List of Dáil by-elections

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This is a list of by-elections to Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas, the Irish legislature. By-elections in Ireland occur to fill vacant seats which can be caused by the death, resignation or expulsion of a sitting Teachta Dála (member of parliament).

There have been 131 by-elections since 1923, to fill 133 vacancies. 92 of these were caused by the death of a sitting Teachta Dála (TD). There were seven by-elections during the lifetime of the 31st Dáil. There were no by-elections during the 3rd, 7th, 9th, 11th, 22nd, 25th and 26th Dála. The longest period without a by-election was almost 10 years between 1984 and 1994. The largest number of by-elections on one day was on 11 March 1925, when seven constituencies filled nine vacancies caused by the National Party's split from Cumann na nGaedheal. Those seven by-elections included two which filled two vacancies, via the single transferable vote. All the other by-elections have used its single-winner analogue, the alternative vote.

Twenty-two TDs were first elected at a by-election and never subsequently re-elected at a general election. The only person twice elected at by-elections was Thomas Hennessy.

First and Second Dáil

The First Dáil was established by Sinn Féin members returned in the 1918 election to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Convention in the Commons was that the writ for a by-election be moved by a party colleague of the vacating member, which was impossible for the abstentionist Sinn Féin. There were three by-elections held for Westminster constituencies vacated by Unionist members during the lifetime of the First Dáil, all of whom took their seats in Westminster.

When Pierce McCan died on 6 March 1919, his East Tipperary seat was left vacant at Westminster. In April 1919 a Dáil committee considering how to fill the vacancy considered allowing nomination by the Labour Party (which had stood aside in the 1918 election to avoid splitting the nationalist vote)[1] before recommending that the Sinn Féin constituency organisation should nominate.[2] However, in June 1919 the Dáil decided that "it was due to the memory of the late Pierce McCann that his place should not be filled at present".[3] Later vacancies were also left unfilled; when Diarmuid Lynch resigned his seat in 1920, Arthur Griffith said "as the letter of resignation was addressed to the people of South-East Cork, the next step in the matter lay with the South-East Cork Executive of Sinn Fein".[4]

Four Sinn Féin TDs represented two separate constituencies: Éamon de Valera, Arthur Griffith, Eoin MacNeill and Liam Mellowes. Ordinarily, this would prompt them to choose one constituency to represent, and to move a writ for a by-election in the other constituency. Again, as they were not sitting in the House of Commons, no writ was moved.

Winner Party Constituency Date Outgoing Party Reason for vacancy Notes
style="background-color: Template:Irish Unionist Alliance/meta/color" | Hugh T. Barrie U North Londonderry 4 March 1919 style="background-color: Template:Irish Unionist Alliance/meta/color" | Hugh Anderson U Resignation This was the only by-election contested by Sinn Féin, Patrick McGilligan losing.[5]
style="background-color: Template:Independent Unionist/meta/color" | George Hanna Ind U East Antrim 27 May 1919 style="background-color: Template:Irish Unionist Alliance/meta/color" | Robert McCalmont U Appointed commander of the Irish Guards
style="background-color: Template:Irish Unionist Alliance/meta/color" | William Jellett U University of Dublin 28 July 1919 style="background-color: Template:Irish Unionist Alliance/meta/color" | Arthur Samuels U Appointed to the High Court of Justice in Ireland Returned unopposed
Seat left vacant East Tipperary none style="background-color: Template:Sinn Féin/meta/color" | Pierce McCan SF Died 6 March 1919
Seat left vacant South East Cork none style="background-color: Template:Sinn Féin/meta/color" | Diarmuid Lynch SF Resignation in August 1920
Seat left vacant Mid Cork none style="background-color: Template:Sinn Féin/meta/color" | Terence MacSwiney SF Died 25 October 1920

The Second Dáil comprised those returned in the 1921 elections to the House of Commons of Southern Ireland and the House of Commons of Northern Ireland. There were no by-elections to either body during the lifetime of the Second Dáil.

By-elections since 1923

By-elections in which seats changed hands are indicated with a grey background.

