Overview of legislation and seat distribution
edit
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 revolutionary period of Dáil Éireann , MPs from other parties were invited; 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.
Alterations to constituencies take effect on the dissolution of the Dáil sitting when a revision is made; therefore, any by-elections take place according to the constituency boundaries in place at the previous election.
Period
Legislation
×1
×2
×3
×4
×5
×6
×7
×8
×9
Total C
Total TDs
Elections
1918–1921
Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918
101
2
103
105
1918
1921–1922
Government of Ireland Act 1920
3
22
5
2
2
4
38
180
1921
1922–1923
3
16
4
2
1
2
28
128
1922
1923–1937
Electoral Act 1923
8
4
9
5
3
1
30
153
1923 , June 1927 , Sept. 1927 , 1932 , 1933
1937–1948
Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935
15
8
8
3
34
138[ a]
1937 , 1938 , 1943 , 1944
1948–1961
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947
22
9
9
40
147
1948 , 1951 , 1954 , 1957
1961–1969
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1961
17
12
9
38
144
1961 , 1965
1969–1977
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1969
26
14
2
42
144
1969 , 1973
1977–1981
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974
26
10
6
42
148
1977
1981–1987
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1980
13
13
15
41
166
1981 , Feb. 1982 , Nov. 1982
1987–1992
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1983
13
13
15
41
166
1987 , 1989
1992–1997
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1990
12
15
14
41
166
1992
1997–2002
Electoral (Amendment) Act 1995
12
15
14
41
166
1997
2002–2007
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1998
16
12
14
42
166
2002
2007–2011
Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005
18
13
12
43
166
2007
2011–2016
Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009
17
15
11
43
166
2011
2016–2020
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013
13
16
11
40
158
2016
2020–date
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017
9
17
13
39
160
2020
List of constituencies
edit
Notes
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.
Constituency names are based upon those used in the Oireachtas database of former members, except that borough division names in 1918 and 1977 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.
In Irish legislation up to 1961, constituencies in the cities of Cork and Dublin (then known as county boroughs ) were designated as borough constituencies. The official designation of borough and county constituencies under Irish electoral law ended in 1969. In UK legislation, relevant for the constituencies of the First and Second Dáil, it was also used to designate Belfast, Limerick, Londonderry and Waterford in 1918, and Belfast in 1921.
Constituency
County or city
Created
Abolished
Seats
Antrim
Antrim
1921
1922
7
Antrim East
Antrim
1918
1921
1
Antrim Mid
Antrim
1918
1921
1
Antrim North
Antrim
1918
1921
1
Antrim South
Antrim
1918
1921
1
Armagh
Armagh
1921
1922
4
Armagh Mid
Armagh
1918
1921
1
Armagh North
Armagh
1918
1921
1
Armagh South
Armagh
1918
1921
1
Athlone–Longford
Westmeath / Longford
