Donegal North-East (Dáil constituency)
Former Dáil Éireann constituency (1981–2016)
Donegal North-East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann , the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas , from 1961 to 1977 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
The constituency was first created for the 1961 general election , taking in parts of the abolished Donegal East constituency. It lasted until 1977, when it was abolished and became part of a new Donegal constituency, and was then recreated for the 1981 general election . It was abolished at the 2016 general election , and again became part of the re-created Donegal constituency.
Boundaries
The constituency was located in the northern part of County Donegal . It encompassed the Letterkenny , Milford and Inishowen electoral areas of Donegal County Council .
The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009 defined the constituency as:[ 1]
"In the county of Donegal the electoral divisions of:
Ardmalin, Ballyliffin, Birdstown, Buncrana Rural, Burt, Carndonagh, Carthage, Castlecary, Castleforward, Culdaff, Desertegny, Dunaff, Fahan, Glenagannon, Gleneely, Glentogher, Greencastle, Illies, Inch Island, Kilderry, Killea, Malin, Mintiaghs, Moville, Newtown Cunningham, Redcastle, Straid, Three Trees, Turmone, Whitecastle, in the former Rural District of Inishowen ;
Ballymacool, Castlewray, Corravaddy, Edenacarnan, Gartán, Gortnavern, Killymasny, Kincraigy, Letterkenny Rural, Magheraboy, Manorcunningham, Mín an Lábáin, Suí Corr, Templedouglas, in the former Rural District of Letterkenny ;
An Cheathrú Chaol, An Tearmann, Ballyarr, Carraig Airt, Cnoc Colbha, Creamhghort, Fánaid Thiar, Fánaid Thuaidh, Glen, Glenalla, Grianfort, Killygarvan, Kilmacrenan, Loch Caol, Millford, Rathmelton, Rathmullan, Ros Goill, Rosnakill, in the former Rural District of Millford ;
and the towns of Buncrana and Letterkenny.
TDs
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
2011 general election : Donegal North-East[ 18]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Sinn Féin
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn 24.5
9,278
9,350
9,585
Fine Gael
Joe McHugh [*] 19.3
7,330
7,368
7,513
7,524
7,662
8,147
8,731
12,049
Fianna Fáil
Charlie McConalogue 17.4
6,613
6,661
6,795
6,816
7,064
7,255
7,511
8,245
8,976
Fine Gael
John Ryan
12.3
4,657
4,710
4,871
4,884
4,950
4,976
5,081
Labour
Jimmy Harte
10.8
4,090
4,162
4,301
4,319
4,535
4,801
5,646
6,131
7,219
Independent
Dessie Shiels
4.9
1,876
1,903
2,063
2,085
2,299
2,605
Independent
Ian McGarvey
3.4
1,287
1,296
1,399
1,409
1,653
New Vision
MacDara Blaney[ a]
3.2
1,228
1,249
1,317
1,327
Independent
Betty Holmes
3.0
1,150
1,197
Green
Humphrey Murphy
0.5
206
New Vision
Ryan Stewart[ a]
0.5
203
Electorate: 59,084 Valid: 37,918 Spoilt: 406 (1.1%) Quota: 9,480 Turnout: 38,324 (64.9%)
^ a b New Vision was an electoral alliance of Independent candidates and did not appear on the ballot.