{{{house}}} Constituency Vacancy By-election
Outgoing Party Cause Date Winner Party

  Dublin South Michael Hayes CnaG Hayes was elected in two constituencies and opted to represent the NUI[6] 27 October 1923 Hugh Kennedy[n 1] CnaG
  NUI Eoin MacNeill CnaG MacNeill was elected in two constituencies and opted to represent Clare.[7] 3 November 1923 Patrick McGilligan CnaG
  Dublin South Philip Cosgrave CnaG Death of Philip Cosgrave 12 March 1924 James O'Mara[n 1] CnaG
  Dublin County Michael Derham CnaG Death of Michael Derham 19 March 1924 Batt O'Connor CnaG
  Limerick Richard Hayes CnaG Resignation of Richard Hayes 28 May 1924 Richard O'Connell CnaG
  Cork East Thomas O'Mahony CnaG Death of Thomas O'Mahony 18 November 1924 Michael Noonan[n 1] CnaG
  Dublin South Hugh Kennedy CnaG Appointment of Hugh Kennedy as Chief Justice 18 November 1924 Seán Lemass Rep
  Mayo North Henry Coyle CnaG Disqualification of Henry Coyle 18 November 1924 John Madden Rep
  Cork Borough Alfred O'Rahilly CnaG Resignation of Alfred O'Rahilly 19 November 1924 Michael Egan CnaG
  Donegal Peter J. Ward CnaG Resignation of Peter J. Ward 20 November 1924 Denis McCullough[n 1] CnaG
  Carlow–Kilkenny Seán Gibbons CnaG Resignation of Seán Gibbons 11 March 1925 Thomas Bolger[n 1] CnaG
  Cavan Seán Milroy CnaG Resignation of Seán Milroy 11 March 1925 John Joe O'Reilly CnaG
  Dublin North[n 2] Francis Cahill CnaG Resignation of Francis Cahill on 30 October 1924 11 March 1925 Patrick Leonard CnaG
  Dublin North[n 2] Seán McGarry CnaG Resignation of Seán McGarry on 30 October 1924 11 March 1925 Oscar Traynor Rep
  Dublin South Daniel McCarthy CnaG Resignation of Daniel McCarthy 11 March 1925 Thomas Hennessy CnaG
  Leitrim–Sligo[n 2] Thomas Carter CnaG Resignation of Thomas Carter on 30 October 1924 11 March 1925 Samuel Holt Rep
  Leitrim–Sligo[n 2] Alexander McCabe CnaG Resignation of Alexander McCabe 11 March 1925 Martin Roddy CnaG
  Mayo North Joseph McGrath CnaG Resignation of Joseph McGrath on 29 October 1924 11 March 1925 Michael Tierney CnaG
  Roscommon Henry Finlay CnaG Resignation of Henry Finlay 11 March 1925 Martin Conlon CnaG
  Dublin County Darrell Figgis Ind Death of Darrell Figgis 18 February 1926 William Norton Lab
  Leix–Offaly Seán McGuinness Rep Disqualification of Seán McGuinness 18 February 1926 James Dwyer CnaG

  Dublin County Kevin O'Higgins CnaG Assassination of Kevin O'Higgins 24 August 1927 Gearóid O'Sullivan CnaG
  Dublin South Constance Markievicz FF Death of Constance Markievicz 24 August 1927 Thomas Hennessy CnaG

  Carlow–Kilkenny W. T. Cosgrave CnaG Cosgrave was elected in two constituencies and opted to represent Cork Borough[8] 3 November 1927 Denis Gorey CnaG
  Dublin North James Larkin IWL Disqualification of James Larkin due to bankruptcy 3 April 1928 Vincent Rice CnaG
  Dublin North Alfie Byrne Ind Election of Alfie Byrne to Seanad Éireann 14 March 1929 Thomas F. O'Higgins CnaG
  Leitrim–Sligo Samuel Holt FF Death of Samuel Holt 7 June 1929 Seán Mac Eoin CnaG
  Longford–Westmeath James Killane FF Death of James Killane 13 June 1930 James Geoghegan FF
  Dublin County Bryan Cooper CnaG Death of Bryan Cooper 9 December 1930 Thomas Finlay CnaG
  Kildare Hugh Colohan Lab Death of Hugh Colohan 29 June 1931 Thomas Harris FF

  University of Dublin James Craig Ind Death of James Craig 13 October 1933 Robert Rowlette[n 1] Ind
  Dublin County Batt O'Connor FG Death of Batt O'Connor 17 June 1935 Cecil Lavery FG
  Galway Martin McDonogh FG Death of Martin McDonogh 19 June 1935 Eamon Corbett FF
  Galway Patrick Hogan FG Death of Patrick Hogan 13 August 1936 Martin Neilan[n 1] FF
  Wexford Osmond Esmonde FG Death of Osmond Esmonde 17 August 1936 Denis Allen FF

