2009 Dublin South by-election

2009 Dublin South by-election

5 June 2009
Turnout	52,479 (57.8%)
Nominee George Lee Alex White Shay Brennan Party Fine Gael Labour Fianna Fáil First preferences 27,768 10,294 9,250 Percentage 53.4% 19.8% 17.8%   Nominee Elizabeth Davidson Shaun Tracey Ross O'Mullane Party Green Sinn Féin Independent First preferences 1,846 1,705 650 Percentage 3.5% 3.3% 1.2%   Nominee Frank O'Gorman Noel O'Gara Party Independent Independent First preferences 351 172 Percentage 0.7% 0.3%
Dublin South shown within County Dublin
TD before election Séamus Brennan Fianna Fáil Elected TD George Lee Fine Gael

A by-election was held in the Dáil Éireann Dublin South constituency in Ireland on Friday, 5 June 2009,^[1] following the death of the Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) Séamus Brennan on 9 July 2008. As Brennan was a Fianna Fáil TD, that party had the responsibility of deciding when the by-election should take place. It was held on the same day as the 2009 European and local elections.^[2] There was no legal requirement on when to hold a by-election in Ireland in 2009 but it was generally held within six months.^[3] A by-election in the Dublin Central constituency was held on the same date.

Eight candidates contested the vacant seat, with victory going to the Fine Gael candidate, George Lee who was elected on the first count.^[4]

Result

2009 Dublin South by-election^[5]

Party		Candidate	FPv%	Count
				1
	Fine Gael	George Lee[6]	53.4	27,768
	Labour	Alex White[7]	19.8	10,294
	Fianna Fáil	Shay Brennan[6]	17.8	9,250
	Green	Elizabeth Davidson[8]	3.5	1,846
	Sinn Féin	Shaun Tracey[8]	3.3	1,705
	Independent	Ross O'Mullane[9]	1.2	650
	Independent	Frank O'Gorman	0.7	351
	Independent	Noel O'Gara	0.3	172
Electorate: 90,802   Valid: 52,036   Spoilt: 443 (0.8%)   Quota: 26,019   Turnout: 52,479 (57.8%)

George Lee resigned from Dáil Éireann on 8 February 2010 after serving 8 months as a TD.^[10]

See also

• 2009 Dublin Central by-election
• List of Dáil by-elections
• Dáil constituencies

References

1. "By-elections set for June 5th". The Irish Times. 28 April 2009. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
2. "FG may opt for high-profile by-election candidate". The Irish Times. 25 November 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
3. Sheahan, Fionnan (10 July 2008). "Speculation begins over who will fill TD position". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
4. "Dublin South". The Irish Times. 6 June 2009. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
5. "Dublin South: By-election 2009". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 10 June 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
6. "Parties select bye-election candidates". RTÉ News. 6 May 2009. Archived from the original on 9 May 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
7. "In short". The Irish Times. 22 October 2008. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
8. "'Black Friday' looms over Fianna Fáil in by-elections". Sunday Tribune. 3 May 2009. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
9. "Website proposed as tool of democracy". The Irish Times. 9 January 2009. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
10. "Fine Gael TD George Lee resigns". RTÉ News. 8 February 2010. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2010.