2007 general election
2007 general election : Donegal North-East[ 17]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Fine Gael
Joe McHugh 22.6
8,711
8,800
8,900
9,134
10,034
Sinn Féin
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
17.5
6,733
6,789
6,896
6,997
7,315
7,410
8,821
8,876
Fianna Fáil
Jim McDaid [*] 17.5
6,724
6,746
6,786
6,932
7,343
7,489
10,008
Fianna Fáil
Cecilia Keaveney [*] 16.5
6,362
6,441
6,471
6,481
6,674
6,744
Fianna Fáil
Niall Blaney [*] 16.3
6,288
6,332
6,360
6,538
6,802
6,888
9,123
9,439
Independent
Jimmy Harte
3.4
1,313
1,353
1,415
1,469
Independent
Ian McGarvey
2.0
733
795
823
Labour
Siobhan McLaughlin
1.8
703
723
844
884
Green
Frank Gallagher
1.4
520
546
Christian Solidarity
Mary Doherty
0.9
339
Independent
Arthur McGuinness
0.1
86
Electorate: 57,244 Valid: 38,545 Spoilt: 386 (1.0%) Quota: 9,637 Turnout: 38,931 (68.0%)
2002 general election
2002 general election : Donegal North-East[ 16]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
Fianna Fáil
Jim McDaid [*] 26.5
9,614
Fianna Fáil
Cecilia Keaveney [*] 22.9
8,340
8,463
8,712
9,724
Independent Fianna Fáil
Niall Blaney [ a] 16.8
6,124
6,261
6,392
7,667
8,031
8,789
Fine Gael
Bernard McGuinness
10.8
3,914
4,101
4,111
4,376
4,551
Fine Gael
Seán Maloney
10.3
3,694
4,081
4,181
4,627
4,680
7,432
Sinn Féin
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
9.9
3,611
3,714
3,751
Labour
Jackie McNair
2.8
1,021
Electorate: 58,208 Valid: 36,347 Spoilt: 549 (1.5%) Quota: 9,087 Turnout: 36,896 (63.4%)
^ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil , an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
1997 general election
1997 general election : Donegal North-East[ 15] [ 19]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
5
Fianna Fáil
Cecilia Keaveney [*] 23.4
8,317
8,450
8,860
9,712
Independent Fianna Fáil
Harry Blaney [ a] 21.1
7,484
7,608
7,723
9,387
Fianna Fáil
Jim McDaid [*] 18.4
6,538
6,710
6,788
7,894
8,244
Fine Gael
Paddy Harte [*] 14.0
4,969
5,860
6,798
7,627
7,729
Sinn Féin
Pat Doherty
8.1
2,881
2,917
2,975
Labour
Seán Maloney
5.5
1,948
2,038
2,178
Fine Gael
Jim Sheridan
4.9
1,735
1,793
Donegal Progressive Party
Jim Devenney[ b]
4.7
1,657
Electorate: 52,576 Valid: 35,529 Spoilt: 422 (1.2%) Quota: 8,883 Turnout: 35,951 (68.4%)
^ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil , an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
^ Devenney was a member of the Donegal Progressive Party , which was registered to contest local elections only, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
1996 by-election
Independent Fianna Fáil TD Neil Blaney died on 8 November 1995. A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 2 April 1996.
1996 by-election : Donegal North-East[ 14]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
Fianna Fáil
Cecilia Keaveney 32.2
9,872
10,351
11,454
14,115
Independent Fianna Fáil
Harry Blaney [ a] 29.2
8,943
10,208
11,444
13,077
Fine Gael
Jim Sheridan
18.5
5,679
5,813
6,861
Labour
Seán Maloney
12.4
3,791
4,003
Sinn Féin
Pat Doherty
7.6
2,340
Electorate: 50,443 Valid: 30,625 Quota: 15,313 Turnout: 60.7%
^ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil , an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
1992 general election
1992 general election : Donegal North-East[ 13] [ 20]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Fianna Fáil
Jim McDaid [*] 22.2
6,927
6,952
7,036
7,119
7,347
7,531
8,834
Independent Fianna Fáil
Neil Blaney [*] [ a] 16.8
5,248
5,345
5,403
5,722
5,819
6,125
6,734
7,061
Fianna Fáil
Hugh Conaghan
14.5
4,538
4,638
4,679
4,770
4,883
5,137
5,477
5,722
Fine Gael
Paddy Harte [*] 13.8
4,292
4,330
4,387
4,424
5,487
7,036
8,055
Labour
Seán Maloney
11.3
3,538
3,590
3,794
3,888
4,093
4,379
Fine Gael
Bernard McGuinness
8.6
2,667
2,707
2,790
2,817
2,907
Donegal Progressive Party
Jim Devenney[ b]
6.7
2,082
2,096
2,121
2,135
Sinn Féin
Jim Ferry
2.6
819
844
876
Green
Brigid McGonagle
2.0
611
657
Christian Centrist
Patrick Doherty
1.6
487
Electorate: 46,978 Valid: 31,209 Spoilt: 560 (1.8%) Quota: 7,803 Turnout: 31,769 (67.6%)
^ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil , an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
^ Devenney was a member of the Donegal Progressive Party , which was registered to contest local elections only, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
1989 general election
1989 general election : Donegal North-East[ 12] [ 21] [ 22]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
5
Fine Gael
Paddy Harte [*] 27.0
7,506
