Limerick West (Dáil constituency)

Limerick West was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1948 to 2011. 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).

Limerick West
Former Dáil constituency
Outline map
Location of Limerick West within Ireland
Former constituency
Created1948
Abolished2011
Seats3
Local government areaCounty Limerick
Created fromLimerick
Replaced by

History and boundaries

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The constituency was created under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947 for the 1948 general election. It succeeded the constituency of Limerick, which was divided between Limerick West and Limerick East. It was located in the western and southern part of County Limerick. It was a rural constituency, including the towns of Abbeyfeale, Askeaton, Newcastle West and Rathkeale.[1]

In some elections, such as in 1981 and 1982, only Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael candidates appeared on the ballot. A Progressive Democrats candidate was elected in 1987; this was the only time a candidate from a party other than Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael was elected in the constituency. No candidate from a left-wing party was ever elected there.

At the 2011 general election the constituency was replaced by the constituencies of Limerick and Kerry North–West Limerick.[2] The western part of the constituency became part of Kerry North–West Limerick, while the remainder, along with most of the rural parts of Limerick East, was transferred to the Limerick constituency.[3]

Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Limerick West 1948–2011[4]
Key to parties
Dáil Election Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
Deputy
(Party)
13th 1948[5] James Collins
(FF)
Donnchadh Ó Briain
(FF)
David Madden
(FG)
14th 1951[6]
15th 1954[7]
1955 by-election[8] Michael Colbert
(FF)
16th 1957[9] Denis Jones
(FG)
17th 1961[10]
18th 1965[11]
1967 by-election[12] Gerry Collins
(FF)
19th 1969[13] Michael J. Noonan
(FF)
20th 1973[14]
21st 1977[15] William O'Brien
(FG)
22nd 1981[16]
23rd 1982 (Feb)[17]
24th 1982 (Nov)[18]
25th 1987[19] John McCoy
(PDs)
26th 1989[20] Michael Finucane
(FG)
27th 1992[21]
28th 1997[22] Michael Collins
(FF)
Dan Neville
(FG)
29th 2002[23] John Cregan
(FF)
30th 2007[24] Niall Collins
(FF)
31st 2011 Constituency abolished. See Limerick and Kerry North–West Limerick

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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2007 general election

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2007 general election: Limerick West[24]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
Fianna Fáil Niall Collins 25.7 10,396    
Fianna Fáil John Cregan 21.5 8,701 8,823 10,355
Fine Gael Dan Neville 20.6 8,314 8,504 10,018
Fine Gael Michael Finucane 19.4 7,839 7,975 9,027
Labour James Heffernan 5.6 2,277 2,687  
Progressive Democrats Michael Brennan 4.8 1,935 1,993  
Green James Nix 2.4 969    
Electorate: 58,712   Valid: 40,431   Spoilt: 381 (0.9%)   Quota: 10,108   Turnout: 40,812 (69.5%)  

2002 general election

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In the final count Dan Neville beat Michael Finucane by only one vote to win the last seat.

2002 general election: Limerick West[23]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
Fianna Fáil John Cregan 30.3 10,823      
Fianna Fáil Michael Collins 23.1 8,236 9,526    
Fine Gael Dan Neville 20.9 7,446 7,678 7,862 8,564
Fine Gael Michael Finucane 20.8 7,410 7,684 7,867 8,563
Green Marcus Briody 2.7 948 1,002 1,138  
Independent Mike MacDomhnaill 1.9 662 710 789  
Christian Solidarity Patrick O'Riordan 0.4 144 151 177  
Electorate: 53,879   Valid: 35,669   Spoilt: 476 (1.3%)   Quota: 8,918   Turnout: 36,145 (67.1%)  

1997 general election

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1997 general election: Limerick West[25]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fine Gael Dan Neville 20.9 7,026 7,062 7,265 7,672 8,253 8,601  
Fianna Fáil Michael Collins 20.8 6,985 7,029 7,357 7,519 8,236 11,692  
Fine Gael Michael Finucane 16.3 5,476 5,523 5,679 6,170 6,673 6,923 7,330
Fianna Fáil John Clifford 11.7 3,921 3,953 4,255 4,337 4,937    
Independent Michael Brennan 10.9 3,661 3,695 3,890 4,067 4,946 5,474 6,583
Independent John Gallahue 10.0 3,355 3,413 3,521 3,689      
Labour Mary Kelly 4.2 1,418 1,478 1,584        
Progressive Democrats Jeanette McDonnell 4.2 1,406 1,444          
Independent Mike MacDomhnaill 1.1 366            
Electorate: 47,859   Valid: 33,614   Spoilt: 365 (1.1%)   Quota: 8,404   Turnout: 33,979 (71.0%)  

