Historic Dáil constituencies facts for kids
This page lists Dáil constituencies that have been used for elections to Dáil Éireann from the 1918 election to the next general election.
Overview of legislation and seat distribution
In the case of the First Dáil, the constituencies were created for the House of Commons of the United Kingdom; in the case of the Second Dáil, they were created for the Northern Ireland House of Commons and the House of Commons of Southern Ireland. Although only Sinn Féin members took their seats as TDs in the revolutionary period of Dáil Éireann, MPs from other parties were invited; on this basis, all constituencies used in 1918 and 1921 are included in this list of Dáil constituencies. From the Fourth Dáil on, they were adjusted by Irish legislation.
Alterations to constituencies take effect on the dissolution of the Dáil sitting when a revision is made; therefore, any by-elections take place according to the constituency boundaries in place at the previous election.
Period | Legislation | ×1 | ×2 | ×3 | ×4 | ×5 | ×6 | ×7 | ×8 | ×9 | Total C | Total TDs | Elections |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1918–1921 | Redistribution of Seats (Ireland) Act 1918 | 101 | 2 | 103 | 105 | 1918 | |||||||
1921–1922 | Government of Ireland Act 1920 | 3 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 38 | 180 | 1921 | |||
1922–1923 | 3 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 128 | 1922 | ||||
1923–1937 | Electoral Act 1923 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 153 | 1923, June 1927, Sept. 1927, 1932, 1933 | |||
1937–1948 | Electoral (Revision of Constituencies) Act 1935 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 34 | 138 | 1937, 1938, 1943, 1944 | |||||
1948–1961 | Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 40 | 147 | 1948, 1951, 1954, 1957 | ||||||
1961–1969 | Electoral (Amendment) Act 1961 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 38 | 144 | 1961, 1965 | ||||||
1969–1977 | Electoral (Amendment) Act 1969 | 26 | 14 | 2 | 42 | 144 | 1969, 1973 | ||||||
1977–1981 | Electoral (Amendment) Act 1974 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 42 | 148 | 1977 | ||||||
1981–1987 | Electoral (Amendment) Act 1980 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 41 | 166 | 1981, Feb. 1982, Nov. 1982 | ||||||
1987–1992 | Electoral (Amendment) Act 1983 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 41 | 166 | 1987, 1989 | ||||||
1992–1997 | Electoral (Amendment) Act 1990 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 41 | 166 | 1992 | ||||||
1997–2002 | Electoral (Amendment) Act 1995 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 41 | 166 | 1997 | ||||||
2002–2007 | Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1998 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 42 | 166 | 2002 | ||||||
2007–2011 | Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 43 | 166 | 2007 | ||||||
2011–2016 | Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 43 | 166 | 2011 | ||||||
2016–2020 | Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013 | 13 | 16 | 11 | 40 | 158 | 2016 | ||||||
2020–date | Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017 | 9 | 17 | 13 | 39 | 160 | 2020 |
List of constituencies
- Notes
- Constituencies which include all or part of two or more counties are attributed to the first county mentioned in the constituency name or (if none) the predominant county.
- Constituency names are based upon those used in the Oireachtas database of former members, except that borough division names in 1918 and 1977 are not placed in brackets. These names are sometimes not identical to those used in electoral legislation, i.e. compass points always follow the county or borough name in the database.
- In Irish legislation up to 1961, constituencies in the cities of Cork and Dublin (then known as county boroughs) were designated as borough constituencies. The official designation of borough and county constituencies under Irish electoral law ended in 1969. In UK legislation, relevant for the constituencies of the First and Second Dáil, it was also used to designate Belfast, Limerick, Londonderry and Waterford in 1918, and Belfast in 1921.