  Dublin South James Beckett FG Death of James Beckett 6 June 1939 John McCann FF
  Galway West Seán Tubridy FF Death of Seán Tubridy 30 May 1940 John J. Keane[n 1] FF

  Kerry South Fionán Lynch FG Appointment of Fionán Lynch as a Judge 10 November 1944 Donal O'Donoghue[n 1] FF
  Clare Patrick Burke FG Death of Patrick Burke 4 December 1945 Patrick Shanahan[n 1] FF
  Dublin North-West Seán T. O'Kelly FF Election of Seán T. O'Kelly as President 4 December 1945 Vivion de Valera FF
  Kerry South Frederick Crowley FF Death of Frederick Crowley 4 December 1945 Honor Crowley FF
  Mayo South Micheál Clery FF Appointment of Micheál Clery as County Registrar of Dublin 4 December 1945 Bernard Commons CnaT
  Wexford Richard Corish Lab Death of Richard Corish 4 December 1945 Brendan Corish Lab
  Cork Borough William Dwyer Ind Resignation of William Dwyer 14 June 1946 Patrick McGrath FF
  Dublin County Patrick Fogarty FF Death of Patrick Fogarty 29 October 1947 Seán MacBride CnaP
  Tipperary William O'Donnell CnaT Death of William O'Donnell 29 October 1947 Patrick Kinane CnaP
  Waterford Michael Morrissey FF Death of Michael Morrissey 29 October 1947 John Ormonde FF

  Donegal East Neal Blaney FF Death of Neal Blaney 7 December 1948 Neil Blaney FF
  Cork West Timothy J. Murphy Lab Death of Timothy J. Murphy 15 June 1949 William J. Murphy[n 1] Lab
  Donegal West Brian Brady FF Death of Brian Brady 16 November 1949 Patrick O'Donnell FG

  Limerick East Daniel Bourke FF Death of Daniel Bourke 26 June 1952 John Carew FG
  Mayo North P. J. Ruttledge FF Death of P. J. Ruttledge 26 June 1952 Phelim Calleary FF
  Waterford Bridget Redmond FG Death of Bridget Redmond 26 June 1952 William Kenneally FF
  Dublin North-West Alfred P. Byrne Ind Death of Alfred P. Byrne 12 November 1952 Thomas Byrne Ind
  Cork East Seán Keane Lab Death of Seán Keane 18 June 1953 Richard Barry FG
  Wicklow Thomas Brennan FF Death of Thomas Brennan 18 June 1953 Mark Deering FG
  Galway South Frank Fahy FF Death of Frank Fahy 21 August 1953 Robert Lahiffe FF
  Cork Borough Thomas F. O'Higgins FG Death of Thomas F. O'Higgins 3 March 1954 Stephen Barrett FG
  Louth James Coburn FG Death of James Coburn 3 March 1954 George Coburn FG

  Limerick West David Madden FG Death of David Madden 13 December 1955 Michael Colbert FF
  Kerry North Johnny Connor CnaP Death of Johnny Connor 29 February 1956 Kathleen O'Connor[n 1] CnaP
  Dublin North-East Alfie Byrne Ind Death of Alfie Byrne 30 April 1956 Patrick Byrne Ind
  Leix–Offaly William Davin Lab Death of William Davin 30 April 1956 Kieran Egan FF
  Cork Borough Patrick McGrath FF Death of Patrick McGrath 2 August 1956 John Galvin FF
  Carlow–Kilkenny Thomas Walsh FF Death of Thomas Walsh 14 November 1956 Martin Medlar FF
  Dublin South-West Peadar Doyle FG Death of Peadar Doyle 14 November 1956 Noel Lemass FF

  Dublin North-Central Colm Gallagher FF Death of Colm Gallagher 14 November 1957 Frank Sherwin Ind
  Galway South Patrick Beegan FF Death of Patrick Beegan 30 May 1958 Anthony Millar FF
  Dublin South-Central Jack Murphy Ind Resignation of Jack Murphy 25 June 1958 Patrick Cummins FF
  Clare Éamon de Valera FF Election of Éamon de Valera as President 22 July 1959 Seán Ó Ceallaigh FF
  Dublin South-West Bernard Butler FF Death of Bernard Butler 22 July 1959 Richie Ryan FG
  Meath James Griffin FF Death of James Griffin 22 July 1959 Henry Johnston[n 1] FF
  Carlow–Kilkenny Joseph Hughes FG Death of Joseph Hughes 23 June 1960 Patrick Teehan[n 1] FF
  Sligo–Leitrim Stephen Flynn FF Death of Stephen Flynn 1 March 1961 Joseph McLoughlin FG