1992 general election

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1992 general election: Limerick West[26]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fianna Fáil Gerry Collins 34.3 10,913            
Fine Gael Michael Finucane 16.2 5,164 5,420 5,448 5,481 5,584 6,187 7,600
Fine Gael Dan Neville 14.6 4,657 4,807 4,831 4,842 4,941 5,582 6,631
Fianna Fáil Michael J. Noonan 13.1 4,173 6,288 6,313 6,417 6,636 7,123 7,990
Labour Mary Kelly 10.8 3,447 3,668 3,700 3,801 3,892 4,494  
Progressive Democrats Seán Liston 7.4 2,343 2,476 2,493 2,521 2,589    
Independent Bridget Randles 2.0 645 682 688 709      
Sinn Féin Colreall Mac Curtain 1.1 346 365 370        
Independent John Basil Fitzgibbon 0.4 129 156          
Electorate: 44,848   Valid: 31,817   Spoilt: 524 (1.6%)   Quota: 7,955   Turnout: 32,341 (72.1%)  

1989 general election

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1989 general election: Limerick West[20][27][28]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Fianna Fáil Gerry Collins 39.7 12,476  
Fine Gael Michael Finucane 27.0 8,484  
Fianna Fáil Michael J. Noonan 20.7 6,491 9,935
Progressive Democrats Seán Liston 12.6 3,960 4,467
Electorate: 43,690   Valid: 31,411   Spoilt: 481 (1.5%)   Quota: 7,853   Turnout: 31,892 (73.0%)  

1987 general election

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1987 general election: Limerick West[19][29][30]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5
Fianna Fáil Gerry Collins 31.8 10,812        
Fianna Fáil Michael J. Noonan 19.5 6,631 8,504      
Progressive Democrats John McCoy 19.4 6,580 6,789 6,971 7,748 9,082
Fine Gael Jim Houlihan 9.9 3,352 3,408 3,457 4,357  
Fine Gael Michael Finucane 9.5 3,218 3,314 3,439 4,568 7,102
Fine Gael Dan Neville 8.5 2,894 2,950 3,012    
Labour Paudge Brennan 1.5 519 539      
Electorate: 43,418   Valid: 34,006   Quota: 8,502   Turnout: 78.3%  

November 1982 general election

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November 1982 general election: Limerick West[18][31][32]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Fianna Fáil Gerry Collins 40.0 12,719  
Fine Gael William O'Brien 26.5 8,435  
Fianna Fáil Michael J. Noonan 22.2 7,061 11,478
Fine Gael Brendan Danaher 11.3 3,580 3,933
Electorate: 41,825   Valid: 31,795   Quota: 7,949   Turnout: 76.0%  

February 1982 general election

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February 1982 general election: Limerick West[17][33]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Fianna Fáil Gerry Collins 40.1 12,702  
Fine Gael William O'Brien 26.5 8,390  
Fianna Fáil Michael J. Noonan 23.8 7,535 12,056
Fine Gael Seán Broderick 9.7 3,088 3,340
Electorate: 41,097   Valid: 31,715   Quota: 7,929   Turnout: 77.2%  

1981 general election

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1981 general election: Limerick West[16][34]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Fianna Fáil Gerry Collins 44.5 14,776  
Fine Gael William O'Brien 26.2 8,676  
Fianna Fáil Michael J. Noonan 19.8 6,579 12,731
Fine Gael Donal Sheehan 9.5 3,158 3,484
Electorate: 41,097   Valid: 33,189   Spoilt: 387 (1.2%)   Quota: 8,298   Turnout: 33,576 (81.7%)  

