Limerick East was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1948 to 2011. The method of election was the single transferable vote form of proportional representation (PR-STV).
History and boundaries
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 East and Limerick West.
It encompassed the whole of Limerick City Council, together with the Castleconnell electoral area and part of the Bruff electoral area of Limerick County Council and the Ballyglass electoral area of Clare County Council. It was primarily an urban constituency but had a large rural hinterland, and contained small parts of County Clare.[1]
The constituency elected 4 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) from 1948 to 1961, and 5 deputies from 1961 to 2011.
While support for left-wing parties has usually been strong in the city of Limerick, the constituency as a whole was long considered a stronghold of the Progressive Democrats (PD), supplying at least one PD TD in all general elections from 1987 until 2007.
The report of the Constituency commission published its final recommendations on 23 October 2007. As a result of population decline, Limerick East was replaced by a 4-seat constituency called Limerick City.[2] Most of the rural parts of Limerick East were transferred to the new Limerick constituency.[3]
- Limerick East – Constituency boundaries
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TDs
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
2007 general election
2007 general election: Limerick East[25] |
Party | Candidate | % 1st Pref | Count 1 | Count 2 | Count 3 | Count 4 | Count 5 | Count 6 | Count 7 | Count 8 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Willie O'Dea |
38.6 |
19,082 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Peter Power |
7.2 |
3,569 |
8,669 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Michael Noonan |
15.2 |
7,507 |
8,484 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Jan O'Sullivan |
10.3 |
5,098 |
6,236 |
6,271 |
6,352 |
6,556 |
7,236 |
8,114 |
9,051 |
|
Fine Gael |
Kieran O'Donnell |
10.3 |
5,094 |
5,566 |
5,584 |
5,644 |
5,816 |
6,148 |
6,498 |
6,966 |
|
Progressive Democrats |
Tim O'Malley |
6.8 |
3,354 |
4,211 |
4,268 |
4,308 |
4,387 |
4,526 |
4,670 |
5,776 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Noreen Ryan |
2.8 |
1,391 |
2,943 |
3,245 |
3,278 |
3,419 |
3,536 |
4,110 |
|
|
Sinn Féin |
Maurice Quinlivan |
4.2 |
2,081 |
2,480 |
2,494 |
2,513 |
2,686 |
2,839 |
|
|
|
Green Party |
Trish Forde Brennan |
2.6 |
1,296 |
1,420 |
1,425 |
1,432 |
1,619 |
|
|
|
|
Independent |
John Devane |
0.7 |
330 |
457 |
461 |
469 |
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
Cathal McCarthy |
0.4 |
188 |
232 |
233 |
236 |
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
Denis Riordan |
0.4 |
186 |
207 |
209 |
210 |
|
|
|
|
|
Christian Solidarity |
Conor O'Donoghue |
0.4 |
171 |
202 |
203 |
205 |
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
Patrick Moore |
0.1 |
28 |
38 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electorate: 76,874 Valid: 49,375 Spoilt: 431 (0.9%) Quota: 8,230 Turnout: 49,806 (64.8%) |
2002 general election
2002 general election: Limerick East[24] |
Party | Candidate | % 1st Pref | Count 1 | Count 2 | Count 3 | Count 4 | Count 5 | Count 6 | Count 7 | Count 8 | Count 9 | Count 10 | Count 11 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Willie O'Dea |
26.3 |
13,174 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Michael Noonan |
18.9 |
9,451 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Peter Power |
7.8 |
3,881 |
5,838 |
5,879 |
5,969 |
6,007 |
6,080 |
6,253 |
6,425 |
6,851 |
9,491 |
|
|
Progressive Democrats |
Tim O'Malley |
9.8 |
4,885 |
5,327 |
5,415 |
5,490 |
5,506 |
5,631 |
5,782 |
5,872 |
6,324 |
6,953 |
7,723 |
|
Labour Party |
Jan O'Sullivan |
9.3 |
4,629 |
5,048 |
5,193 |
5,255 |
5,356 |
5,715 |
5,927 |
6,323 |
6,958 |
7,256 |
7,467 |
|
Fine Gael |
Mary Jackman |
8.9 |
4,468 |
4,712 |
5,409 |
5,497 |
5,529 |
5,657 |
5,842 |
5,979 |
6,569 |
6,986 |
7,162 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Eddie Wade |