  Dublin North-East Jack Belton FG Death of Jack Belton 30 May 1963 Paddy Belton FG
  Cork Borough John Galvin FF Death of John Galvin 19 February 1964 Sheila Galvin[n 1] FF
  Kildare William Norton Lab Death of William Norton 19 February 1964 Terence Boylan FF
  Roscommon James Burke FG Death of James Burke 8 July 1964 Joan Burke FG
  Galway East Michael Donnellan CnaT Death of Michael Donnellan 3 December 1964 John Donnellan FG
  Cork Mid Dan Desmond Lab Death of Dan Desmond 10 March 1965 Eileen Desmond Lab

  Kerry South Honor Crowley FF Death of Honor Crowley 7 December 1966 John O'Leary FF
  Waterford Thaddeus Lynch FG Death of Thaddeus Lynch 7 December 1966 Fad Browne FF
  Cork Borough Seán Casey Lab Death of Seán Casey 9 November 1967 Seán French FF
  Limerick West James Collins FF Death of James Collins 9 November 1967 Gerry Collins FF
  Clare William Murphy FG Death of William Murphy 14 March 1968 Sylvester Barrett FF
  Wicklow James Everett Lab Death of James Everett 14 March 1968 Godfrey Timmins FG
  Limerick East Donogh O'Malley FF Death of Donogh O'Malley 22 May 1968 Desmond O'Malley FF

  Dublin South-West Seán Dunne Lab Death of Seán Dunne 4 March 1970 Seán Sherwin[n 1] FF
  Kildare Gerard Sweetman FG Death of Gerard Sweetman 14 April 1970 Patrick Malone FG
  Longford–Westmeath Patrick Lenihan FF Death of Patrick Lenihan 14 April 1970 Patrick Cooney FG
  Donegal–Leitrim Patrick O'Donnell FG Death of Patrick O'Donnell 2 December 1970 Patrick Delap[n 1] FF
  Dublin County South Kevin Boland FF Resignation of Kevin Boland 2 December 1970 Larry McMahon FG
  Cork Mid Paddy Forde FF Death of Paddy Forde 2 August 1972 Gene Fitzgerald FF

  Monaghan Erskine H. Childers FF Election of Erskine H. Childers as President 27 November 1973 Brendan Toal[n 1] FG
  Cork North-East Liam Ahern FF Death of Liam Ahern 13 November 1974 Seán Brosnan FF
  Galway North-East Michael F. Kitt FF Death of Michael F. Kitt 4 March 1975 Michael P. Kitt FF
  Galway West Johnny Geoghegan FF Death of Johnny Geoghegan 4 March 1975 Máire Geoghegan-Quinn FF
  Mayo West Henry Kenny FG Death of Henry Kenny 12 November 1975 Enda Kenny FG
  Donegal North-East Liam Cunningham FF Death of Liam Cunningham 10 June 1976 Paddy Keaveney[n 1] IFF
  Dublin South-West Noel Lemass FF Death of Noel Lemass 10 June 1976 Brendan Halligan[n 1] Lab

  Cork City Patrick Kerrigan Lab Death of Patrick Kerrigan 7 November 1979 Liam Burke FG
  Cork North-East Seán Brosnan FF Death of Seán Brosnan 7 November 1979 Myra Barry FG
  Donegal Joseph Brennan FF Death of Joseph Brennan 6 November 1980 Clement Coughlan FF

  Dublin West Richard Burke FG Resignation of Burke on appointment as EU Commissioner 25 May 1982 Liam Skelly FG
  Galway East Johnny Callanan FF Death of Johnny Callanan 20 July 1982 Noel Treacy FF

  Donegal South-West Clement Coughlan FF Death of Clement Coughlan 13 May 1983 Cathal Coughlan[n 1] FF
  Dublin Central George Colley FF Death of George Colley 23 November 1983 Tom Leonard FF
  Laois–Offaly Bernard Cowen FF Death of Bernard Cowen 14 June 1984 Brian Cowen FF

