constituencies were created under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005:
- Longford–Westmeath (4)
- Meath East (3)
- Meath West (3)
- Roscommon–South Leitrim (3)
- Sligo–North Leitrim (3)
These replaced the four existing constituencies of Longford–Roscommon, Meath, Sligo–Leitrim and Westmeath. These new changes resulted in the creation of a 43rd constituency and the removal of the provincial boundary breach between Leinster and Connacht.
The number of seats was reduced in two constituencies:
- Cork North-Central (from 5 to 4)
- Dublin North-Central (from 4 to 3)
Two three-seater constituencies gained an extra seat:
- Dublin Mid-West (from 3 to 4)
- Kildare North (from 3 to 4)
There were further smaller boundary changes to eleven constituencies outside Dublin, these were: Clare, Cork North-West, Cork South-Central, Cork South-West, Donegal North-East, Donegal South-West, Kerry North, Kerry South, Kildare South, Limerick East and Limerick West.
Boundaries for ten of the twelve Dublin constituencies were also revised apart from Dublin South-East and Dún Laoghaire.
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1998
In use at the 2002 general election.
- Dublin North-East, Dublin North-West and Dublin West were reduced from 4 to 3 seats
- Dublin South-Central was increased from 4 to 5 seats.
- Dublin South-West was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
- Dublin Mid-West was a new 3-seater
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1995
In use at the 1997 general election.
- Mayo East (3) and Mayo West (3) were replaced by Mayo (5)
- Kildare (5) was replaced by Kildare North (3) and Kildare South (3)
- Galway East was increased from 3 to 4 seats
- Tipperary South was reduced from 4 to 3 seats
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1990
In use at the 1992 general election.
- Longford–Westmeath (4) and Roscommon (3) were replaced with Westmeath (3) and Longford–Roscommon (4)
- Dublin North was increased from 3 to 4 seats
- Dublin Central was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
- Dublin South-West was increased from 4 to 5 seats
- Dublin South-Central was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
- Dublin West was reduced from 5 to 4 seats
- Wicklow was increased from 4 to 5 seats
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1983
In use at the 1987 and 1989 general elections. Minor boundary changes only.
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1980
In use at the 1981, February 1982 and November 1982 general elections.
Some seats combined territory from the Cork or Dublin County Borough and Administrative County areas, although those seats are still treated as borough constituencies for the purpose of the tables above.
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974
In use at the 1977 general election.
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1969
In use at the 1969 and 1973 general elections.
This act ended the distinction between borough and county seats. To preserve continuity in the tables above the seats based upon the cities of Cork and Dublin are treated as if they were borough constituencies and all the other seats are recorded as county ones.
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1961
In use at the 1961 and 1965 general elections.
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1959
Struck down by the Supreme Court in O'Donovan v. Attorney General (1961).
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947
In use at 1948, 1951, 1954 and 1957 general elections.
Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935
In use at the 1937, 1938, 1943 and 1944 general elections.
Electoral Act 1923
In use at the 1923, June 1927, Sept. 1927, 1932 and 1933 general elections.
Government of Ireland Act 1920
In use at the 1921 and 1922 elections. In elections to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland, these constituencies continued in use until repealed by the House of Commons (Method of Voting and Redistribution of Seats) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929.
Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918
In use at the 1918.
105 MPs for Ireland within the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. 101 were from geographical constituencies, with 99 single-member districts, and one two-member district. 4 MPs were elected from university constituencies.
See also
- Irish House of Commons for constituencies in the Irish House of Commons between 1297 and 1801.
- List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland for constituencies in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
- List of Irish constituencies for a combined list of all Irish constituencies.
References
- Seats figures from 1921 and 1923. Carlow–Kilkenny; Donegal; Dublin South; Galway; Leix–Offaly; Longford–Westmeath.
- Seats figures from 1921, 1923 and 1961. Cavan.
- Seats figures from 1977, 2016 and 2020. Cavan–Monaghan.
- Seats figures from 1921, 1923, 1948, 1969 and 1981. Clare.
- Seats figures from 1921, 1923, 1937 and 1948. Cork Borough.
- Seats figures from 1961 and 1977. Cork Mid.
- Seats figures from 1923, 1937 and 1948. Cork North; Roscommon.
- Seats figures from 1981 and 2007. Cork North-Central.
- Seats figures from 1961 and 1969. Cork North-East.
- Seats figures from 1981 and 2016. Cork South-Central.
- Seats figures from 1923 and 1948. Cork West; Mayo South.
- Seats figures from 1981, 1992, 2016 and 2020. Dublin Central.
- Seats figures from 1921, 1923, 1937, 1948 and 1961. Dublin County.
- Seats figures from 1969 and 1977. Dublin County North.
- Seats figures from 2002 and 2007. Dublin Mid-West.
- Seats figures from 1981 and 1992. Dublin North.
- Seats figures from 1948, 1961, 1977, 1981 and 2007. Dublin North-Central.
- Seats figures from 1937, 1948 and 1969. Dublin North East; Dublin North West.
- Seats figures from 1981 and 2002. Dublin North-East.
- Seats figures from 1981 and 2002. Dublin North-West.
- Seat changed from borough constituency to county constituency 1992. Dublin South; Dublin West.
- Seats figures from 1948, 1969, 1977, 1981, 1992, 2002 and 2016. Dublin South-Central.
- Seats figures from 1948 and 1981. Dublin South-East; Limerick East.
- Seats figures from 1948 and 1969. Dublin South West.
- Seats figures from 1981, 1992, 2002 and 2016. Dublin South West; Dublin West.
- Seats figures from 1918, 1921 and 1923. Dublin University; National University of Ireland.
- Seats figures from 1977, 1981 and 2011. Dún Laoghaire.
- Seats figures from 1948 and 1961. Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown; Longford Westmeath.
- Seats figures from 1977, 1981, 1997 and 2016. Galway East.
- Seats figures from 1937, 1977 and 1981. Galway West.
- Seats figures from 1937 and 1961. Kerry North.
- Seats figures from 1948, 1961, 1969 and 1981. Kildare.
- Seats figures from 1997 and 2007. Kildare North.
- Seats figures from 1997 and 2020. Kildare South.
- Seats figures from 1923, 1977 and 2011. Louth.
- Seats figures from 1997 and 2016. Mayo.
- Seats figures from 1923 and 1937. Mayo North.
- Seats figures from 1948, 1977 and 1981. Meath.
- Seats figures from 1948, 1961, 1969 and 1981. Sligo–Leitrim.
- Seats figures from 1948, 1977, 1981 and 1997. Tipperary South.
- Seats figures from 1923, 1961 and 1977. Waterford.
- Seats figures from 1921, 1923, 1961 and 1981. Wexford.
- Seats figures from 1923, 1981 and 1992. Wicklow.
- "Report on Dáil and European Parliament Constituencies 2007" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 23 October 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Report on Dáil Constituencies, 2004" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2011.
Sources
- Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922, edited by B.M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)
- Northern Ireland Parliamentary Election Results 1921–1972, compiled and edited by Sydney Elliott (Political Reference Publications 1973)