Donegal East (Dáil constituency)

Donegal East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1937 to 1961. The constituency elected 4 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) to the Dáil, on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

Donegal East
Former Dáil constituency
Former constituency
Created1937
Abolished1961
Seats4
Local government areaCounty Donegal
Replaced by

History

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The constituency was created under the Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935, for the 1937 general election to Dáil Éireann.[1] It succeeded the constituency of Donegal. It was abolished under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1961, when it and Donegal West were replaced by the new constituencies of Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West.

Boundaries

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It consisted of the administrative county of Donegal except the portion thereof which was comprised in the county constituency of Donegal West.[1]

Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Donegal East 1937–1961[2]
Key to parties
Dáil Election Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
9th 1937[3] John Friel
(FF)
Neal Blaney
(FF)
James Myles
(Ind)
Daniel McMenamin
(FG)
10th 1938[4] Henry McDevitt
(FF)
11th 1943[5] Neal Blaney
(FF)
William Sheldon
(CnaT)
12th 1944[6] William Sheldon
(Ind)
13th 1948[7]
1948 by-election[8] Neil Blaney
(FF)
14th 1951[9] Liam Cunningham
(FF)
15th 1954[10]
16th 1957[11]
17th 1961 Constituency abolished. See Donegal North-East and Donegal South-West

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

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1957 general election

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1957 general election: Donegal East[11]
Party Candidate FPv% % Seat Count
Fianna Fáil Neil Blaney 8,693 27.9 1 1
Fianna Fáil Liam Cunningham 6,188 19.9 2
Independent William Sheldon 6,011 19.3 4
Fine Gael Daniel McMenamin 5,098 16.4 3
Independent Frank Morris 3,216 10.3
Fine Gael Patrick Doherty 1,914 6.2
Electorate: ?   Valid: 31,120   Quota: 6,225   Turnout:

1954 general election

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1954 general election: Donegal East[10][12]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Fianna Fáil Neil Blaney 25.9 8,538        
Fine Gael Daniel McMenamin 19.2 6,330 6,399 6,405 6,762  
Independent William Sheldon 17.5 5,762 5,780 5,784 5,816 6,137
Fianna Fáil Liam Cunningham 16.3 5,359 7,061      
Fine Gael James McEleney 11.4 3,755 3,768 3,774 3,859 4,014
Fianna Fáil Hugh McCauley 7.7 2,526 2,652 3,099 3,160  
Independent John Nugent 2.1 700 715 718    
Electorate: 44,100   Valid: 32,970   Quota: 6,595   Turnout: 74.8%  

1951 general election

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1951 general election: Donegal East[12]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
Fianna Fáil Neil Blaney 30.0 10,325      
Fine Gael Daniel McMenamin 18.7 6,432 6,527 6,934  
Independent William Sheldon 17.5 6,016 6,035 6,087 7,084
Fianna Fáil John Friel 13.2 4,561 5,211 5,280 5,425
Fianna Fáil Liam Cunningham 9.3 3,214 5,845 5,947 6,009
Fine Gael John McEleney 8.7 3,020 3,035 3,123  
Labour John Joseph Nugent 2.5 868 895    
Electorate: 45,742   Valid: 34,436   Quota: 6,888   Turnout: 75.28%  

1948 by-election

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Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Neal Blaney, a by-election was held on 7 December 1948. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Neil Blaney, son of the deceased TD.

1948 by-election: Donegal East[12]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
Fianna Fáil Neil Blaney 55.5 19,570
Fine Gael Joseph McGinley 40.4 14,250
Clann na Poblachta James O'Donnell 4.0 1,435
Electorate: 48,204   Valid: 35,255   Quota: 17,628   Turnout: 73.14%  

1948 general election

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1948 general election: Donegal East[12]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Fianna Fáil Neal Blaney 23.9 8,291          
Independent William Sheldon 16.8 5,820 5,832 5,838 5,908 6,181 6,515
Fine Gael Daniel McMenamin 16.5 5,733 5,785 5,807 7,521    
Fianna Fáil John Friel 14.8 5,153 5,439 5,483 5,518 5,559 5,781
Fianna Fáil James N. Doherty 10.8 3,756 4,654 4,762 4,774 4,789 5,012
Clann na Poblachta Seán McCool 9.3 3,217 3,242 3,923 3,974 4,222  
Fine Gael John McLoughlin 5.5 1,912 1,918 1,932      
Clann na Poblachta Hugh Diver 2.4 833 901        
Electorate: 48,184   Valid: 34,715   Quota: 6,944   Turnout: 72.05%  