  Dublin South-Central John O'Connell FF Resignation of John O'Connell 9 June 1994 Eric Byrne DL
  Mayo West Pádraig Flynn FF Resignation of Pádraig Flynn on appointment as EU Commissioner 9 June 1994 Michael Ring FG
  Cork North-Central Gerry O'Sullivan Lab Death of Gerry O'Sullivan 10 November 1994 Kathleen Lynch DL
  Cork South-Central Pat Cox PDs Resignation of Pat Cox after election as MEP 10 November 1994 Hugh Coveney FG
  Wicklow Johnny Fox Ind Death of Johnny Fox 29 June 1995 Mildred Fox Ind
  Donegal North-East Neil Blaney IFF Death of Neil Blaney 2 April 1996 Cecilia Keaveney FF
  Dublin West Brian Lenihan Snr FF Death of Brian Lenihan Snr 2 April 1996 Brian Lenihan Jnr FF

  Limerick East Jim Kemmy Lab Death of Jim Kemmy 11 March 1998 Jan O'Sullivan Lab
  Dublin North Ray Burke FF Resignation of Ray Burke 11 March 1998 Seán Ryan Lab
  Cork South-Central Hugh Coveney FG Death of Hugh Coveney 23 October 1998 Simon Coveney FG
  Dublin South-Central Pat Upton Lab Death of Pat Upton 27 October 1999 Mary Upton Lab
  Tipperary South Michael Ferris Lab Death of Michael Ferris 22 June 2000 Séamus Healy Ind
  Tipperary South Theresa Ahearn FG Death of Theresa Ahearn 30 June 2001 Tom Hayes FG

  Kildare North Charlie McCreevy FF Resignation of Charlie McCreevy on appointment as EU Commissioner 11 March 2005 Catherine Murphy Ind
  Meath John Bruton FG Resignation of John Bruton on appointment as EU Ambassador to the United States 11 March 2005 Shane McEntee FG

  Dublin South Séamus Brennan FF Death of Séamus Brennan 5 June 2009 George Lee[n 1] FG
  Dublin Central Tony Gregory Ind Death of Tony Gregory 5 June 2009 Maureen O'Sullivan Ind
  Donegal South-West Pat "the Cope" Gallagher FF Election of Pat "the Cope" Gallagher to the European Parliament 25 November 2010 Pearse Doherty SF
  Dublin West Brian Lenihan Jnr FF Death of Brian Lenihan Jnr 27 October 2011 Patrick Nulty Lab
  Meath East Shane McEntee FG Death of Shane McEntee 27 March 2013 Helen McEntee FG
  Dublin West Patrick Nulty Ind Resignation of Patrick Nulty 23 May 2014 Ruth Coppinger SP
  Longford–Westmeath Nicky McFadden FG Death of Nicky McFadden 23 May 2014 Gabrielle McFadden[n 1] FG
  Dublin South-West Brian Hayes FG Election of Brian Hayes to the European Parliament 10 October 2014 Paul Murphy AAA
  Roscommon–South Leitrim Luke 'Ming' Flanagan Ind Election of Luke 'Ming' Flanagan to the European Parliament 10 October 2014 Michael Fitzmaurice Ind
  Carlow–Kilkenny Phil Hogan FG Resignation of Phil Hogan on appointment as EU Commissioner 22 May 2015 Bobby Aylward FF


Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w TDs who were never subsequently re-elected.
  2. ^ a b c d A single by-election to fill two vacancies in the same constituency.

References

  • Walker, Brian M, ed. (1992). Parliamentary election results in Ireland, 1918–92. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0-901714-96-8. ISSN 0332-0286.
  • "Dáil by-elections 1918–2005". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 28 January 2008.

Notes

  1. ^ Mitchell, Arthur (1995). Revolutionary Government in Ireland: Dáil Éireann, 1919-22. Gill & MacMillan. p. 24. ISBN 9780717114818.
  2. ^ "East Tipperary Vacancy". Dáil Éireann debate. Oireachtas. 17 June 1919. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Report of Select Committee on East Tipperary Vacancy". Dáil Éireann debate. Oireachtas. 17 June 1919. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Resignation Of Deputy For South-East Cork". Dáil Éireann debate. Oireachtas. 6 August 1920. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  5. ^ Laffan, Michael (1999). The Resurrection of Ireland: The Sinn Féin Party, 1916–1923. Cambridge University Press. p. 309. ISBN 9781139426299. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  6. ^ Dáil debates Vol.5 No.1 p.5
  7. ^ Dáil debates Vol.5 No.4 p.19
  8. ^ Dáil debates Vol.21 No.1 p.3
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