Laois–Offaly (formerly King's County–Queen's County, Leix–Offaly and Laoighis–Offaly) was a parliamentary constituency which was represented in Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas (the legislature of Ireland), from 1921 to 2016 and again from 2020 to 2024. The constituency elected 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
Laois–Offaly was created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920 as King's County–Queen's County (the respective names of County Offaly and County Laois before independence). The two counties were combined in a single four-member constituency for the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. It was known in the Dáil as Leix–Offaly, and first used for the 1921 general election to the Southern Ireland House of Commons. The Sinn Féin candidates elected unopposed preferred to sit in the Second Dáil (1921–1922). It was used at every subsequent general election until 2011. It was abolished at the 2016 general election, and was replaced by the new constituencies of Laois and Offaly.
It was re-established by the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017, which came into effect for the 2020 general election.
In August 2023, the Electoral Commission published its review of constituency boundaries in Ireland, which recommended that the constituency of Laois–Offaly be abolished, with the creation of two new three-seat constituencies: Laois and Offaly. Each new constituency would elect 3 deputies. These changes took effect for the 2024 general election under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023.
+ Changes to the Laois–Offaly constituencyYearsTDsBoundariesNotes4In the Dáil record, the constituency was variously described as Leix and Offaly and Offaly, Leix1923–20115County Laois and County OffalyNamed as Leix–Offaly.;Renamed as Laoighis–Offaly from 1961;Renamed as Laois–Offaly from 2007.2011–20165County Laois;and County Offaly except the areas in the Tipperary North constituency.Transfer to Tipperary North of the electoral divisions of Aghacon, Barna, Cangort, Cullenwaine, Dunkerrin, Ettagh, Gorteen, Mountheaton, Shinrone, Templeharry, in the former rural district of Roscrea No. 2, to Tipperary North.2016–2020—Constituency abolished.Split into constituencies of Laois and Offaly.2020–20245County Laois; except the area in the Kildare South constituency;County Offaly; except the area in the Kildare South constituency.Parts in Kildare South: County Laois, the electoral divisions of: Ballybrittas, Jamestown, Kilmullen, Portarlington South, in the former rural district of Mountmellick; County Offaly, the electoral division of: Portarlington North, in the former rural district of Tullamore.2024–—Constituency abolished.Split into constituencies of Laois and Offaly.
TDs
Elections
2020 general election
2011 general election
2007 general election
2002 general election
1997 general election
1992 general election
1989 general election
1987 general election
1984 by-election Fianna Fáil TD Bernard Cowen died on 24 January 1984. The by-election was held on 14 June 1984, was won by Brian Cowen, son of the deceased TD.
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
1957 general election
1956 by-election Labour Party TD William Davin died on 1 March 1956. A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 30 April 1956.
1954 general election
1951 general election
1948 general election
1944 general election
1943 general election
1938 general election
1937 general election
1933 general election
1932 general election
September 1927 general election
June 1927 general election
1926 by-election Republican TD Seán McGuinness was disqualified on 30 November 1925. A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 18 February 1926.
1923 general election
1922 general election
1921 general election
See also Dáil constituencies Politics of the Republic of Ireland Historic Dáil constituencies Elections in the Republic of Ireland
References