1977 general election

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1977 general election: Limerick West[15][35]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
Fianna Fáil Gerry Collins 30.2 10,081    
Fianna Fáil Michael J. Noonan 29.2 9,749    
Fine Gael William O'Brien 22.7 7,596 8,153 8,887
Fine Gael Ailish Jones-Cassidy 9.5 3,165 3,526 3,775
Labour Edward Dwyer 4.3 1,444 1,950 2,299
Fine Gael Seán Broderick 4.1 1,379 1,682 1,745
Electorate: 42,037   Valid: 33,414   Spoilt: 266 (0.8%)   Quota: 8,354   Turnout: 33,680 (80.1%)[36]  

1973 general election

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1973 general election: Limerick West[14][37]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
Fianna Fáil Gerry Collins 33.9 9,679    
Fine Gael Denis Jones 22.4 6,403 6,555 8,337
Fianna Fáil Michael J. Noonan 18.9 5,398 7,635  
Fine Gael William O'Brien 14.9 4,253 4,313 5,165
Fine Gael Brendan Danaher 9.8 2,792 2,890  
Electorate: 35,904   Valid: 28,525   Quota: 7,132   Turnout: 79.5%  

1969 general election

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1969 general election: Limerick West[13]
Party Candidate FPv% % Seat Count
Fianna Fáil Gerry Collins 10,557 36.7 1 1
Fine Gael Denis Jones 6,165 21.4 2
Fine Gael William O'Brien 3,102 10.8
Fianna Fáil Michael J. Noonan 2,598 9.0 3
Fine Gael Brendan Danaher 2,366 8.2
Fianna Fáil Rory Kiely 1,991 6.9
Labour Edward Dwyer 1,254 4.4
Labour Michael Murphy 529 1.8
Independent Thomas Lynch 231 0.8
Electorate: ?   Valid: 28,793   Quota: 7,199   Turnout:

1967 by-election

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Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD James Collins, a by-election was held on 9 November 1967. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Gerry Collins, son of the deceased TD.

1967 by-election: Limerick West[37]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
Fianna Fáil Gerry Collins 53.8 14,384
Fine Gael William Madden 38.6 10,237
Labour Edward Dwyer 7.7 2,048
Electorate: 32,958   Valid: 26,669   Quota: 13,335   Turnout: 80.92%  

1965 general election

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1965 general election: Limerick West[11][37]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Fianna Fáil James Collins 33.4 8,476  
Fine Gael Denis Jones 28.5 7,213  
Fianna Fáil Donnchadh Ó Briain 21.1 5,343 7,160
Labour Edward Dwyer 9.1 2,304 2,497
Fine Gael Brendan Danaher 8.0 2,020 2,146
Electorate: 33,009   Valid: 25,356   Quota: 6,340   Turnout: 76.8%  

1961 general election

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1961 general election: Limerick West[10][37]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2
Fianna Fáil James Collins 35.5 9,018  
Fine Gael Denis Jones 27.7 7,037  
Fianna Fáil Donnchadh Ó Briain 23.6 6,006 8,514
Fine Gael James O'Donnell 13.2 3,346 3,504
Electorate: 33,411   Valid: 25,407   Quota: 6,352   Turnout: 76.0%  

1957 general election

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1957 general election: Limerick West[9]
Party Candidate FPv% % Seat Count
Fine Gael Denis Jones 7,952 30.8 1 1
Fianna Fáil James Collins 7,910 30.6 2 1
Fianna Fáil Donnchadh Ó Briain 4,985 19.3 3 4
Fianna Fáil Michael Colbert 4,467 17.3
Independent Martin Ward 514 2.0
Electorate: 33,780   Valid: 25,828   Quota: 6,458   Turnout: 76.4%

1955 by-election

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Following the death of Fine Gael TD David Madden, a by-election was held on 13 December 1955. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Michael Colbert.