5.8 |
2,918 |
4,029 |
4,042 |
4,084 |
4,105 |
4,134 |
4,266 |
4,323 |
4,529 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Patrick Kennedy |
4.2 |
2,092 |
2,313 |
2,366 |
2,434 |
2,567 |
2,650 |
2,840 |
3,379 |
|
|
|
|
Independent |
John Gilligan |
2.3 |
1,176 |
1,315 |
1,333 |
1,379 |
1,576 |
1,680 |
1,920 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ind. Health Alliance |
Tom Ryan |
2.3 |
1,148 |
1,269 |
1,289 |
1,361 |
1,405 |
1,478 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Green Party |
Timothy Hourigan |
1.8 |
917 |
970 |
985 |
1,053 |
1,077 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
Michael Kelly |
1.3 |
677 |
736 |
751 |
764 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Party |
Nora Bennis |
1.0 |
479 |
536 |
545 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christian Solidarity |
Conor O'Donoghue |
0.2 |
86 |
95 |
96 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
Aidan Ryan |
0.1 |
19 |
27 |
29 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electorate: 80,593 Valid: 50,000 Spoilt: 513 (1.0%) Quota: 8,334 Turnout: 50,513 (62.7%) |
1998 by-election
Following the death of Labour Party TD Jim Kemmy, a by-election was held on 11 March 1998. The seat was won by the Labour Party candidate Jan O'Sullivan.
1997 general election
1997 general election: Limerick East[22] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Willie O'Dea |
12,581 |
25.3 |
1 |
1 |
|
Fine Gael |
Michael Noonan |
10,092 |
20.3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Eddie Wade |
4,798 |
9.7 |
3 |
8 |
|
Progressive Democrats |
Desmond O'Malley |
4,358 |
8.8 |
4 |
9 |
|
Labour Party |
Jim Kemmy |
2,702 |
5.4 |
5 |
11 |
|
Fine Gael |
Mary Jackman |
3,084 |
6.2 |
|
|
|
Democratic Left |
John Ryan |
3,403 |
6.9 |
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Peter Power |
2,362 |
4.8 |
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Jan O'Sullivan |
1,866 |
3.8 |
|
|
|
Progressive Democrats |
Eddie Creighton |
1,817 |
3.7 |
|
|
|
National Party |
Nora Bennis |
1,533 |
3.1 |
|
|
|
Green Party |
Eric Sheppard |
802 |
1.6 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Noel Hannon |
195 |
0.4 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Denis Riordan |
108 |
0.2 |
|
|
Electorate: 76,705 Valid: 49,701 Spoilt: 348 (0.7%) Quota: 8,284 Turnout: 50,049 (65.3%) |
1992 general election
1992 general election: Limerick East[21] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Willie O'Dea |
10,990 |
22.7 |
1 |
1 |
|
Progressive Democrats |
Desmond O'Malley |
8,304 |
17.2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Labour Party |
Jim Kemmy |
8,262 |
17.1 |
3 |
1 |
|
Fine Gael |
Michael Noonan |
5,437 |
11.2 |
4 |
11 |
|
Progressive Democrats |
Peadar Clohessy |
4,334 |
9.0 |
5 |
12 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Eddie Wade |
3,637 |
7.5 |
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Jan O'Sullivan |
3,091 |
6.4 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Mary Jackman |
3,084 |
6.2 |
|
|
|
Democratic Left |
John Ryan |
835 |
1.7 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Joe Harrington |
370 |
0.8 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Augustine Moore |
463 |
1.0 |
|
|
|
Sinn Féin |
Tom Clancy |
400 |
0.8 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Jude Williams |
118 |
0.2 |
|
|
Electorate: 71,136 Valid: 48,351 Spoilt: 721 (1.5%) Quota: 8,059 Turnout: 49,072 (69.0%) |
1989 general election
1989 general election: Limerick East[20] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Willie O'Dea |
9,658 |
20.8 |
1 |
1 |
|
Democratic Socialist Party |
Jim Kemmy |
9,168 |
19.8 |
2 |
1 |
|
Progressive Democrats |
Desmond O'Malley |
8,385 |
18.1 |
3 |
1 |
|
Fine Gael |
Michael Noonan |
5,805 |
12.5 |
4 |
7 |
|
Progressive Democrats |
Peadar Clohessy |
4,233 |
9.1 |
5 |
8 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Eddie Wade |
3,073 |
6.6 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Mary Jackman |
2,715 |
5.9 |
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Anthony Brommel |
