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).

History and boundaries 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, North Kilkenny and South Kilkenny which had formed the basis for the First Dáil. 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". 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.

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 defines the constituency as:

+Changes to the Carlow–Kilkenny constituencyYearsTDsBoundariesNotes1921–19234County Carlow and County KilkennyConstituency created from County Carlow, Kilkenny North and Kilkenny South1923–19375County Carlow and County Kilkenny 1937–1948 —Constituency disestablished.Replaced by Carlow–Kildare (4 seats) and Kilkenny (3 seats), with parts of County Carlow in Wexford and Wicklow1948–19615County Carlow and County Kilkenny1961–19815County Carlow and County Kilkennyand in County Wexford, the district electoral divisions of: Kilrush, Kiltealy, Moyacomb, Newtownbarry, Rossard, St. Mary's, Tombrack in the former rural district of Enniscorthy; Ballybeg, in the former rural district of Gorey.1981–19975County Carlow and County Kilkenny1997–20205County Carlow, except the part in the constituency of Wicklow; and County Kilkenny.2020–20245County Carlow and County KilkennyTransfer of area in County Carlow from Wicklow2024–5County Carlow; and County Kilkenny, except the part in the constituency of Tipperary North

TDs TDs 1921–1937

TDs since 1948

Elections

2024 general election

2020 general election

Kathleen Funchion vacated her seat on taking her seat in the European Parliament on 16 July 2024 following her election for the South constituency at the 2024 European Parliament election. The seat remained vacant until the dissolution of the 33rd Dáil on 8 November 2024.

2016 general election

2015 by-election Phil Hogan ceased to be a member of the Dáil on 1 November 2014, on taking office as a European Commissioner. The by-election took place on 22 May 2015, the same date as referendums on marriage equality and the age of eligibility for the presidency.

2011 general election

2007 general election

2002 general election 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.

1997 general election

1992 general election

1989 general election

1987 general election

November 1982 general election

February 1982 general election

1981 general election

1977 general election

1973 general election

1969 general election

1965 general election

1961 general election

1960 by-election Fine Gael TD Joseph Hughes died on 20 January 1960. 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.; ;

1957 general election

Francis Humphreys died on 19 April 1961.

1956 by-election Fianna Fáil TD Thomas Walsh died on 14 July 1956. A by-election was held on 14 November 1956, which was won by Fianna Fáil candidate Martin Medlar.

1954 general election

Thomas Derrig died on 19 November 1956. The seat remained vacant until the dissolution of the 15th Dáil on 12 February 1957.

1951 general election

1948 general election The poll was postponed from 2 February to 10 February due to the death of outgoing Fine Gael TD Eamonn Coogan during the campaign.

1933 general election

1932 general election

1927 by-election W. T. Cosgrave was also elected for Cork Borough. He resigned his seat in Carlow–Kilkenny following the election. A by-election was held on 3 November 1927.

September 1927 general election

Peter de Loughry died on 23 October 1931. The seat remained vacant until the dissolution of the 6th Dáil on 29 January 1932.

June 1927 general election

1925 by-election Seán Gibbons, a National Group TD who had been elected for Cumann na nGaedheal, resigned on 30 October 1924. A by-election was held on 11 March 1925.

1923 general election

1922 general election

1921 general election

See also Dáil constituencies Elections in the Republic of Ireland Politics of the Republic of Ireland List of Dáil by-elections List of political parties in the Republic of Ireland

References

External links Oireachtas Constituency Dashboards Oireachtas Members Database