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Donegal South-West (Dáil constituency)

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Donegal South-West
Former Dáil constituency
Outline map
Location of Donegal South-West within Ireland
Former constituency
Created1981
Abolished2016
Seats3
Local government areaCounty Donegal
Replaced byDonegal
Donegal South-West
Former Dáil constituency
Former constituency
Created1961
Abolished1969
Seats3
Local government areaCounty Donegal
Replaced byDonegal–Leitrim

Donegal South-West was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas, from 1961 to 1969 and from 1981 to 2016. The constituency elected 3 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs). The method of election was proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

History and boundaries

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The constituency was first created for the 1961 general election. At the 1969 general election it was abolished and largely succeeded by the Donegal–Leitrim constituency. It was recreated for the 1981 general election. It was located in the southern and western parts of County Donegal, it included the towns of Lifford, Donegal, Ballyshannon, Killybegs and Gweedore. It was abolished again at the 2016 general election, and was succeeded by the Donegal constituency.

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009 defined the constituency as:[1]

"The county of Donegal, except the part thereof which is comprised in the constituency of Donegal North-East."

TDs

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TDs 1961–1969

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Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Donegal South-West 1961–1969[2]
Key to parties
Dáil Election Deputy
(Party)		 Deputy
(Party)		 Deputy
(Party)
17th 1961[3] Joseph Brennan
(FF) 		Cormac Breslin
(FF) 		Patrick O'Donnell
(FG)
18th 1965[4]
19th 1969 Constituency abolished. See Donegal–Leitrim

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 1981–2016

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Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Donegal South-West 1981–2016[2]
Key to parties
Dáil Election Deputy
(Party)		 Deputy
(Party)		 Deputy
(Party)
22nd 1981[5] Pat "the Cope" Gallagher
(FF) 		Clement Coughlan
(FF) 		James White
(FG)
23rd 1982 (Feb)[6] Dinny McGinley
(FG)
24th 1982 (Nov)[7]
1983 by-election[8] Cathal Coughlan
(FF)
25th 1987[9] Mary Coughlan
(FF)
26th 1989[10]
27th 1992[11]
28th 1997[12] Tom Gildea
(Ind)
29th 2002[13] Pat "the Cope" Gallagher
(FF)
30th 2007[14]
2010 by-election[15] Pearse Doherty
(SF)
31st 2011[16] Thomas Pringle
(Ind)
32nd 2016 Constituency abolished. See Donegal

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

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^ *: Outgoing TD

2011 general election

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2011 general election: Donegal South-West[16]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Sinn Féin Pearse Doherty[*] 33.0 14,262        
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley[*] 19.9 8,589 9,128 9,287 10,587 11,369
Independent Thomas Pringle 13.5 5,845 7,031 7,364 9,139 10,175
Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan[*] 11.5 4,956 5,172 5,259 5,655  
Fianna Fáil Brian Ó Domhnaill 11.1 4,789 5,147 5,236 5,724 8,834
Labour Frank McBrearty Jnr 5.1 2,209 2,882 3,003    
Independent Stephen McCahill 4.2 1,831 2,037 2,141    
Green John Duffy 1.2 527 668      
New Vision Anne Sweeney[a] 0.6 255 382      
Electorate: 64,568   Valid: 43,263   Spoilt: 332 (0.8%)   Quota: 10,816   Turnout: 43,595 (67.5%)  
  1. ^ New Vision was an electoral alliance of independent non-party candidates and did not appear on the ballot.

2010 by-election

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On 5 June 2009, Fianna Fáil TD Pat "the Cope" Gallagher was elected to the European Parliament, vacating his seat in the Dáil.[17] On 2 July 2009, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF) proposed that the writ of election be issued to fill the vacancy. This motion was rejected by a vote of 69 to 72.[18] On 5 May 2010, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin proposed again that the writ be issued. This motion was died, with 76 to 76, and was defeated on the casting vote of the Ceann Comhairle.[19]

On 12 July 2010, Pearse Doherty, a Sinn Féin senator, was granted leave to bring judicial review against the government seeking a declaration that due to the length of the vacancy in Donegal South-West, the government was under a duty not to oppose a motion for a writ. On 29 September 2010, Enda Kenny, leader of Fine Gael, proposed that the writ of election be issued (as well as the writ for two other vacancies). This motion was rejected by a vote of 77 to 81.[20] On 3 November 2010, Nicholas Kearns, president of the High Court, made a declaration that there has been an unreasonable delay in moving the writ for the by-election in Donegal South-West.[21] The writ was moved the following day.[22] Doherty was successful in the by-election.[23]