2,298 |
5.0 |
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Declan Leddin |
1,006 |
2.2 |
|
|
Electorate: 66,471 Valid: 46,341 Spoilt: 499 (1.1%) Quota: 7,724 Turnout: 46,840 (70.5%) |
1987 general election
1987 general election: Limerick East[19] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Progressive Democrats |
Desmond O'Malley |
12,358 |
24.9 |
1 |
1 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Willie O'Dea |
9,268 |
18.7 |
2 |
1 |
|
Progressive Democrats |
Peadar Clohessy |
6,069 |
12.2 |
3 |
|
|
Democratic Socialist Party |
Jim Kemmy |
5,920 |
11.9 |
4 |
|
|
Fine Gael |
Michael Noonan |
5,913 |
11.9 |
5 |
|
|
Fine Gael |
Tom O'Donnell |
2,968 |
6.0 |
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Frank Prendergast |
2,201 |
4.4 |
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Richard O'Flaherty |
2,111 |
4.3 |
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Michael Parkes |
1,254 |
2.5 |
|
|
|
Sinn Féin |
Pádraig Malone |
565 |
1.1 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Martin Nugent |
353 |
0.7 |
|
|
|
Workers' Party |
Fergal Grant |
246 |
0.5 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Declan O'Lehane |
241 |
0.5 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Denis Riordan |
87 |
0.2 |
|
|
|
Independent |
John Donovan |
59 |
0.1 |
|
|
Electorate: ? Valid: 49,613 Quota: 8,269 Turnout: |
November 1982 general election
November 1982 general election: Limerick East[18] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Desmond O'Malley |
10,615 |
22.5 |
1 |
1 |
|
Fine Gael |
Tom O'Donnell |
9,058 |
19.2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Willie O'Dea |
7,306 |
15.5 |
3 |
|
|
Fine Gael |
Michael Noonan |
5,631 |
11.9 |
4 |
|
|
Labour Party |
Frank Prendergast |
4,793 |
10.2 |
5 |
|
|
Democratic Socialist Party |
Jim Kemmy |
4,125 |
8.7 |
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Michael Herbert |
3,204 |
6.8 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
John O'Sullivan |
1,308 |
2.8 |
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
John Bourke |
859 |
1.8 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Richard Power |
177 |
0.4 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Patrick Moore |
145 |
0.3 |
|
|
Electorate: ? Valid: 47,221 Quota: 7,871 Turnout: |
February 1982 general election
February 1982 general election: Limerick East[17] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Desmond O'Malley |
9,049 |
19.1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Fine Gael |
Tom O'Donnell |
8,514 |
18.0 |
2 |
1 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Willie O'Dea |
7,425 |
15.7 |
3 |
|
|
Democratic Socialist Party |
Jim Kemmy |
6,502 |
13.7 |
4 |
|
|
Fine Gael |
Michael Noonan |
4,527 |
9.6 |
5 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Peadar Clohessy |
4,947 |
10.5 |
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Michael Lipper |
2,684 |
5.7 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Patrick Kennedy |
1,938 |
4.1 |
|
|
|
Independent |
John Frawley |
676 |
1.4 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Win Harrington |
516 |
1.1 |
|
|
|
Independent |
John Gilligan |
343 |
0.7 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Joseph Harrington |
215 |
0.5 |
|
|
Electorate: ? Valid: 47,336 Quota: 7,890 Turnout: |
1981 general election
1981 general election: Limerick East[16] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Fine Gael |
Tom O'Donnell |
9,915 |
20.4 |
1 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Desmond O'Malley |
9,346 |
19.2 |
2 |
|
|
Fine Gael |
Michael Noonan |
4,311 |
8.9 |
3 |
|
|
Democratic Socialist Party |
Jim Kemmy |
4,190 |
8.6 |
4 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Peadar Clohessy |
5,256 |
10.8 |
5 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Willie O'Dea |
4,297 |
8.8 |
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Michael Lipper |
2,905 |
6.0 |
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Frank Prendergast |
2,840 |
