Kildare South (Dáil constituency)

Kildare South is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects four deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

Kildare South
Dáil constituency
Outline map
Location of Kildare South within Ireland
Major settlements
Current constituency
Created1997
Seats
  • 3 (1997–2020)
  • 4 (2020–)
Local government areaCounty Kildare
Created fromKildare
EP constituencyMidlands–North-West

History and boundaries

edit

The constituency was first used at the 1997 general election, when the former 5-seat Kildare constituency was divided into Kildare South and Kildare North.

The Kildare South constituency spans the more rural southern and western areas of County Kildare, taking in the towns of Newbridge, Kildare, Athy, Caragh and many other areas. At the 2020 general election, it gained an extra seat to become a 4-seat constituency.[1]

The Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017 defines the constituency as:[1]

"The county of Kildare, except the part thereof which is comprised in the constituency of Kildare North;

and in the county of Laois, the electoral divisions of:

Ballybrittas, Jamestown, Kilmullen, Portarlington South, in the former Rural District of Mountmellick;

and in the county of Offaly, the electoral division of:

Portarlington North, in the former Rural District of Tullamore."

The Constituency Review Report 2023 of the Electoral Commission recommended that at the next general election, the boundary of Kildare South be altered with the transfer of territory to Kildare North, Laois and Offaly.[2]

For the 2024 general election, the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 defines the constituency as:[3]

"The county of Kildare, except the part thereof which is comprised in the constituency of Kildare North."
Changes to the Kildare South constituency 1997–present
Years TDs Boundaries Notes
1997–2016 3 County Kildare, except the part in the constituency of Kildare North[4][5] Created from Kildare,[6]
with transfer from Wicklow of

the electoral divisions of Ballitore, Belan, Carrigeen, Castledermot, Graney, Inchaquire, Moone, Narraghmore, in the former Rural District of Athy No. 1;

Ballymore Eustace, Carnalway, Gilitown, Kilcullen, Kilashee, Newtown, Usk, in the former Rural District of Naas No. 1.
2002–2007 3
Transfer from Kildare North of[7]
Ballynadrumny, Cadamstown, Carbury, Carrick, Drehid, Dunfierth, Kilrainy, Windmill Cross, in the former Rural District of Edenderry No. 2.
2007–2011 3
Transfer to Kildare North of[8]
Ballynadrumny, Cadamstown, Carbury, Carrick, Drehid, Dunfierth, Kilrainy, Windmill Cross, in the former Rural District of Edenderry No. 2, and Downings, Robertstown, and Timahoe South, in the former Rural District of Naas No. 1.
2011–2016 3
Transfer to Kildare North of[9]
Kilpatrick, in the former Rural District of Edenderry No. 2, and Newtown, in the former Rural District of Naas No. 1.
2016–2020 3 County Kildare,

except the parts in the constituencies of Kildare North and Laois[10]

Transfer from Kildare North of[11]
Kilpatrick and Windmill Cross, in the former Rural District of Edenderry No. 2, and Robertstown and Timahoe South, in the former Rural District of Naas No. 1,
Transfer to new constituency of Laois of
Ballybrackan, Churchtown, Harristown, Kilberry, Kildangan and Monasterevin, in the former Rural District of Athy No. 1.
2020– 4 County Kildare,

except the parts in the constituencies of Kildare North,[1]

and in County Laois, the electoral divisions of
Ballybrittas, Jamestown, Kilmullen, Portarlington South, in the former Rural District of Mountmellick;
and in County Offaly, the electoral division of
Portarlington North, in the former Rural District of Tullamore.
Transfer from Kildare North of[12]
the electoral division of Carbury, Carrick, Drehid, Kilrainy in the former Edenderry No. 2 Rural District,
transfer from the former constituency of Laois of

Ballybrackan, Churchtown, Harristown, Kilberry, Kildangan and Monasterevin, in the former Rural District of Athy No. 1, in County Kildare,

and of Ballybrittas, Jamestown, Kilmullen, Portarlington South, in the former Rural District of Mountmellick, in County Laois
transfer from the former constituency of Offaly of
Portarlington North, in the former Rural District of Tullamore.
Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Kildare South 1997–
Key to parties
Dáil Election Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
28th 1997[13] Jack Wall
(Lab)
Alan Dukes
(FG)
Seán Power
(FF)
3 seats
1997–2020
29th 2002[14] Seán Ó Fearghaíl[a]
(FF)
30th 2007[15]
31st 2011[16] Martin Heydon
(FG)
32nd 2016[17] Fiona O'Loughlin
(FF)
33rd 2020[18] Patricia Ryan
(SF)
Cathal Berry
(Ind)

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.