2010 by-election: Donegal South-West[15]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
Sinn Féin Pearse Doherty 39.85 13,719 13,736 15,188 16,897
Fianna Fáil Brian Ó Domhnaill 21.33 7,344 7,358 7,636 8,069
Fine Gael Barry O'Neill 18.66 6,424 6,442 7,313 8,182
Independent Thomas Pringle 9.99 3,438 3,491 3,763  
Labour Frank McBrearty Jnr 9.78 3,366 3,375    
Independent Anne Sweeney 0.39 133      
Electorate: 62,299   Valid: 34,424   Spoilt: 484   Quota: 17,213   Turnout: 57.39%  

2007 general election

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2007 general election: Donegal South-West[14]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan[*] 26.4 10,530    
Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher[*] 24.1 9,606 9,976  
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley[*] 23.0 9,167 9,249 10,281
Sinn Féin Pearse Doherty 21.2 8,462 8,551 9,263
Labour Séamus Rodgers 2.8 1,111 1,120  
Green Seán Ó Maolchallann 1.5 589 596  
Independent John Doherty 1.0 388 397  
Electorate: 60,829   Valid: 39,853   Spoilt: 421 (1.1%)   Quota: 9,964   Turnout: 40,274 (66.2%)  

2002 general election

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2002 general election: Donegal South-West[13]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 21.7 7,740 7,843 7,960 8,202 8,502 9,281    
Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan[*] 20.4 7,257 7,380 7,465 7,547 8,335 8,757 8,932  
Fine Gael James White 13.1 4,680 4,720 4,740 4,822 5,161 5,385 5,402 5,930
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley[*] 12.3 4,378 4,484 4,512 4,797 5,216 5,921 6,002 7,370
Independent Joe Kelly 8.7 3,091 3,174 3,219 3,329 3,796      
Sinn Féin Pearse Doherty 7.6 2,697 2,771 3,571 3,720 4,166 5,170 5,269  
Independent Thomas Pringle 7.4 2,630 2,887 2,908 3,078        
Sinn Féin Tom Dignam 3.2 1,133 1,148            
Labour Séamus Rodgers 3.0 1,079 1,199 1,205          
Independent Gwen Breslin 2.6 951              
Electorate: 54,789   Valid: 35,635   Spoilt: 500 (1.4%)   Quota: 8,909   Turnout: 36,135 (65.9%)  

1997 general election

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1997 general election: Donegal South-West[12][24]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan[*] 20.3 6,597 6,620 6,877 7,192 7,548 8,203
Fianna Fáil Enda Bonner 17.7 5,742 5,751 5,832 5,946 6,000 6,745
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley[*] 17.5 5,679 5,695 5,973 6,222 7,434 8,165
Independent Tom Gildea 17.3 5,592 5,651 5,925 6,370 6,489 7,983
Independent Fianna Fáil Paddy Kelly[a] 12.7 4,123 4,175 4,250 4,415 4,515  
Fine Gael Frank O'Kelly 5.5 1,774 1,783 1,873 2,053    
Green Elizabeth Cullen 4.2 1,366 1,387 1,643      
Labour Manus Brennan 4.2 1,361 1,367        
Independent Tom Kennedy 0.6 206          
Electorate: 51,479   Valid: 32,440   Spoilt: 454 (1.4%)   Quota: 8,111   Turnout: 32,894 (63.9%)  
  1. ^ Independent Fianna Fáil was an unregistered political party and did not appear on the ballot.

1992 general election

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1992 general election: Donegal South-West[11][25]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher[*] 26.4 7,870            
Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan[*] 22.3 6,639 6,915 6,962 7,033 7,178 7,317 7,624
Fine Gael Jim White 19.3 5,745 5,762 5,792 5,836 5,966 6,009 6,379
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley[*] 18.5 5,504 5,564 5,576 5,731 5,855 5,937 6,588
Democratic Left Séamus Rodgers 6.1 1,825 1,863 1,881 1,974 2,058 2,201  
Independent Benny Mooney 2.4 700 705 711 765      
Sinn Féin Anna Rose Doherty 1.9 577 583 828 855 905    
Independent Fred Coll 1.8 539 551 557        
Sinn Féin John McCluskey 1.4 409 412          
Electorate: 48,528   Valid: 29,808   Spoilt: 688 (2.3%)   Quota: 7,453   Turnout: 30,496 (62.8%)  