5.8 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Richard Hourigan |
2,184 |
4.5 |
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Éamonn Cregan |
1,636 |
3.4 |
|
|
|
Independent |
John Frawley |
866 |
1.8 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Joseph Harrington |
844 |
1.7 |
|
|
Electorate: ? Valid: 48,590 Quota: 8,099 Turnout: |
1977 general election
1977 general election: Limerick East[15] |
Party | Candidate | % 1st Pref | Count 1 | Count 2 | Count 3 | Count 4 | Count 5 | Count 6 | Count 7 | Count 8 | Count 9 | Count 10 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Desmond O'Malley |
19.5 |
8,762 |
8,765 |
8,788 |
8,860 |
8,900 |
8,994 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Tom O'Donnell |
14.6 |
6,571 |
6,573 |
6,585 |
6,692 |
7,302 |
7,374 |
7,636 |
10,169 |
|
|
|
Independent |
Michael Lipper |
11.6 |
5,224 |
5,257 |
5,322 |
5,429 |
5,575 |
6,023 |
7,608 |
8,049 |
9,775 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Michael Herbert |
14.0 |
6,293 |
6,306 |
6,321 |
6,377 |
6,405 |
6,474 |
6,640 |
6,786 |
7,105 |
7,342 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Peadar Clohessy |
12.2 |
5,488 |
5,497 |
5,512 |
5,540 |
5,572 |
5,610 |
5,722 |
5,778 |
6,090 |
6,249 |
|
Labour Party |
Stephen Coughlan |
7.9 |
3,553 |
3,555 |
3,565 |
3,618 |
3,693 |
3,786 |
4,008 |
4,380 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Ted Russell |
6.7 |
3,022 |
3,024 |
3,030 |
3,097 |
3,403 |
3,521 |
3,684 |
|
|
|
|
Democratic Socialist Party |
Jim Kemmy |
5.2 |
2,333 |
2,348 |
2,413 |
2,476 |
2,530 |
2,920 |
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
Michael Crowe |
2.9 |
1,325 |
1,335 |
1,358 |
1,408 |
1,447 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Patrick Kennedy |
2.9 |
1,302 |
1,303 |
1,307 |
1,357 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
Win Harrington |
1.4 |
646 |
657 |
677 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sinn Féin (Workers' Party) |
Fergus Reynolds |
0.6 |
262 |
280 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent |
Joseph Harrington |
0.3 |
122 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electorate: 57,023 Valid: 44,903 Spoilt: 217 (0.5%) Quota: 8,981 Turnout: 45,120 (79.1%)[26] |
1973 general election
1973 general election: Limerick East[14] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Desmond O'Malley |
7,806 |
21.0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Fine Gael |
Tom O'Donnell |
6,841 |
18.4 |
2 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Michael Herbert |
4,532 |
12.2 |
3 |
|
|
Labour Party |
Stephen Coughlan |
5,495 |
14.8 |
4 |
|
|
Fine Gael |
Ted Russell |
3,523 |
9.5 |
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Michael Lipper |
3,292 |
8.9 |
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Peadar Clohessy |
3,242 |
8.7 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Patrick Kennedy |
2,456 |
6.6 |
|
|
Electorate: ? Valid: 37,187 Quota: 7,438 Turnout: |
1969 general election
1969 general election: Limerick East[13] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Fine Gael |
Tom O'Donnell |
6,438 |
17.9 |
1 |
|
|
Labour Party |
Stephen Coughlan |
6,362 |
17.7 |
2 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Desmond O'Malley |
5,960 |
16.6 |
3 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Michael Herbert |
4,985 |
13.9 |
4 |
|
|
Independent |
Hilda O'Malley |
3,361 |
9.4 |
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Michael Lipper |
3,222 |
9.0 |
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Liam Hickey |
2,838 |
7.9 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Patrick Kennedy |
1,821 |
5.1 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Patrick Clancy |
560 |
1.6 |
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Anthony Pratschke |
366 |
1.0 |
|
|
Electorate: ? Valid: 35,913 Quota: 7,183 Turnout: |
1968 by-election
Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Donogh O'Malley, a by-election was held on 22 May 1968. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Desmond O'Malley, nephew of the deceased TD.
