Longford–Westmeath (Dáil constituency) explained

Longford–Westmeath
Type:Dáil
Year:2007
Map4:Longford–Westmeath (Dáil constituency) 2025.svg
Map Entity:Ireland
Map Size:200px
Members Label:TDs
Local Council Label:Local government areas
Blank1 Name:EP constituency
Blank1 Info:Midlands–North-West
Longford–Westmeath
Type:Dáil
Year:1948
Abolished:1992
Local Council Label:Local government areas
Longford–Westmeath
Type:Dáil
Year:1921
Abolished:1937
Local Council Label:Local government areas

Longford–Westmeath is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

History and boundaries

The constituency previously existed from 1921 to 1937 and from 1948 to 1992, but was abolished for the 1992 general election. It was re-created by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005 which gave effect to the 2004 Constituency Commission Report on Dáil Constituencies, and was first used in its current form at the 2007 general election.[1] [2] [3] It contains the County Longford portion of the former Longford–Roscommon constituency, and most of the former Westmeath constituency apart from the north-eastern area around Castlepollard and Delvin, which became part of the new Meath West constituency.

The Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017 defines the constituency as:[4]

In the Constituency Review Report 2023, the Electoral Commission recommended that the electoral divisions of Westmeath in the Meath West constituency should be transferred to the Longford-Westmeath constituency, thereby making the constituency comprise the entire counties of Longford and Westmeath for the first time since 1980. It was also allocated anadditional seat to become a five seat constituency.[5]

For the next general election, the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 defines the constituency as:[6]

TDs

TDs since 2007

Elections

2016 general election

Final result following a recount.[7]

1970 by-election

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Patrick Lenihan, a by-election was held on 14 April 1970. The seat was won by the Fine Gael candidate Patrick Cooney.

1930 by-election

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD James Killane, a by-election was held on 13 June 1930. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate James Geoghegan.

1923 general election

Michael Gallagher notes that newspapers at the time were not consistent with the exact figures of the first count so there may have been slight differences to the below. Full figures for the second to the ninth counts are unavailable. The order of eliminations was O'Farrell on 138 votes, Carrigy 735, Groarke 924, Philips 1,203, Gavin 1,244, Redmond 1,396, Victory 1,851, Wilson 2,689 and Garahan 2,793.

1921 general election

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See also

Notes and References

  1. 2005. 16. Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005. y. 30 August 2022.
  2. 2009. 4. y. Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009. 24 February 2009. 30 August 2022.
  3. 2013. 7. y. Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013. 30 August 2022.
  4. Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017. 2017. 39. y. 30 August 2022.
  5. Web site: Constituency Review Report 2023 . . 66–67. 16 February 2024.
  6. 2023. 40. y. Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023. 19 December 2023. 16 February 2024.
  7. Web site: Longford–Westmeath: Recount ordered as Labour's Willie Penrose could become an election Lazarus as transfers put him back in the race . Tuite . Tom . . 29 February 2016 . 26 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426130118/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/longford-westmeath-siege-of-keenagh-finally-ends-as-willie-penrose-and-fine-gaels-peter-burke-elected-to-dail-after-marathon-count/34488887.html . live .