  1. ^ Ó Fearghaíl has served as Ceann Comhairle in the 32nd and 33rd Dáil. He was returned automatically at the 2020 general election.

Elections

edit

^ *: Outgoing TD

2024 general election

edit

Seán Ó Fearghaíl was Ceann Comhairle at the dissolution of the 33rd Dáil and will be returned automatically. The constituency will be treated as a three-seater for the purposes of calculating the quota.

2024 general election: Kildare South[19]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
Fianna Fáil Seán Ó Fearghaíl[*] N/A Returned automatically
Independent Cathal Berry[*]
Aontú Melissa Byrne
Independent Ireland William Carton
Irish Freedom Anthony Casey
PBP–Solidarity Rob Cosgrave[a]
The Irish People Carla Davy
Independent Ireland Edel Doran
Fine Gael Martin Heydon[*]
Independent Tom McDonnell
Sinn Féin Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Fianna Fáil Fiona O'Loughlin
Independent Leanne O'Neill
Social Democrats Chris Pender
Independent Patricia Ryan[*]
Green Monaa K. Sood
Labour Mark Wall
Quota:  
  1. ^ Cosgrave is a member of Solidarity.

2020 general election

edit

Seán Ó Fearghaíl was Ceann Comhairle at the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil and therefore deemed to be returned automatically. The constituency was treated as a three-seater for the purposes of calculating the quota.

2020 general election: Kildare South[18][20][21][22]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Fianna Fáil Seán Ó Fearghaíl[*] N/A Returned automatically
Sinn Féin Patricia Ryan 21.5 10,155 10,461 10,719 11,072 11,295 12,152    
Fine Gael Martin Heydon[*] 17.1 8,069 8,120 8,218 8,567 9,010 9,651 11,676 11,710
Fianna Fáil Fiona O'Loughlin[*] 12.6 5,927 5,985 6,043 6,176 8,177 8,936 10,370 10,425
Labour Mark Wall 12.5 5,899 5,974 6,142 6,648 6,984 7,484    
Independent Cathal Berry 12.2 5,742 5,961 6,176 6,501 6,876 8,270 10,693 10,940
Independent Fiona McLoughlin Healy 7.7 3,616 3,730 3,938 4,221 4,471      
Fianna Fáil Suzanne Doyle 7.6 3,580 3,665 3,703 3,782        
Green Ronan Maher 3.5 1,639 1,754 2,144          
Social Democrats Linda Hayden 2.8 1,338 1,474            
Aontú Anita Mhic Gib 1.5 697              
Solidarity–PBP Róisín Uí Bhroin[a] 1.3 598              
Electorate: 77,719   Valid: 47,260   Spoilt: 440 (0.9%)   Quota: 11,815   Turnout: 47,700 (61.4%)  
  1. ^ Uí Bhroin was a member of People Before Profit.

2016 general election

edit
2016 general election: Kildare South[23][24][17]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Fine Gael Martin Heydon[*] 21.3 7,851 8,048 8,297 10,321    
Fianna Fáil Fiona O'Loughlin 18.8 6,906 7,073 7,373 7,905 8,149 8,974
Fianna Fáil Seán Ó Fearghaíl[*] 17.6 6,469 6,583 6,891 7,166 7,343 8,220
Labour Mark Wall 11.6 4,277 4,504 4,764 5,154 5,806 6,864
Sinn Féin Patricia Ryan 11.6 4,267 4,459 5,294 5,434 5,485  
Fine Gael Fiona McLoughlin Healy 8.8 3,250 3,416 3,554      
Independent Declan Crowe 5.8 2,143 2,609        
Green Suzanne McEneaney 2.3 836          
Renua Mary Kennedy 2.1 787          
Electorate: 59,162   Valid: 36,786   Spoilt: 386   Quota: 9,197   Turnout: 37,172 (62.8%)  

2011 general election

edit
2011 general election: Kildare South[25][16]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fine Gael Martin Heydon 33.3 12,755            
Labour Jack Wall[*] 27.8 10,645            
Fianna Fáil Seán Ó Fearghaíl[*] 11.8 4,514 4,961 5,097 5,177 5,315 5,552 8,707
Fianna Fáil Seán Power[*] 9.9 3,793 4,307 4,445 4,542 4,650 4,888  
Independent Paddy Kennedy 7.3 2,806 3,825 4,081 4,387 5,156 6,841 7,710
Sinn Féin Jason Turner 6.0 2,308 2,610 2,882 2,905 3,253    
Independent Clifford T. Reid 2.4 926 1,410 1,644 1,873      
Green Vivian Cummins 1.4 523 944 1,045        
Electorate: 58,867   Valid: 38,270   Spoilt: 353 (0.9%)   Quota: 9,568   Turnout: 38,623 (65.6%)  