1937
1948
3
Belfast Cromac
Belfast
1918
1921
1
Belfast Duncairn
Belfast
1918
1921
1
Belfast East
Belfast
1921
1922
4
Belfast Falls
Belfast
1918
1921
1
Belfast North
Belfast
1921
1922
4
Belfast Ormeau
Belfast
1918
1921
1
Belfast Pottinger
Belfast
1918
1921
1
Belfast Shankill
Belfast
1918
1921
1
Belfast South
Belfast
1921
1922
4
Belfast St. Anne's
Belfast
1918
1921
1
Belfast Victoria
Belfast
1918
1921
1
Belfast West
Belfast
1921
1922
4
Belfast Woodvale
Belfast
1918
1921
1
County Carlow
Carlow
1918
1921
1
Carlow–Kildare
Carlow / Kildare
1937
1948
4
Carlow–Kilkenny [ a]
Carlow / Kilkenny
1921
1937
4,5
Carlow–Kilkenny
Carlow / Kilkenny
1948
5
Cavan [ b]
Cavan
1921
1977
3,4,3
Cavan East
Cavan
1918
1921
1
Cavan–Monaghan [ c]
Cavan / Monaghan
1977
5,4,5
Cavan West
Cavan
1918
1921
1
Clare [ d]
Clare
1921
4,5,4,3,4
Clare East
Clare
1918
1921
1
Clare–South Galway
Clare / Galway
1969
1977
3
Clare West
Clare
1918
1921
1
Cork Borough [ e]
Cork city
1921
1969
4,5,4,5
Cork City
Cork city
1918
1921
2
Cork City
Cork city
1977
1981
5
Cork City North-West
Cork city
1969
1977
3
Cork City South-East
Cork city
1969
1977
3
Cork East
Cork
1918
1921
1
Cork East
Cork
1923
1937
5
Cork East
Cork
1948
1961
3
Cork East
Cork
1981
4
Cork East and North East
Cork
1921
1923
3
Cork Mid
Cork
1918
1921
1
Cork Mid [ f]
Cork
1961
1981
4,5
Cork Mid, North, South, South East and West
Cork
1921
1923
8
Cork North
Cork
1918
1921
1
Cork North [ g]
Cork
1923
1961
3,4,3
Cork North-Central [ h]
Cork city
1981
5,4
Cork North East
Cork
1918
1921
1
Cork North-East [ i]
Cork
1961
1981
5,4
Cork North-West
Cork
1981
3
Cork South
Cork
1918
1921
1
Cork South
Cork
1948
1961
3
Cork South-Central [ j]
Cork city
1981
5,4
Cork South East
Cork
1918
1921
1
Cork South-East
Cork
1937
1948
3
Cork South-West
Cork
1961
3
Cork West
Cork
1918
1921
1
Cork West [ k]
Cork
1923
1961
5,3
Donegal [ a]
Donegal
1921
1937
6,8
Donegal
Donegal
1977
1981
5
Donegal
Donegal
2016
5
Donegal East
Donegal
1918
1921
1
Donegal East
Donegal
1937
1961
4
Donegal–Leitrim
Donegal / Leitrim
1969
1977
3
Donegal North
Donegal
1918
1921
1
Donegal North-East
Donegal
1961
1977
3
Donegal North-East
Donegal
1981
2016
3
Donegal South
Donegal
1918
1921
1
Donegal South-West
Donegal
1961
1969
3
Donegal South-West
Donegal
1981
2016
3
Donegal West
Donegal
1918
1921
1
Donegal West
Donegal
1937
1961
3
Down
Down
1921
1922
8
Down East
Down
1918
1921
1
Down Mid
Down
1918
1921
1
Down North
Down
1918
1921
1
Down South
Down
1918
1921
1
Down West
Down
1918
1921
1
Dublin Artane
Dublin city
1977
1981
3
Dublin Ballyfermot
Dublin city
1977
1981
3
Dublin Bay North
Dublin city
2016
5
Dublin Bay South
Dublin city
2016
4
Dublin Cabra
Dublin city
1977
1981
3
Dublin Central
Dublin city
1969
1977
4
Dublin Central [ l]
Dublin city
1981
5,4,3,4
Dublin Clontarf
Dublin city
1918
1921
1
Dublin Clontarf
Dublin city
1977
1981
3
Dublin College Green
Dublin city
1918
1921
1
Dublin County [ m]
Dublin
1921
1969
6,8,5,3,5
Dublin County Mid
Dublin
1977
1981
3
Dublin County North [ n]
Dublin
1969
1981
4,3
Dublin County South
Dublin
1969
1981
3
Dublin County West
Dublin
1977
1981
3
Dublin Fingal
Fingal
2016
5
Dublin Finglas
Dublin city
1977
1981
3
Dublin Harbour