1955 by-election: Limerick West[37]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1
Fianna Fáil Michael Colbert 56.2 15,088
Fine Gael Denis Jones 35.0 9,406
Labour Patrick Aherne 8.8 2,349
Electorate: 33,267   Valid: 26,843   Quota: 13,422   Turnout: 80.69%  

1954 general election

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1954 general election: Limerick West[7][37]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4
Fianna Fáil James Collins 28.5 7,857      
Fianna Fáil Donnchadh Ó Briain 25.6 7,078      
Fine Gael David Madden 20.3 5,614 6,528 6,724 8,943
Labour Gerard Hayes 11.8 3,249 3,452 3,981 4,350
Fine Gael William O'Connor 9.0 2,471 2,629 2,860  
Fine Gael Liam Bennett 4.8 1,331      
Electorate: 33,318   Valid: 27,600   Quota: 6,901   Turnout: 82.8%  

1951 general election

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1951 general election: Limerick West[37]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3
Fine Gael David Madden 29.2 7,901    
Fianna Fáil James Collins 25.3 6,851    
Fianna Fáil Donnchadh Ó Briain 22.0 5,966 6,069 9,189
Fianna Fáil Richard Bresnihan 13.1 3,541 3,578  
Fine Gael William O'Connor 10.4 2,827 3,816 3,995
Electorate: 35,877   Valid: 27,086   Quota: 6,772   Turnout: 75.48%  

1948 general election

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1948 general election: Limerick West[37]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fianna Fáil James Collins 24.7 6,778 6,853 6,871        
Fianna Fáil Donnchadh Ó Briain 22.2 6,101 6,217 6,256 6,452 6,983    
Fine Gael David Madden 16.8 4,602 4,742 4,854 5,510 5,891 5,906 7,566
Fianna Fáil John Lynch 8.1 2,235 2,256 2,311 2,399 2,750 2,826 2,882
Fine Gael Timothy O'Connell 6.5 1,783 1,844 1,908 2,069 2,194 2,207  
Labour Patrick Langan 6.2 1,695 1,787 1,809 1,964      
Clann na Poblachta James O'Connor 5.1 1,402 1,445 1,944 2,071 2,386 2,395 2,659
Independent Patrick Fitzsimons 4.6 1,257 1,439 1,482        
Clann na Poblachta Patrick Terence Liston 3.0 836 881          
Independent Michael J. K. Dore 2.9 787            
Electorate: 35,766   Valid: 27,476   Quota: 6,870   Turnout: 76.82%  

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005: Schedule". Irish Statute Book database. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Report on Dáil and European Parliament Constituencies 2007" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 23 October 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  3. ^ "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009: Schedule". Irish Statute Book database. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  4. ^ Walker, Brian M, ed. (1992). Parliamentary election results in Ireland, 1918–92. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0-901714-96-8. ISSN 0332-0286.
  5. ^ "General election 1948: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  6. ^ "General election 1951: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  7. ^ a b "General election 1954: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  8. ^ "By-election 1955: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  9. ^ a b "General election 1957: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  10. ^ a b "General election 1961: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  11. ^ a b "General election 1965: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  12. ^ "By-election 1967: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  13. ^ a b "General election 1969: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  14. ^ a b "General election 1973: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  15. ^ a b "General election 1977: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  16. ^ a b "General election 1981: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  17. ^ a b "General election February 1982: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  18. ^ a b "General election November 1982: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  19. ^ a b "General election 1987: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  20. ^ a b "General election 1989: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  21. ^ "General election 1992: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 25 August 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  22. ^ "General election 1997: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  23. ^ a b "General election 2002: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  24. ^ a b "General election 2007: Limerick West". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  25. ^ Government of Ireland (1998). 28th Dáil General Election June, 1997 Election Results and Transfer of Votes. Stationery Office, Government of Ireland.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ "Limerick West: 1989 general election". IrelandElection.com. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  28. ^ "26th Dáil 1989 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. January 1990. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  29. ^ "Limerick West: 1987 general election". IrelandElection.com. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  30. ^ "25th Dáil 1987 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. July 1987. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  31. ^ "Limerick West: 1982 (Nov) general election". IrelandElection.com. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  32. ^ "24th Dáil November 1982 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. August 1983. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  33. ^ "23rd Dáil February 1982 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. August 1982. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  34. ^ "22nd Dáil 1981 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. September 1981. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  35. ^ "21st Dáil 1977 general election results" (PDF). Houses of the Oireachtas. February 1978. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  36. ^ The Irish Times, 20 June 1977, p7–10
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h Gallagher, Michael (2009). Irish Elections 1948–77: Results and Analysis Sources for the Study of Irish Politics 2. Routledge. ISBN 9781138973343.
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