Constituency | County or city | Created | Abolished | Seats |
---|---|---|---|---|
Antrim | Antrim | 1921 | 1922 | 7 |
Antrim East | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Antrim Mid | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Antrim North | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Antrim South | Antrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Armagh | Armagh | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
Armagh Mid | Armagh | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Armagh North | Armagh | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Armagh South | Armagh | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Athlone–Longford | Westmeath / Longford | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
Belfast Cromac | Belfast | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Belfast Duncairn | Belfast | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Belfast East | Belfast | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
Belfast Falls | Belfast | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Belfast North | Belfast | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
Belfast Ormeau | Belfast | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Belfast Pottinger | Belfast | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Belfast Shankill | Belfast | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Belfast South | Belfast | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
Belfast St. Anne's | Belfast | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Belfast Victoria | Belfast | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Belfast West | Belfast | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
Belfast Woodvale | Belfast | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
County Carlow | Carlow | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Carlow–Kildare | Carlow / Kildare | 1937 | 1948 | 4 |
Carlow–Kilkenny | Carlow / Kilkenny | 1921 | 1937 | 4,5 |
Carlow–Kilkenny | Carlow / Kilkenny | 1948 | 5 | |
Cavan | Cavan | 1921 | 1977 | 3,4,3 |
Cavan East | Cavan | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Cavan–Monaghan | Cavan / Monaghan | 1977 | 5,4,5 | |
Cavan West | Cavan | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Clare | Clare | 1921 | 4,5,4,3,4 | |
Clare East | Clare | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Clare–South Galway | Clare / Galway | 1969 | 1977 | 3 |
Clare West | Clare | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Cork Borough | Cork city | 1921 | 1969 | 4,5,4,5 |
Cork City | Cork city | 1918 | 1921 | 2 |
Cork City | Cork city | 1977 | 1981 | 5 |
Cork City North-West | Cork city | 1969 | 1977 | 3 |
Cork City South-East | Cork city | 1969 | 1977 | 3 |
Cork East | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Cork East | Cork | 1923 | 1937 | 5 |
Cork East | Cork | 1948 | 1961 | 3 |
Cork East | Cork | 1981 | 4 | |
Cork East and North East | Cork | 1921 | 1923 | 3 |
Cork Mid | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Cork Mid | Cork | 1961 | 1981 | 4,5 |
Cork Mid, North, South, South East and West |
Cork | 1921 | 1923 | 8 |
Cork North | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Cork North | Cork | 1923 | 1961 | 3,4,3 |
Cork North-Central | Cork city | 1981 | 5,4 | |
Cork North East | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Cork North-East | Cork | 1961 | 1981 | 5,4 |
Cork North-West | Cork | 1981 | 3 | |
Cork South | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Cork South | Cork | 1948 | 1961 | 3 |
Cork South-Central | Cork city | 1981 | 5,4 | |
Cork South East | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Cork South-East | Cork | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
Cork South-West | Cork | 1961 | 3 | |
Cork West | Cork | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Cork West | Cork | 1923 | 1961 | 5,3 |
Donegal | Donegal | 1921 | 1937 | 6,8 |
Donegal | Donegal | 1977 | 1981 | 5 |
Donegal | Donegal | 2016 | 5 | |
Donegal East | Donegal | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Donegal East | Donegal | 1937 | 1961 | 4 |
Donegal–Leitrim | Donegal / Leitrim | 1969 | 1977 | 3 |
Donegal North | Donegal | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Donegal North-East | Donegal | 1961 | 1977 | 3 |
Donegal North-East | Donegal | 1981 | 2016 | 3 |
Donegal South | Donegal | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Donegal South-West | Donegal | 1961 | 1969 | 3 |
Donegal South-West | Donegal | 1981 | 2016 | 3 |
Donegal West | Donegal | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Donegal West | Donegal | 1937 | 1961 | 3 |
Down | Down | 1921 | 1922 | 8 |
Down East | Down | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Down Mid | Down | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Down North | Down | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Down South | Down | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Down West | Down | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin Artane | Dublin city | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
Dublin Ballyfermot | Dublin city | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
Dublin Bay North | Dublin city | 2016 | 5 | |
Dublin Bay South | Dublin city | 2016 | 4 | |
Dublin Cabra | Dublin city | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
Dublin Central | Dublin city | 1969 | 1977 | 4 |