2007 general election

edit
2007 general election: Kildare South[15]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
Fianna Fáil Seán Ó Fearghaíl[*] 25.2 8,731    
Fianna Fáil Seán Power[*] 25.1 8,694    
Labour Jack Wall[*] 20.7 7,154 7,712 9,145
Fine Gael Richard Daly 9.7 3,353 3,654 4,039
Fine Gael Alan Gillis 7.5 2,586 2,861 3,178
Green J. J. Power 6.2 2,136 2,658  
Progressive Democrats Jane Mullins 4.4 1,513    
Independent Tom Doyle 1.2 424    
Electorate: 56,670   Valid: 34,591   Spoilt: 347 (1.0%)   Quota: 8,648   Turnout: 34,938 (61.7%)  

2002 general election

edit
2002 general election: Kildare South[14]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Fianna Fáil Seán Power[*] 23.9 7,782 7,817 7,860 9,169    
Fianna Fáil Seán Ó Fearghaíl 22.6 7,370 7,458 7,501 8,426    
Labour Jack Wall[*] 18.5 6,043 6,148 6,264 7,443 7,849 7,977
Fine Gael Alan Dukes[*] 15.2 4,967 5,040 5,546 7,170 7,650 7,790
Progressive Democrats John Dardis 11.9 3,887 3,946 4,058      
Green J. J. Power 3.7 1,208 1,335 1,351      
Fine Gael Rainsford Hendy 2.5 828 850        
Independent Ger Fitzgibbon 1.7 546          
Electorate: 58,354   Valid: 32,631   Spoilt: 501 (1.5%)   Quota: 8,158   Turnout: 33,132 (56.8%)  

1997 general election

edit
1997 general election: Kildare South[13][26]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Fine Gael Alan Dukes[*] 21.7 6,260 6,426 7,419    
Labour Jack Wall 20.3 5,834 6,077 6,251 6,870 7,039
Fianna Fáil Sean Power[*] 19.7 5,665 6,048 6,124 8,066  
Fianna Fáil Seán Ó Fearghaíl 15.6 4,503 4,750 4,795 5,907 6,601
Progressive Democrats John Dardis 13.5 3,895 4,038 4,114    
Fine Gael Rainsford F. Hendy 4.8 1,371 1,399      
Fianna Fáil Christy Walsh 2.3 662        
Independent Francis J. Browne 2.1 618        
Electorate: 47,030   Valid: 28,808   Spoilt: 365 (1.3%)   Quota: 7,203   Turnout: 29,173 (60.9%)  

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017, Schedule (No. 39 of 2017, Schedule). Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 12 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Constituency Review Report 2023" (PDF). Electoral Commission. pp. 82–83, 131. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  3. ^ Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023, Schedule (No. 40 of 2023, Schedule). Enacted on 19 December 2023. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 16 February 2024.
  4. ^ Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005, Schedule (No. 16 of 2005, Schedule). Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 August 2022.
  5. ^ Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009, Schedule (No. 4 of 2009, Schedule). Enacted on 24 February 2009. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Dáil Constituency Commission Report 1995" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. Constituency Commission. 27 April 1995. pp. 17–18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Constituency Commission: Report 1998" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. Constituency Commission. pp. 24 and 28. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Report on Dáil Constituencies, 2004" (PDF). Constituency Commission. p. 54. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Report on Dáil and European Parliament Constituencies 2007" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 23 October 2007. p. 63. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  10. ^ Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013, Schedule (No. 7 of 2013, Schedule). Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 3 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Constituency Commission Report 2012: Dáil and European Parliament Constituencies" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 21 June 2012. p. 75. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Constituency Commission Report 2012: Dáil and European Parliament Constituencies" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 21 June 2012. p. 75. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  13. ^ a b "General election 1997: Kildare South". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  14. ^ a b "General election 2002: Kildare South". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  15. ^ a b "General election 2007: Kildare South". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  16. ^ a b "General election 2011: Kildare South". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  17. ^ a b "General election 2016: Kildare South". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  18. ^ a b "General election 2020 Kildare South". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  19. ^ "General Election 2024 Profiles – Kildare South". RTÉ News. November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  20. ^ "General Election 2020 Results – Kildare South". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Kildare South Results 2020". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Kildare South: 2020 General Election". Irelandelection.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Kildare South Results 2016". Irelandelection.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  24. ^ "Kildare South Results 2016". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  25. ^ "Kildare South Results 2011". Irelandelection.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  26. ^ Government of Ireland (1998). 28th Dáil General Election June, 1997 Election Results and Transfer of Votes. Stationery Office, Government of Ireland.