Dublin city
1918
1921
1
Dublin Mid
Dublin city
1921
1923
4
Dublin Mid-West [ o]
South Dublin
2002
3,4
Dublin County North
Dublin
1918
1921
1
Dublin North
Dublin city
1923
1937
8
Dublin North [ p]
Dublin
1981
2016
3,4
Dublin North-Central [ q]
Dublin city
1948
2016
3,4,3,4,3
Dublin North-East [ r]
Dublin city
1937
1977
3,5,4
Dublin North-East [ s]
Dublin city
1981
2016
4,3
Dublin North-West
Dublin city
1921
1923
4
Dublin North-West [ r]
Dublin city
1937
1977
5,3,4
Dublin North-West [ t]
Dublin city
1981
4,3
Dublin Pembroke
Dublin
1918
1921
1
Dublin Rathdown
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown
2016
3
Dublin Rathmines
Dublin
1918
1921
1
Dublin Rathmines West
Dublin city
1977
1981
3
Dublin County South
Dublin
1918
1921
1
Dublin South [ a]
Dublin city
1921
1948
4,7
Dublin South
Dublin
1981
2016
5
Dublin South-Central [ u]
Dublin city
1948
5,4,3,5,4,5,4
Dublin South-East [ v]
Dublin city
1948
2016
3,4
Dublin South-West [ w]
Dublin city
1948
1977
5,4
Dublin South-West [ x]
Dublin (South Dublin )
1981
4,5,4,5
Dublin St. James's
Dublin city
1918
1921
1
Dublin St. Michan's
Dublin city
1918
1921
1
Dublin St. Patrick's
Dublin city
1918
1921
1
Dublin St. Stephen's Green
Dublin city
1918
1921
1
Dublin Townships
Dublin city
1937
1948
3
Dublin University [ y]
Universities
1918
1937
2,4,3
Dublin West [ x]
Dublin
1981
5,4,3,4
Dún Laoghaire [ z]
Dublin (Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown )
1977
4,5,4
Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown [ aa]
Dublin
1948
1977
3,4
Fermanagh and Tyrone
Fermanagh / Tyrone
1921
1922
8
Fermanagh North
Fermanagh
1918
1921
1
Fermanagh South
Fermanagh
1918
1921
1
Galway [ a]
Galway
1921
1937
7,9
Galway Connemara
Galway
1918
1921
1
Galway East
Galway
1918
1921
1
Galway East
Galway
1937
1948
4
Galway East
Galway
1961
1969
5
Galway East [ ab]
Galway
1977
4,3,4,3
Galway North
Galway
1918
1921
1
Galway North
Galway
1948
1961
3
Galway North-East
Galway
1969
1977
3
Galway South
Galway
1918
1921
1
Galway South
Galway
1948
1961
3
Galway West [ ac]
Galway
1937
3,4,5
Kerry
Kerry
1923
1937
7
Kerry
Kerry
2016
5
Kerry East
Kerry
1918
1921
1
Kerry–Limerick West
Kerry / Limerick
1921
1923
8
Kerry North
Kerry
1918
1921
1
Kerry North [ ad]
Kerry
1937
2011
4,3
Kerry North–West Limerick
Kerry
2011
2016
3
Kerry South
Kerry
1918
1921
1
Kerry South
Kerry
1937
2016
3
Kerry West
Kerry
1918
1921
1
Kildare
Kildare
1923
1937
3
Kildare [ ae]
Kildare
1948
1997
3,4,3,5
Kildare North
Kildare
1918
1921
1
Kildare North [ af]
Kildare
1997
3,4
Kildare South
Kildare
1918
1921
1
Kildare South [ ag]
Kildare
1997
3,4
Kildare–Wicklow
Kildare / Wicklow
1921
1923
5
Kilkenny
Kilkenny
1937
1948
3
Kilkenny North
Kilkenny
1918
1921
1
Kilkenny South
Kilkenny
1918
1921
1
King's County
King's
1918
1921
1
Laois
Laois
2016
2020
3
Laois–Offaly [ a] [ ah]
Laois / Offaly
1921
2016
4,5
Laois–Offaly
Laois / Offaly
2020
5
Leitrim
Leitrim
1918
1921
1
Leitrim
Leitrim
1937
1948
3
Leitrim–Roscommon North
Leitrim / Roscommon
1921
1923
4
Leitrim–Sligo
Leitrim / Sligo
1923
1937
7
Limerick
Limerick
1923
1948
7
Limerick
Limerick
2011
2016
3
Limerick City
Limerick city
1918
1921
1
Limerick City
Limerick
2011
4
Limerick City–Limerick East
