Dáil Éireann By Elections 1923-2013

Of the 127 TDs elected in by-elections, 22 of them (17%) were never subsequently re-elected. This trend was reversed in the 2002 general election with all six by-election winners retaining their seats. George Lee won a by-election in Dublin South during the lifetime of the 30th Dáil but resigned a few months later and the by-election was not held. By-elections were also not held in Donegal North-East (James McDaid) and Waterford (Martin Cullen). 14 members of the 31st Dáil were elected in by-elections from Enda Kenny in 1975 to Patrick Nulty in 2011.

Most by-elections were caused by the death of a sitting member but some have been due to the resignation or disqualification of a member. The by-elections in 1925 were due to the resignation of 9 Cumann Na nGaedheal TDs over the government’s handling of the army mutiny. Sixty one (48%) of the by-elections have seen the failure of the outgoing party to retain its seat. This trend was repeated during the last Dáil when Fianna Fail failed to retain Seamus Brennan’s seat in Dublin South or Pat the Cope Gallagher’s in Donegal South-West. They also lost their only seat in Dublin in the recent by-election in Dublin West.

Patrick McGilligan achieved the largest first preference vote in a by-election when taking 76.49% of the vote in 1923. Three other winning candidates have taken over 70% of the first preference vote with the most recent being Patrick Shanahan in 1945. Catherine Murphy’s share of the first preference vote of 23.64% in Kildare North in 2005 was the third lowest ever by a winning candidate in a by-election. The lowest winning vote at a single seat by-election, was by Patrick Kinane who won 21.44%, in Tipperary in 1947 (Samuel Holt got just 20.25% in Leitrim-Sligo in 1925 but there were two seats on offer at that by-election).

Samuel Holt won a by-election in Leitrim-Sligo in 1925 but his death gave rise to a by-election in 1926 (won by General Sean MacEoin). Similarly William Norton of Labour won a byelection in Dublin County in 1926 and his death subsequently gave rise to a by-election in 1964 in Kildare. T F O’Higgins (senior) was also elected at a by-election in 1929 and his death gave rise to a by-election in 1954. Clement Coughlan won a by-election in 1980 but his death gave rise to another one in 1983 which was won by his brother Cathal who died in 1986 but a byelection was not held prior to the 1987 general election. Hugh Coveney won a by-election in 1994 but his death gave rise to another one in 1998. Brian Lenihan jnr. was first elected at a byelection in 1996 and his death caused a by-election in Dublin West in 2011. Shane McEntee who died in 2012 is the seventh example of a winner of a by-election subsequently causing a byelection. Thomas Hennessy is the only candidate to win two by-elections - Dublin South in 1925 and 1927.

The turnout for the 1999 by-election in Dublin South-Central was the lowest ever with the valid poll of 27.88% eclipsing the previous lowest of 28.29% in 1945 in Dublin North-West. But low turnouts at by-elections are not unusual as Wm. Norton was elected in Dublin County in 1926 with a valid poll of just 34.25% of which he got a higher percentage, 35.69%. The average turnout for by-elections is about 10 points below the general election figure with the average valid poll at 60.39% compared to 70.71% for General Elections.

From Seán Donnelly's book Elections 2011 p403

There were no By Elections during the 7th, 9th, 11th, 22nd, 25th and 26th Dálai. The longest period without a By Election was nearly 10 years between 1984 and 1994. The most By Elections on one day was nine in March 1925. There has been one By Election so far during the 31st Dáil, with another one pending.

Click here for details of the writs moved for By Elections, and seats that were vacant at dissolution.

Constituency names shown below in bold have full count and transfer details available, or required only a single count.

Gains are indicated by yellow shading.