1989 general election

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1989 general election: Donegal South-West[10][26]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher[*] 28.9 8,332  
Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan[*] 26.3 7,592  
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley[*] 24.8 7,160 7,534
Workers' Party Séamus Rodgers 9.6 2,768 3,338
Fine Gael Frank O'Kelly 8.6 2,493 2,573
Independent Tom Kennedy 1.8 521 612
Electorate: 47,027   Valid: 28,866   Quota: 7,217   Turnout: 61.4%  

1987 general election

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1987 general election: Donegal South-West[9][27][28]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan 30.7 9,698        
Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher[*] 27.5 8,686        
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley[*] 20.1 6,331 6,811 7,008 7,158 9,821
Fine Gael Francis O'Kelly 9.7 3,072 3,452 3,505 3,614  
Workers' Party Séamus Rodgers 8.0 2,512 3,030 3,465 4,085 4,344
Sinn Féin Eamonn Monaghan 4.0 1,276 1,702 1,809    
Electorate: 45,871   Valid: 31,575   Quota: 7,894   Turnout: 68.8%  

1983 by-election

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Fianna Fáil TD Clement Coughlan died on 1 February 1983.[29] On 19 April 1983, the writ of election to fill the vacancy was issued.[30] The by-election was held on 13 May 1983. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Cathal Coughlan, brother of the deceased TD.[31]

Cathal Coughlan died on 21 June 1986.[32] On 22 October 1986, a motion to issue the writ was rejected by a vote of 81 to 82.[33]

1983 by-election: Donegal South-West[8][28]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
Fianna Fáil Cathal Coughlan 56.6 17,960    
Fine Gael J. J. Reid 31.1 9,870 10,512 10,731
Workers' Party Séamus Rodgers 9.4 2,992 4,021 4,435
Independent Eamon Ó Gallachoir 1.7 530 802  
Independent Leo Armstrong 1.2 373 490  
Independent Jim Tallon 0.1 37 55  
Electorate: 45,823   Valid: 31,762   Quota: 15,882   Turnout: 69.3%  

November 1982 general election

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November 1982 general election: Donegal South-West[7][34]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
Fianna Fáil Clement Coughlan[*] 29.5 9,483      
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley[*] 26.5 8,544      
Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher[*] 25.4 8,165      
Fine Gael Francis O'Kelly 12.5 4,035 4,815 5,270 5,290
Workers' Party Séamus Rodgers 6.1 1,972 2,625 2,664 2,759
Electorate: 45,334   Valid: 32,199   Quota: 8,050   Turnout: 71.0%  

February 1982 general election

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February 1982 general election: Donegal South-West[6][35]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
Fianna Fáil Clement Coughlan[*] 25.1 8,321    
Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher[*] 22.9 7,576 8,011 8,270
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 21.6 7,160 7,419 10,925
Fine Gael J J Reid 12.4 4,113 4,300  
Independent Fianna Fáil Patrick Kelly[a] 11.7 3,868 4,877 5,036
Sinn Féin The Workers' Party Séamus Rodgers 3.2 1,056    
Independent Daniel Harkin 3.1 1,013    
Electorate: 44,860   Valid: 33,107   Spoilt: 253 (0.8%)   Quota: 8,277   Turnout: 33,360 (74.4%)  
  1. ^ Independent Fianna Fáil was an unregistered political party and did not appear on the ballot.

1981 general election

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1981 general election: Donegal South-West[5][36]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
Fianna Fáil Clement Coughlan[*] 26.9 9,341      
Fine Gael James White[*] 23.4 8,117 8,167 12,271  
Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 18.5 6,433 6,969 7,348 7,762
Independent Fianna Fáil Patrick Kelly[a] 16.2 5,626 5,684 6,197 7,038
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 14.9 5,199 5,216    
Electorate: 44,860   Valid: 34,716   Spoilt: 335 (0.9%)   Quota: 8,680   Turnout: 35,051 (78.1%)  
  1. ^ Independent Fianna Fáil was an unregistered political party and did not appear on the ballot.