Limerick
1921
1923
4
Limerick County
Limerick
2016
3
Limerick East
Limerick
1918
1921
1
Limerick East [ v]
Limerick
1948
2011
4,5
Limerick West
Limerick
1918
1921
1
Limerick West
Limerick
1948
2011
3
Londonderry
Londonderry
1921
1922
5
Londonderry City
Derry city
1918
1921
1
Londonderry North
Londonderry
1918
1921
1
Londonderry South
Londonderry
1918
1921
1
Longford
Longford
1918
1921
1
Longford–Roscommon
Longford / Roscommon
1992
2007
4
Longford–Westmeath [ a]
Longford / Westmeath
1921
1937
4,5
Longford–Westmeath [ aa]
Longford / Westmeath
1948
1992
5,4
Longford–Westmeath
Longford / Westmeath
2007
4
Louth
Louth
1918
1921
1
Louth [ ai]
Louth
1923
3,4,5
Louth–Meath
Louth / Meath
1921
1923
5
Mayo [ aj]
Mayo
1997
5,4
Mayo East
Mayo
1918
1921
1
Mayo East
Mayo
1969
1997
3
Mayo North
Mayo
1918
1921
1
Mayo North [ ak]
Mayo
1923
1969
4,3
Mayo North and West
Mayo
1921
1923
4
Mayo South
Mayo
1918
1921
1
Mayo South [ k]
Mayo
1923
1969
5,4
Mayo South–Roscommon South
Mayo / Roscommon
1921
1923
4
Mayo West
Mayo
1918
1921
1
Mayo West
Mayo
1969
1997
3
Meath
Meath
1923
1937
3
Meath [ al]
Meath
1948
2007
3,4,5
Meath East
Meath
2007
3
Meath North
Meath
1918
1921
1
Meath South
Meath
1918
1921
1
Meath West
Meath
2007
3
Meath–Westmeath
Meath / Westmeath
1937
1948
5
Monaghan
Monaghan
1921
1977
3
Monaghan North
Monaghan
1918
1921
1
Monaghan South
Monaghan
1918
1921
1
National University [ y]
Universities
1918
1937
1,4,3
Offaly
Offaly
2016
2020
3
Queen's County
Queen's
1918
1921
1
Queen's University of Belfast
Universities
1918
1921
1
Queen's University of Belfast
Universities
1921
1922
4
Roscommon [ g]
Roscommon
1923
1969
4,3,4
Roscommon [ g]
Roscommon
1981
1992
3
Roscommon–Galway
Roscommon / Galway
2016
3
Roscommon–Leitrim
Roscommon / Leitrim
1969
1981
3
Roscommon–South Leitrim
Roscommon / Leitrim
2007
2016
3
Roscommon North
Roscommon
1918
1921
1
Roscommon South
Roscommon
1918
1921
1
Sligo
Sligo
1937
1948
3
Sligo–Leitrim [ am]
Sligo / Leitrim
1948
2007
5,4,3,4
Sligo–Leitrim
Sligo / Leitrim
2016
4
Sligo–North Leitrim
Sligo / Leitrim
2007
2016
3
Sligo–Mayo East
Sligo / Mayo
1921
1923
5
Sligo North
Sligo
1918
1921
1
Sligo South
Sligo
1918
1921
1
Tipperary
Tipperary
2016
5
Tipperary North
Tipperary
1948
2016
3
Tipperary East
Tipperary
1918
1921
1
Tipperary Mid
Tipperary
1918
1921
1
Tipperary Mid, North and South
Tipperary
1921
1923
4
Tipperary North
Tipperary
1918
1921
1
Tipperary North
Tipperary
1948
2016
3
Tipperary South
Tipperary
1918
1921
1
Tipperary South [ an]
Tipperary
1948
2016
4,3,4,3
Tyrone North East
Tyrone
1918
1921
1
Tyrone North West
Tyrone
1918
1921
1
Tyrone South
Tyrone
1918
1921
1
Waterford [ ao]
Waterford
1923
4,3,4
Waterford City
Waterford city
1918
1921
1
Waterford County
Waterford
1918
1921
1
Waterford–Tipperary East
Waterford / Tipperary
1921
1923
5
Westmeath
Westmeath
1918
1921
1
Westmeath
Westmeath
1992
2007
3
Wexford [ ap]
Wexford
1921
4,5,4,5
Wexford North
Wexford
1918
1921
1
Wexford South
Wexford
1918
1921
1
Wicklow [ aq]
Wicklow
1923
3,4,5
Wicklow East
Wicklow
1918
1921
1
Wicklow West
Wicklow
1918
1921
1
^ a b c d e f Seats figures from 1921 and 1923. Carlow–Kilkenny; Donegal; Dublin South; Galway; Leix–Offaly; Longford–Westmeath.
