Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects five deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).
The constituency was created in 1921 by the Government of Ireland Act 1920 as a 4-seat constituency for the Southern Ireland House of Commons and a single-seat constituency for the United Kingdom House of Commons at Westminster, combining the former Westminster constituencies of County Carlow, Kilkenny North and Kilkenny South which had formed the basis for the First Dáil.[1] At the 1921 election for the Southern Ireland House of Commons, the four seats were won uncontested by Sinn Féin, who treated it as part of the election to the Second Dáil. It was never used as a Westminster constituency; under s. 1(4) of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act 1922, no writ was to be issued "for a constituency in Ireland other than a constituency in Northern Ireland".[2] Therefore, no vote was held in Carlow–Kilkenny at the 1922 United Kingdom general election on 15 November 1922, shortly before the Irish Free State left the United Kingdom on 6 December 1922.
It was recreated as a constituency in Irish legislation by the Electoral Act 1923. Carlow–Kilkenny did not exist between 1937 and 1948, when it was replaced by the constituencies of Carlow–Kildare and Kilkenny. The constituency has continued in existence since 1948.
The 2023 Report of the Electoral Commission recommended that at the next general election, Carlow–Kilkenny remain as a five-seat constituency, with the transfer of a population of 6,431 to the new constituency of Tipperary North.[3]
The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 defines the constituency as:[4]
"The county of Carlow;and the county of Kilkenny except the parts thereof which are comprised in the constituency of Tipperary North."
and County Kilkenny.[14][15][16][17][18]
the electoral divisions of
and County Kilkenny, except the part in the constituency of Tipperary North[4]
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.
^ *: Outgoing TD
Séamus Pattison was Ceann Comhairle at the dissolution of the 28th Dáil and therefore deemed to be returned automatically. The constituency was treated as a four-seater for the purposes of calculating the quota.
Following the death of Fine Gael TD Joseph Hughes, a by-election was held on 23 June 1960. The Elections Act 1960 enabled the election to be held the same day as the 1960 local elections, using the same administrative apparatus.[76] The Dáil seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Patrick Teehan.
Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Thomas Walsh, a by-election was held on 14 November 1956. The seat was won by Fianna Fáil candidate Martin Medlar.
The surplus votes of the elected candidate were distributed after being declared elected because there was a possibility another candidate could have reached the threshold of a third of a quota which would have meant their election deposit was returned to them.
The poll was postponed due to the death of outgoing Fine Gael TD Eamonn Coogan during the campaign.
W. T. Cosgrave was also elected for the Cork Borough constituency and resigned his seat in Carlow–Kilkenny following the election. A by-election was held on 3 November 1927 and the seat was won by the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate Denis Gorey.
Following the resignation of Cumann na nGaedheal TD Seán Gibbons, a by-election was held on 11 March 1925. The seat was won by the Cumann na nGaedheal candidate Thomas Bolger.