Dublin Central | Dublin city | 1981 | 5,4,3,4 | |
Dublin Clontarf | Dublin city | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin Clontarf | Dublin city | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
Dublin College Green | Dublin city | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin County | Dublin | 1921 | 1969 | 6,8,5,3,5 |
Dublin County Mid | Dublin | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
Dublin County North | Dublin | 1969 | 1981 | 4,3 |
Dublin County South | Dublin | 1969 | 1981 | 3 |
Dublin County West | Dublin | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
Dublin Fingal | Fingal | 2016 | 5 | |
Dublin Finglas | Dublin city | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
Dublin Harbour | Dublin city | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin Mid | Dublin city | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
Dublin Mid-West | South Dublin | 2002 | 3,4 | |
Dublin County North | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin North | Dublin city | 1923 | 1937 | 8 |
Dublin North | Dublin | 1981 | 2016 | 3,4 |
Dublin North-Central | Dublin city | 1948 | 2016 | 3,4,3,4,3 |
Dublin North-East | Dublin city | 1937 | 1977 | 3,5,4 |
Dublin North-East | Dublin city | 1981 | 2016 | 4,3 |
Dublin North-West | Dublin city | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
Dublin North-West | Dublin city | 1937 | 1977 | 5,3,4 |
Dublin North-West | Dublin city | 1981 | 4,3 | |
Dublin Pembroke | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin Rathdown | Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown | 2016 | 3 | |
Dublin Rathmines | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin Rathmines West | Dublin city | 1977 | 1981 | 3 |
Dublin County South | Dublin | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin South | Dublin city | 1921 | 1948 | 4,7 |
Dublin South | Dublin | 1981 | 2016 | 5 |
Dublin South-Central | Dublin city | 1948 | 5,4,3,5,4,5,4 | |
Dublin South-East | Dublin city | 1948 | 2016 | 3,4 |
Dublin South-West | Dublin city | 1948 | 1977 | 5,4 |
Dublin South-West | Dublin (South Dublin) | 1981 | 4,5,4,5 | |
Dublin St. James's | Dublin city | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin St. Michan's | Dublin city | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin St. Patrick's | Dublin city | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin St. Stephen's Green | Dublin city | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Dublin Townships | Dublin city | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
Dublin University | Universities | 1918 | 1937 | 2,4,3 |
Dublin West | Dublin | 1981 | 5,4,3,4 | |
Dún Laoghaire | Dublin (Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown) | 1977 | 4,5,4 | |
Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown | Dublin | 1948 | 1977 | 3,4 |
Fermanagh and Tyrone | Fermanagh / Tyrone | 1921 | 1922 | 8 |
Fermanagh North | Fermanagh | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Fermanagh South | Fermanagh | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Galway | Galway | 1921 | 1937 | 7,9 |
Galway Connemara | Galway | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Galway East | Galway | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Galway East | Galway | 1937 | 1948 | 4 |
Galway East | Galway | 1961 | 1969 | 5 |
Galway East | Galway | 1977 | 4,3,4,3 | |
Galway North | Galway | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Galway North | Galway | 1948 | 1961 | 3 |
Galway North-East | Galway | 1969 | 1977 | 3 |
Galway South | Galway | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Galway South | Galway | 1948 | 1961 | 3 |
Galway West | Galway | 1937 | 3,4,5 | |
Kerry | Kerry | 1923 | 1937 | 7 |
Kerry | Kerry | 2016 | 5 | |
Kerry East | Kerry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Kerry–Limerick West | Kerry / Limerick | 1921 | 1923 | 8 |
Kerry North | Kerry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Kerry North | Kerry | 1937 | 2011 | 4,3 |
Kerry North–West Limerick | Kerry | 2011 | 2016 | 3 |
Kerry South | Kerry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Kerry South | Kerry | 1937 | 2016 | 3 |
Kerry West | Kerry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Kildare | Kildare | 1923 | 1937 | 3 |
Kildare | Kildare | 1948 | 1997 | 3,4,3,5 |
Kildare North | Kildare | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Kildare North | Kildare | 1997 | 3,4 | |
Kildare South | Kildare | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Kildare South | Kildare | 1997 | 3,4 | |
Kildare–Wicklow | Kildare / Wicklow | 1921 | 1923 | 5 |
Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
Kilkenny North | Kilkenny | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Kilkenny South | Kilkenny | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
King's County | King's | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Laois | Laois | 2016 | 2020 | 3 |
Laois–Offaly | Laois / Offaly | 1921 | 2016 | 4,5 |
Laois–Offaly | Laois / Offaly | 2020 | 5 | |
Leitrim | Leitrim | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Leitrim | Leitrim | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
Leitrim–Roscommon North | Leitrim / Roscommon | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
Leitrim–Sligo | Leitrim / Sligo | 1923 | 1937 | 7 |
Limerick | Limerick | 1923 | 1948 | 7 |
Limerick | Limerick | 2011 | 2016 | 3 |