^ Seats figures from 1921, 1923 and 1961.
^ Seats figures from 1977, 2016 and 2020.
^ Seats figures from 1921, 1923, 1948, 1969 and 1981.
^ Seats figures from 1921, 1923, 1937 and 1948.
^ Seats figures from 1961 and 1977.
^ a b c Seats figures from 1923, 1937 and 1948. Cork North; Roscommon.
^ Seats figures from 1981 and 2007.
^ Seats figures from 1961 and 1969.
^ Seats figures from 1981 and 2016.
^ a b Seats figures from 1923 and 1948. Cork West; Mayo South.
^ Seats figures from 1981, 1992, 2016 and 2020.
^ Seats figures from 1921, 1923, 1937, 1948 and 1961.
^ Seats figures from 1969 and 1977.
^ Seats figures from 2002 and 2007.
^ Seats figures from 1981 and 1992.
^ Seats figures from 1948, 1961, 1977, 1981 and 2007.
^ a b Seats figures from 1937, 1948 and 1969. Dublin North-East; Dublin North-West.
^ Seats figures from 1981 and 2002.
^ Seats figures from 1981 and 2002.
^ Seats figures from 1948, 1969, 1977, 1981, 1992, 2002 and 2016.
^ a b Seats figures from 1948 and 1981.
^ Seats figures from 1948 and 1969.
^ a b Seats figures from 1981, 1992, 2002 and 2016. Dublin South-West; Dublin West.
^ a b Seats figures from 1918, 1921 and 1923. Dublin University; National University of Ireland.
^ Seats figures from 1977, 1981 and 2011.
^ a b Seats figures from 1948 and 1961. Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown; Longford Westmeath.
^ Seats figures from 1977, 1981, 1997 and 2016.
^ Seats figures from 1937, 1977 and 1981.
^ Seats figures from 1937 and 1961.
^ Seats figures from 1948, 1961, 1969 and 1981.
^ Seats figures from 1997 and 2007.
^ Seats figures from 1997 and 2020.
^ Constituency spelled Leix–Offaly to 1961, Laoighis–Offaly to 2007
^ Seats figures from 1923, 1977 and 2011.
^ Seats figures from 1997 and 2016.
^ Seats figures from 1923 and 1937.
^ Seats figures from 1948, 1977 and 1981.
^ Seats figures from 1948, 1961, 1969 and 1981.
^ Seats figures from 1948, 1977, 1981 and 1997.
^ Seats figures from 1923, 1961 and 1977.
^ Seats figures from 1921, 1923, 1961 and 1981.
^ Seats figures from 1923, 1981 and 1992.
Walker, B. M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922 . Royal Irish Academy.
Elliott, Sydney, ed. (1973). Northern Ireland Parliamentary Election Results 1921–1972 . Political Reference Publications.