Limerick City was a United Kingdom Parliament constituency in Ireland. It returned one MP 1801–1832, two MPs 1832–1885 and one thereafter. It was an original constituency represented in Parliament when the Union of Great Britain and Ireland took effect on 1 January 1801. It ceased to be represented in the United Kingdom Parliament in 1922.

Boundaries This was a borough constituency, comprising the parliamentary borough of Limerick in County Limerick. After 1885, It was south of Clare East but was otherwise surrounded by Limerick East.

Members of Parliament One member 1801–1832 ElectionMemberPartyNote 1801, 1 January Henry Deane Grady 1801: Co-opted 1802, 16 July Charles Vereker Tory Succeeded as the 2nd Viscount Gort 1817, 25 July Hon. John Vereker Tory Unseated on petition 1820, 3 July Thomas Spring Rice Whig Declared duly elected1832 Constituency allocated two seats

Two members 1832–1885 ElectionFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party 1832, 21 December William Roche Repeal Association Sir David Roche, Bt a Repeal Association 1841, 6 July John O'Brien Radical 1844, 9 July James Kelly Repeal Association 1847, 6 August Repeal Association John O'Connell a Repeal Association 1851, 1 August Henry Fitzalan-Howard Independent Whig 1852, 15 JulyRobert Potter b Ind. Irish Francis William Russell b Whig 1854, 28 October James O'Brien c Whig 1858, 15 February George Gavin d Ind. Irish 1858, 21 May James Spaight Conservative 1859, 5 May George Gavin Liberal Liberal 1871, 20 September Isaac Butt Home Rule League 1874, 5 February Richard O'Shaughnessy e Home Rule League 1879, 20 September Daniel Fitzgerald Gabbett Home Rule League 1883, 16 November Edward McMahon Home Rule League1885 Constituency allocated one seat

Notes:- a Resigned. b Died. c Appointed a Judge of the Irish Court of Queen's Bench. d Unseated on petition and new writ issued. e Appointed Registrar of Petty Sessions Clerk.

One member 1885–1922 ElectionMemberParty 1885, 27 November Henry Joseph Gill Irish Parliamentary 1888, 17 April Francis Arthur O'Keefe Irish Parliamentary 1892, 7 July Irish National Federation 1895, 13 July John Daly Irish National League 1895, 11 September Francis Arthur O'Keefe Irish National Federation 1900, 4 October Michael Joyce Irish Parliamentary Party 1918, 14 December Michael Colivet Sinn Féin1922 Constituency abolished

Elections In 1801–1832 and 1885–1922 the constituency used the first past the post electoral system to fill its one seat. In 1832–1885 the block vote was used to elect two members and first past the post to return one member at by-elections.

Elections in the 1830s

Elections in the 1840s

Roche resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1850s O'Connell resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

Potter's death caused a by-election.

O'Brien resigned after being appointed a judge of the Queen's Bench, causing a by-election.

On petition, Gavin was unseated, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s

Elections in the 1870s Russell's death caused a by-election.

Butt's death caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1880s

O'Shaughnessy resigned after being appointed a registrar of petty sessions clerk, causing a by-election.

For the 1885 election, the seat was reduced to one MP.

Elections in the 1890s

Daly, who was serving a term of life imprisonment, was elected unopposed after the Official Nationalist candidate (O'Keefe) withdrew in his favour. As a convicted felon, Daly was not eligible to sit in the House of Commons, and the election was declared void.

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1910s

See also List of UK Parliament Constituencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland

References

The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), 2nd edition edited (in one volume) by F. W. S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)