Limerick City | Limerick city | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Limerick City | Limerick | 2011 | 4 | |
Limerick City–Limerick East | Limerick | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
Limerick County | Limerick | 2016 | 3 | |
Limerick East | Limerick | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Limerick East | Limerick | 1948 | 2011 | 4,5 |
Limerick West | Limerick | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Limerick West | Limerick | 1948 | 2011 | 3 |
Londonderry | Londonderry | 1921 | 1922 | 5 |
Londonderry City | Derry city | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Londonderry North | Londonderry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Londonderry South | Londonderry | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Longford | Longford | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Longford–Roscommon | Longford / Roscommon | 1992 | 2007 | 4 |
Longford–Westmeath | Longford / Westmeath | 1921 | 1937 | 4,5 |
Longford–Westmeath | Longford / Westmeath | 1948 | 1992 | 5,4 |
Longford–Westmeath | Longford / Westmeath | 2007 | 4 | |
Louth | Louth | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Louth | Louth | 1923 | 3,4,5 | |
Louth–Meath | Louth / Meath | 1921 | 1923 | 5 |
Mayo | Mayo | 1997 | 5,4 | |
Mayo East | Mayo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Mayo East | Mayo | 1969 | 1997 | 3 |
Mayo North | Mayo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Mayo North | Mayo | 1923 | 1969 | 4,3 |
Mayo North and West | Mayo | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
Mayo South | Mayo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Mayo South | Mayo | 1923 | 1969 | 5,4 |
Mayo South–Roscommon South | Mayo / Roscommon | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
Mayo West | Mayo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Mayo West | Mayo | 1969 | 1997 | 3 |
Meath | Meath | 1923 | 1937 | 3 |
Meath | Meath | 1948 | 2007 | 3,4,5 |
Meath East | Meath | 2007 | 3 | |
Meath North | Meath | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Meath South | Meath | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Meath West | Meath | 2007 | 3 | |
Meath–Westmeath | Meath / Westmeath | 1937 | 1948 | 5 |
Monaghan | Monaghan | 1921 | 1977 | 3 |
Monaghan North | Monaghan | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Monaghan South | Monaghan | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
National University | Universities | 1918 | 1937 | 1,4,3 |
Offaly | Offaly | 2016 | 2020 | 3 |
Queen's County | Queen's | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Queen's University of Belfast | Universities | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Queen's University of Belfast | Universities | 1921 | 1922 | 4 |
Roscommon | Roscommon | 1923 | 1969 | 4,3,4 |
Roscommon | Roscommon | 1981 | 1992 | 3 |
Roscommon–Galway | Roscommon / Galway | 2016 | 3 | |
Roscommon–Leitrim | Roscommon / Leitrim | 1969 | 1981 | 3 |
Roscommon–South Leitrim | Roscommon / Leitrim | 2007 | 2016 | 3 |
Roscommon North | Roscommon | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Roscommon South | Roscommon | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Sligo | Sligo | 1937 | 1948 | 3 |
Sligo–Leitrim | Sligo / Leitrim | 1948 | 2007 | 5,4,3,4 |
Sligo–Leitrim | Sligo / Leitrim | 2016 | 4 | |
Sligo–North Leitrim | Sligo / Leitrim | 2007 | 2016 | 3 |
Sligo–Mayo East | Sligo / Mayo | 1921 | 1923 | 5 |
Sligo North | Sligo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Sligo South | Sligo | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Tipperary | Tipperary | 2016 | 5 | |
Tipperary North | Tipperary | 1948 | 2016 | 3 |
Tipperary East | Tipperary | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Tipperary Mid | Tipperary | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Tipperary Mid, North and South | Tipperary | 1921 | 1923 | 4 |
Tipperary North | Tipperary | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Tipperary North | Tipperary | 1948 | 2016 | 3 |
Tipperary South | Tipperary | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Tipperary South | Tipperary | 1948 | 2016 | 4,3,4,3 |
Tyrone North East | Tyrone | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Tyrone North West | Tyrone | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Tyrone South | Tyrone | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Waterford | Waterford | 1923 | 4,3,4 | |
Waterford City | Waterford city | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Waterford County | Waterford | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Waterford–Tipperary East | Waterford / Tipperary | 1921 | 1923 | 5 |
Westmeath | Westmeath | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Westmeath | Westmeath | 1992 | 2007 | 3 |
Wexford | Wexford | 1921 | 4,5,4,5 | |
Wexford North | Wexford | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Wexford South | Wexford | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Wicklow | Wicklow | 1923 | 3,4,5 | |
Wicklow East | Wicklow | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
Wicklow West | Wicklow | 1918 | 1921 | 1 |
See also
- Irish House of Commons for constituencies in the Irish House of Commons between 1297 and 1801.
- List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland for constituencies in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
- List of Irish constituencies for a combined list of all Irish constituencies.