1944 general election

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1944 general election: Donegal East[6][13]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6
Fianna Fáil Neal Blaney 23.7 7,828          
Fianna Fáil John Friel 19.4 6,417 7,353        
Fine Gael Daniel McMenamin 18.6 6,126 6,181 6,212 7,717    
Fianna Fáil Daniel McGlinchey 12.0 3,974 4,179 4,811 4,929 4,966 5,048
Independent William Sheldon 11.8 3,887 3,895 3,903 3,954 4,346 6,598
Independent James Myles 8.8 2,904 2,916 2,966 3,009 3,161  
Fine Gael James McCormack 5.7 1,876 1,885 1,914      
Electorate: 49,410   Valid: 33,012   Quota: 6,603   Turnout: 66.8%  

1943 general election

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1943 general election: Donegal East[5][13]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Fianna Fáil Neal Blaney 22.0 7,576              
Fine Gael Daniel McMenamin 17.3 5,970 5,998 6,689 7,254        
Fianna Fáil John Friel 17.2 5,916 6,418 6,586 6,825 6,858 7,253    
Independent James Myles 10.4 3,595 3,599 3,676 3,735 3,762 3,795 3,807 3,851
Clann na Talmhan William Sheldon 9.8 3,373 3,378 3,588 3,687 3,771 3,946 3,949 4,167
Fianna Fáil Daniel McGlinchey 7.6 2,637 2,738 2,776 3,020 3,057 3,497 3,619  
Independent Seán McCool 5.7 1,961 1,976 2,041 2,554 2,635      
Labour John McElhinney 5.5 1,907 1,924 1,996          
Independent Manus Harkin 4.5 1,537 1,546            
Electorate: 49,410   Valid: 34,472   Quota: 6,895   Turnout: 69.8%  

1938 general election

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1938 general election: Donegal East[4][13]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
Independent James Myles 20.9 7,846      
Fine Gael Daniel McMenamin 20.8 7,797      
Fianna Fáil Henry McDevitt 19.5 7,293 7,337 7,364 7,688
Fianna Fáil John Friel 17.4 6,526 6,533 6,547 6,850
Fianna Fáil Neal Blaney 17.0 6,368 6,402 6,423 6,615
Labour Patrick Lynch 4.4 1,642 1,908 2,148  
Electorate: 48,507   Valid: 37,472   Quota: 7,495   Turnout: 77.3%  

1937 general election

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1937 general election: Donegal East[3][13]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Independent James Myles 22.4 8,090        
Fianna Fáil Neal Blaney 21.8 7,876        
Fianna Fáil John Friel 16.0 5,783 5,789 6,292 6,406 6,516
Fianna Fáil Henry McDevitt 14.1 5,093 5,099 5,230 5,285 5,341
Fine Gael Daniel McMenamin 13.4 4,836 5,486 5,505 9,791  
Fine Gael John McLoughlin 12.2 4,398 4,610 4,617    
Electorate: 48,975   Valid: 36,076   Quota: 7,216   Turnout: 73.7%  

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act, 1935: First Schedule (Revised constituencies)". Irish Statute Book database. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 16 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. ^ a b "General election 1937: Donegal East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  4. ^ a b "General election 1938: Donegal East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  5. ^ a b "General election 1943: Donegal East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  6. ^ a b "General election 1944: Donegal East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  7. ^ "General election 1948: Donegal East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  8. ^ "By-election 1948: Donegal East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  9. ^ "General election 1951: Donegal East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  10. ^ a b "General election 1954: Donegal East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  11. ^ a b "General election 1957: Donegal East". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  12. ^ a b c d Gallagher, Michael (2009). Irish Elections 1948–77: Results and Analysis Sources for the Study of Irish Politics 2. Routledge. ISBN 9781138973343.
  13. ^ a b c d Gallagher, Michael (1993). Irish Elections 1922-44: Results and Analysis. PSAI Press. ISBN 0951974815.
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