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Donegal South-West
Former Dáil constituency
Location of Donegal South-West within Ireland
Former constituency
Created	1981
Abolished	2016
Seats	3
Local government area	County Donegal
Replaced by	Donegal

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

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:

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

TDs

TDs 1961–1969

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

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

 *: Outgoing TD

2011 general election

1. New Vision was an electoral alliance of independent non-party candidates and did not appear on the ballot.

2010 by-election

On 5 June 2009, Fianna Fáil TD Pat "the Cope" Gallagher was elected to the European Parliament, vacating his seat in the Dáil. 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. 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.

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. 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. The writ was moved the following day. Doherty was successful in the by-election.

2007 general election

2002 general election

1997 general election

1. Independent Fianna Fáil was an unregistered political party and did not appear on the ballot.

1992 general election

1989 general election

1987 general election

1983 by-election

Fianna Fáil TD Clement Coughlan died on 1 February 1983. On 19 April 1983, the writ of election to fill the vacancy was issued. 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.

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

November 1982 general election

February 1982 general election

1. Independent Fianna Fáil was an unregistered political party and did not appear on the ballot.

1981 general election

1. Independent Fianna Fáil was an unregistered political party and did not appear on the ballot.

1965 general election

1961 general election

References

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. ^ 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. ^ "General election 1961: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
4. ^ "General election 1965: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
5. ^ "General election 1981: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
6. ^ "General election February 1982: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
7. ^ "General election November 1982: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
8. ^ "By-election 1983: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
9. ^ "General election 1987: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
10. ^ "General election 1989: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
11. ^ "General election 1992: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 26 August 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
12. ^ "General election 1997: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
13. ^ "General election 2002: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
14. ^ "General election 2007: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
15. ^ "By-election 2010: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
16. ^ "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, 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. ^ "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. ^ Gallagher, Michael (2009). Irish Elections 1948–77: Results and Analysis Sources for the Study of Irish Politics 2. Routledge. ISBN 9781138973343.

External links

• Oireachtas Members Database

• Dáil constituencies in the Republic of Ireland (historic)
• Historic constituencies in County Donegal
• 1961 establishments in Ireland
• 1969 disestablishments in Ireland
• Constituencies established in 1961
• Constituencies disestablished in 1969
• 1981 establishments in Ireland
• Constituencies established in 1981
• 2016 disestablishments in Ireland
• Constituencies disestablished in 2016