Independent Fianna Fáil
Neil Blaney [*] [ a] 25.1
6,961
Fianna Fáil
Jim McDaid 20.0
5,553
5,623
5,717
5,951
6,254
Fianna Fáil
Hugh Conaghan [*] 19.3
5,363
5,399
5,447
5,576
5,730
Sinn Féin
Patrick Doherty
3.9
1,091
1,102
1,164
Fine Gael
Joachim Loughrey
3.2
891
1,320
1,405
1,474
Independent
Anne Wilkinson
1.5
428
440
Electorate: 44,450 Valid: 27,793 Quota: 6,949 Turnout: 62.5%
^ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil , an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
1987 general election
1987 general election : Donegal North-East[ 11] [ 23] [ 24]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
Independent Fianna Fáil
Neil Blaney [*] [ a] 26.2
7,720
Fianna Fáil
Hugh Conaghan [*] 24.9
7,324
7,455
Fine Gael
Paddy Harte [*] 23.8
6,997
7,041
7,481
Sinn Féin
Eddie Fullerton
8.0
2,365
2,438
2,536
2,663
Fianna Fáil
Ronan Sweeney
7.4
2,188
2,269
2,390
2,471
Fine Gael
Joachim Loughrey
5.9
1,737
1,757
1,870
Ind. Unionist
Michael Brooks
2.4
696
705
Labour
Kevin Monaghan
1.3
393
399
Electorate: 44,853 Valid: 29,420 Quota: 7,356 Turnout: 65.6%
^ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil , an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
November 1982 general election
November 1982 general election : Donegal North-East[ 10] [ 25] [ 26]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
5
Fine Gael
Paddy Harte [*] 31.4
9,486
Independent Fianna Fáil
Neil Blaney [*] [ a] 26.5
7,997
Fianna Fáil
Hugh Conaghan [*] 21.8
6,599
6,698
6,795
7,033
7,529
Fianna Fáil
Bernard McGlinchey
12.9
3,889
3,975
4,056
4,219
4,615
Fine Gael
Joachim Loughrey
5.6
1,697
3,389
3,654
3,692
Labour
Anne Wilkinson
1.9
562
613
Electorate: 41,462 Valid: 30,230 Quota: 7,558 Turnout: 72.9%
^ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil , an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
February 1982 general election
Unusually, all seats were filled on the first count. A further two counts were then held to give lower-placed candidates a chance to save their deposits.
February 1982 general election : Donegal North-East[ 9] [ 27]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
Fine Gael
Paddy Harte [*] 31.3
9,362
Fianna Fáil
Hugh Conaghan [*] 27.1
8,116
Independent Fianna Fáil
Neil Blaney [*] [ a] 26.3
7,864
Fine Gael
Joachim Loughrey
7.1
2,112
3,823
Fianna Fáil
Ian McGarvey
6.6
1,959
2,046
2,670
Labour
Anne Wilkinson
1.6
493
580
595
Electorate: 40,811 Valid: 29,906 Spoilt: 410 (1.4%) Quota: 7,477 Turnout: 30,316 (74.3%)
^ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil , an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
1981 general election
1981 general election : Donegal North-East[ 8] [ 28]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
Independent Fianna Fáil
Neil Blaney [*] [ a] 24.5
7,920
7,999
8,228
Fine Gael
Paddy Harte [*] 24.3
7,853
7,967
10,995
Fianna Fáil
Hugh Conaghan [*] 22.6
7,283
7,319
7,536
7,814
Fianna Fáil
Bernard McGlinchey
15.8
5,111
5,191
5,324
5,500
Fine Gael
Bernard McGuinness
11.3
3,650
3,753
Labour
Anne Wilkinson
1.5
470
Electorate: 40,807 Valid: 32,287 Spoilt: 405 (1.2%) Quota: 8,072 Turnout: 32,992 (80.8%)
^ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil , an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
1976 by-election
Fianna Fáil TD Liam Cunningham died on 29 February 1976. A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 10 June 1976.
1976 by-election : Donegal North-East[ 29] [ 30]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
Fine Gael
Joachim Loughrey
31.8
10,188
10,777
11,957
Independent Fianna Fáil
Paddy Keaveney [ a] 31.1
9,986
10,525
13,579
Fianna Fáil
Hugh Conaghan
30.7
9,865
10,323
Independent
Tony Gill
6.4
2,053
Electorate: 42,390 Valid: 32,092 Quota: 16,047 Turnout: 75.7%
^ Keaveney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil , an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
1973 general election
1973 general election : Donegal North-East[ 6] [ 31]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
Independent Fianna Fáil
Neil Blaney [*] [ a] 29.3
8,368
Fianna Fáil
Liam Cunningham [*] 23.5
6,704
7,052
7,538
Fine Gael
Paddy Harte [*] 19.2
5,480
5,795
5,998
6,543
Fine Gael
Bertie Boggs
14.2
4,056
4,174
4,289
4,445
Fianna Fáil
Bernard McGlinchey
8.9
2,537
2,659
3,245
Fianna Fáil
John Harkin
4.2
1,191
1,356
Independent
Daniel MacCarron
0.7
205
369
Electorate: 37,924 Valid: 28,541 Quota: 7,136 Turnout: 75.3%
^ Blaney was a member of Independent Fianna Fáil , an unregistered political party, and appeared on the ballot as a non-party independent.