1965 general election

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1965 general election: Donegal South-West[4][37]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Fianna Fáil Joseph Brennan[*] 27.3 7,020  
Fine Gael Patrick O'Donnell[*] 26.1 6,691  
Fianna Fáil Cormac Breslin[*] 24.3 6,240 6,804
Fine Gael James White 16.7 4,298 4,326
Fine Gael Frank Reid 5.6 1,432 1,439
Electorate: 35,828   Valid: 25,681   Quota: 6,421   Turnout: 71.7%  

1961 general election

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1961 general election: Donegal South-West[3][37]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
Fianna Fáil Joseph Brennan[*] 29.8 7,045    
Fine Gael Patrick O'Donnell[*] 23.3 5,512 5,546 6,030
Fine Gael Christopher Gallagher 19.5 4,599 4,660 4,864
Fianna Fáil Cormac Breslin[*] 19.2 4,536 5,552 5,927
Sinn Féin Séamus Rodgers 8.2 1,930 1,958  
Electorate: 36,231   Valid: 23,622   Quota: 5,906   Turnout: 65.2%  

References

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  1. ^ Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009, Schedule (No. 4 of 2009, Schedule). Enacted on 24 February 2009. Act of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 29 September 2010.
  2. ^ a b Walker, Brian M, ed. (1992). Parliamentary election results in Ireland, 1918–92. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0-901714-96-8. ISSN 0332-0286.
  3. ^ a b "General election 1961: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  4. ^ a b "General election 1965: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  5. ^ a b "General election 1981: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  6. ^ a b "General election February 1982: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  7. ^ a b "General election November 1982: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  8. ^ a b "By-election 1983: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  9. ^ a b "General election 1987: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  10. ^ a b "General election 1989: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  11. ^ a b "General election 1992: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 26 August 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  12. ^ a b "General election 1997: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  13. ^ a b "General election 2002: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  14. ^ a b "General election 2007: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  15. ^ a b "By-election 2010: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  16. ^ a b "General election 2011: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  17. ^ "Introduction of New Members". Dáil Debates – Vol. 684 No. 1. 9 June 2009.
  18. ^ "Issue of Writ: Donegal South-West By-election". Dáil Debates – Vol. 687 No. 1. 2 July 2009.
  19. ^ "Issue of Writ: Donegal South-West By-election". Dáil Debates – Vol. 708 No. 1. 5 May 2010.
  20. ^ "Issue of Writs: Dublin South, Waterford and Donegal South-West By-elections". Dáil Debates – Vol. 716 No. 1. 29 September 2010.
  21. ^ Doherty v. Government of Ireland [2010] IEHC 369, [2011] 2 IR 222 (3 November 2010), High Court
  22. ^ "Issue of Writ: Donegal South-West By-election". Dáil Debates – Vol. 721 No. 1. 4 November 2010.
  23. ^ "Introduction of New Member". Dáil Debates – Vol. 723 No. 3. 30 November 2010.
  24. ^ Government of Ireland (1998). 28th Dáil General Election June, 1997 Election Results and Transfer of Votes. Stationery Office, Government of Ireland.
  25. ^ Government of Ireland (1993). Dáil General Election November, 1992 Election Results and Transfer of Votes in the General Election for the Twenty-Seventh Dáil. Stationery Office, Government of Ireland.
  26. ^ "26th Dáil 1989 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. January 1990. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Donegal South-West: 1987 general election". IrelandElection.com. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  28. ^ a b "25th Dáil 1987 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. July 1987. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Death of Member. - Expression of Sympathy". Dáil Debates – Vol. 339 No. 6. 1 February 1983.
  30. ^ "Issue of Writ: Donegal South-West By-Election". Dáil Debates – Vol. 341 No. 6. 19 April 1983.
  31. ^ "Return to Writ: Donegal South West. - Introduction of New Member". Dáil Debates – Vol. 342 No. 8. 18 May 1983.
  32. ^ "Death of Member. - Expression of Sympathy". Dáil Debates – Vol. 368 No. 5. 24 June 1986.
  33. ^ "Issue of Writ: Donegal South-West By-Election". Dáil Debates – Vol. 369 No. 1. 22 October 1986.
  34. ^ "24th Dáil November 1982 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. August 1983. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  35. ^ "23rd Dáil February 1982 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. August 1982. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  36. ^ "22nd Dáil 1981 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. September 1981. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  37. ^ a b Gallagher, Michael (2009). Irish Elections 1948–77: Results and Analysis Sources for the Study of Irish Politics 2. Routledge. ISBN 9781138973343.
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