1965 general election
1961 general election
1957 general election
1957 general election: Limerick East[9] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Donogh O'Malley |
7,501 |
20.7 |
1 |
1 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Paddy Clohessy |
5,178 |
14.3 |
2 |
|
|
Independent |
Ted Russell |
5,623 |
15.5 |
3 |
|
|
Fine Gael |
John Carew |
4,193 |
11.6 |
4 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Patrick Maguire |
3,455 |
9.5 |
|
|
|
Clann na Poblachta |
Stephen Coughlan |
3,395 |
9.4 |
|
|
|
Sinn Féin |
Pádraig Ó Maolcathaigh |
3,085 |
8.5 |
|
|
|
Labour Party |
Christopher Keyes |
2,098 |
5.8 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Patrick Donegan |
1,690 |
4.7 |
|
|
Electorate: ? Valid: 36,218 Quota: 7,244 Turnout: |
1954 general election
1954 general election: Limerick East[8] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Fine Gael |
John Carew |
5,362 |
14.2 |
1 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Donogh O'Malley |
6,860 |
18.1 |
2 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Tadhg Crowley |
4,857 |
12.8 |
3 |
|
|
Labour Party |
Michael Keyes |
5,035 |
13.3 |
4 |
|
|
Clann na Poblachta |
Stephen Coughlan |
5,652 |
14.9 |
|
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Paddy Clohessy |
4,458 |
11.8 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
James Reidy |
3,16 |
8.45 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
Denis Quish |
2,402 |
6.4 |
|
|
Electorate: ? Valid: 37,822 Quota: 7,565 Turnout: |
1952 by-election
Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Daniel Bourke, a by-election was held on 26 June 1952. The seat was won by the Fine Gael candidate John Carew.
1951 general election
1948 general election
1948 general election: Limerick East[5] |
Party |
Candidate |
1st Pref |
% |
Seat |
Count |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Daniel Bourke |
8,128 |
22.0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Fianna Fáil |
Robert Ryan |
4,187 |
11.4 |
2 |
|
|
Fine Gael |
James Reidy |
4,496 |
12.2 |
3 |
|
|
Labour Party |
Michael Keyes |
5,756 |
15.6 |
4 |
|
|
Fianna Fáil |
Timothy Crowley |
3,420 |
9.3 |
|
|
|
Fine Gael |
George C. Bennett |
3,326 |
9.0 |
|
|
|
Clann na Poblachta |
Ted Russell |
2,777 |
7.5 |
|
|
|
Clann na Talmhan |
Patrick Donegan |
2,131 |
5.8 |
|
|
|
Clann na Poblachta |
Seán Carroll |
1,533 |
4.2 |
|
|
|
Clann na Poblachta |
Thomas Malone |
1,125 |
3.1 |
|
|
Electorate: ? Valid: 36,879 Quota: 7,376 Turnout: |
See also
References
External links