1969 general election
1969 general election : Donegal North-East[ 5] [ 32]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
4
Fianna Fáil
Neil Blaney [*] 30.4
8,706
Fianna Fáil
Liam Cunningham [*] 24.1
6,903
8,325
Fine Gael
Paddy Harte [*] 21.1
6,057
6,104
6,545
6,576
Fine Gael
Bertie Boggs
20.8
5,962
6,012
6,172
6,180
Labour
Colum O'Donnell
3.6
1,037
1,057
Electorate: 37,371 Valid: 28,665 Quota: 7,167 Turnout: 76.7%
1965 general election
1965 general election : Donegal North-East[ 4] [ 29]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
Fianna Fáil
Neil Blaney [*] 35.5
9,003
Fianna Fáil
Liam Cunningham [*] 23.8
6,039
8,501
Fine Gael
Paddy Harte [*] 23.7
6,016
6,142
6,328
Fine Gael
Seán McLaughlin
12.5
3,170
3,185
3,279
Labour
Dominick McCauley
4.5
1,147
1,203
1,374
Electorate: 35,152 Valid: 25,375 Quota: 6,344 Turnout: 72.2%
1961 general election
1961 general election : Donegal North-East[ 3] [ 29]
Party
Candidate
FPv% Count
1
2
3
Fianna Fáil
Neil Blaney [*] 37.2
8,738
Fianna Fáil
Liam Cunningham [*] 24.2
5,686
8,349
Fine Gael
Paddy Harte 23.1
5,427
5,568
5,888
Fine Gael
Seán McLaughlin
15.5
3,650
3,708
3,789
Electorate: 34,844 Valid: 23,501 Quota: 5,876 Turnout: 67.5%
See also
References
^ 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.^ Walker, Brian M, ed. (1992). Parliamentary election results in Ireland, 1918–92 . Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0-901714-96-8 ISSN 0332-0286 . ^ a b "General election 1961: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010 .^ a b "General election 1965: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010 .^ a b "General election 1969: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010 .^ a b "General election 1973: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010 .^ "By-election 1976: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2010 .^ a b "General election 1981: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2010 .^ a b "General election February 1982: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2010 .^ a b "General election November 1982: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010 .^ a b "General election 1987: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010 .^ a b "General election 1989: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010 .^ a b "General election 1992: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 10 September 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2009 .^ a b "By-election 1996: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 25 August 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2009 .^ a b "General election 1997: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2009 .^ a b "General election 2002: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 3 July 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2009 .^ a b "General election 2007: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2009 .^ a b "General election 2011: Donegal North–East" . ElectionsIreland.org . Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011 .^ Government of Ireland (1998). 28th Dáil General Election June, 1997 Election Results and Transfer of Votes . Stationery Office, Government of Ireland.^ 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.^ "Donegal North-East: 1989 general election" . IrelandElection.com . Retrieved 2 August 2023 .^ "26th Dáil 1989 general election results" (PDF) . Houses of the Oireachtas . January 1990. Retrieved 25 October 2023 .^ "Donegal North-East: 1987 general election" . IrelandElection.com . Retrieved 2 August 2023 .^ "25th Dáil 1987 general election results" (PDF) . Houses of the Oireachtas . July 1987. Retrieved 21 October 2023 .^ "Donegal North-East: 1982 (Nov) general election" . IrelandElection.com . Retrieved 2 August 2023 .^ "24th Dáil November 1982 general election results" (PDF) . Houses of the Oireachtas . August 1983. Retrieved 15 October 2023 .^ "23rd Dáil February 1982 general election results" (PDF) . Houses of the Oireachtas . August 1982. Retrieved 15 October 2023 .^ "22nd Dáil 1981 general election results" (PDF) . Houses of the Oireachtas . September 1981. Retrieved 15 October 2023 .^ a b c Gallagher, Michael (2009). Irish Elections 1948–77: Results and Analysis Sources for the Study of Irish Politics 2 . Routledge. ISBN 9781138973343 ^ "21st Dáil 1977 general election results" (PDF) . Houses of the Oireachtas . February 1978. Retrieved 12 November 2023 .^ "20th Dáil 1973 general election results" (PDF) . Houses of the Oireachtas . October 1973. Retrieved 30 October 2024 .^ "19th Dáil 1969 general election results" (PDF) . Houses of the Oireachtas . January 1970. Retrieved 9 December 2024 .
External links
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