Donegal South-West (Dáil constituency)

Donegal South-West was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas, from 1961 to 1969 and from 1981 to 2016. The constituency elected 3 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs). The method of election was the single transferable vote form of proportional representation (PR-STV).

Donegal South-West
Former Dáil Éireann
Parliamentary Constituency
Location of Donegal South-West within Ireland
Former constituency
Created1981
Abolished2016
Seats3
County councilCounty Donegal
Donegal South-West
Former Dáil Éireann
Parliamentary Constituency
Former constituency
Created1961
Abolished1969
Seats3
County/City councilCounty Donegal

History and boundaries

The constituency was first created for the 1961 general election. At the 1969 general election it was abolished and largely replaced by the Donegal–Leitrim constituency. It was recreated for the 1981 general election. It was located in the southern and western parts of County Donegal, it included the towns of Lifford, Donegal, Ballyshannon, Killybegs and Gweedore.[1] It was abolished again at the 2016 general election, and became part of the re-created Donegal constituency.

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009 defined the constituency as:

"The county of Donegal, except the part thereof which is comprised in the constituency of Donegal North-East."

TDs

TDs 1961–1969
Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Donegal South-West 1961–1969[2]
Key to parties
DáilElectionDeputy
(Party)		Deputy
(Party)		Deputy
(Party)
17th1961[3] Joseph Brennan
(FF)		 Cormac Breslin
(FF)		 Patrick O'Donnell
(FG)
18th1965[4]
19th1969 Constituency abolished. See Donegal–Leitrim

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.

TDs 1981–2016
Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Donegal South-West 1981–2016[2]
Key to parties
DáilElectionDeputy
(Party)		Deputy
(Party)		Deputy
(Party)
22nd1981[5] Pat "the Cope" Gallagher
(FF)		 Clement Coughlan
(FF)		 James White
(FG)
23rd1982 (Feb)[6] Dinny McGinley
(FG)
24th1982 (Nov)[7]
1983 by-election[8] Cathal Coughlan
(FF)
25th1987[9] Mary Coughlan
(FF)
26th1989[10]
27th1992[11]
28th1997[12] Tom Gildea
(Ind)
29th2002[13] Pat "the Cope" Gallagher
(FF)
30th2007[14]
2010 by-election[15] Pearse Doherty
(SF)
31st2011[16] Thomas Pringle
(Ind)
32nd2016 Constituency abolished. See Donegal

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

2011 general election
2011 general election: Donegal South-West[16]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5
Sinn Féin Pearse Doherty 33.0 14,262        
Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 19.9 8,589 9,128 9,287 10,587 11,369
Independent Thomas Pringle 13.5 5,845 7,031 7,364 9,139 10,175
Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan 11.5 4,956 5,172 5,259 5,655  
Fianna Fáil Brian Ó Domhnaill 11.1 4,789 5,147 5,236 5,724 8,834
Labour Party Frank McBrearty Jnr 5.1 2,209 2,882 3,003    
Independent Stephen McCahill 4.2 1,831 2,037 2,141    
Green Party John Duffy 1.2 527 668      
New Vision Anne Sweeney 0.6 255 382      
Electorate: 64,568   Valid: 43,263   Spoilt: 332 (0.8%)   Quota: 10,816   Turnout: 43,595 (67.5%)

    2010 by-election

    Following the resignation of Fianna Fáil TD Pat "the Cope" Gallagher on his election to the European Parliament in June 2009, a by-election was held on 25 November 2010. The seat was won by the Sinn Féin candidate Pearse Doherty.

    2010 by-election: Donegal South-West
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2Count 3Count 4
    Sinn Féin Pearse Doherty 39.85 13,719 13,736 15,188 16,897
    Fianna Fáil Brian Ó Domhnaill 21.33 7,344 7,358 7,636 8,069
    Fine Gael Barry O'Neill 18.66 6,424 6,442 7,313 8,182
    Independent Thomas Pringle 9.99 3,438 3,491 3,763  
    Labour Party Frank McBrearty Jnr 9.78 3,366 3,375    
    Independent Anne Sweeney 0.39 133      
    Electorate: 62,299   Valid: 34,424   Spoilt: 484   Quota: 17,213   Turnout: 57.39%

      2007 general election
      2007 general election: Donegal South-West[14]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2Count 3
      Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan 26.4 10,530    
      Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 24.1 9,606 9,976  
      Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 23.0 9,167 9,249 10,281
      Sinn Féin Pearse Doherty 21.2 8,462 8,551 9,263
      Labour Party Séamus Rodgers 2.8 1,111 1,120  
      Green Party Seán Ó Maolchallann 1.5 589 596  
      Independent John Doherty 1.0 388 397  
      Electorate: 60,829   Valid: 39,853   Spoilt: 421 (1.1%)   Quota: 9,964   Turnout: 40,274 (66.2%)

        2002 general election
        2002 general election: Donegal South-West[13]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2Count 3Count 4Count 5Count 6Count 7Count 8
        Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 21.7 7,740 7,843 7,960 8,202 8,502 9,281    
        Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan 20.4 7,257 7,380 7,465 7,547 8,335 8,757 8,932  
        Fine Gael James White 13.1 4,680 4,720 4,740 4,822 5,161 5,385 5,402 5,930
        Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 12.3 4,378 4,484 4,512 4,797 5,216 5,921 6,002 7,370
        Independent Joe Kelly 8.7 3,091 3,174 3,219 3,329 3,796      
        Sinn Féin Pearse Doherty 7.6 2,697 2,771 3,571 3,720 4,166 5,170 5,269  
        Independent Thomas Pringle 7.4 2,630 2,887 2,908 3,078        
        Sinn Féin Tom Dignam 3.2 1,133 1,148            
        Labour Party Séamus Rodgers 3.0 1,079 1,199 1,205          
        Independent Gwen Breslin 2.6 951              
        Electorate: 54,789   Valid: 35,635   Spoilt: 500 (1.4%)   Quota: 8,909   Turnout: 36,135 (65.9%)

          1997 general election
          1997 general election: Donegal South-West[12]
          Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
          Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan 6,597 20.3 1 6
          Fianna Fáil Enda Bonner 5,742 17.7
          Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 5,679 17.5 2 6
          Independent Tom Gildea 5,592 17.3 3 6
          Independent Fianna Fáil Patrick Kelly 4,123 12.7
          Fine Gael Frank O'Kelly 1,774 5.5
          Green Party Liz Cullen 1,366 4.2
          Labour Party Manus Brennan 1,361 4.2
          Independent Tom Kennedy 206 0.6
          Electorate: 51,479   Valid: 32,440   Spoilt: 454 (1.4%)   Quota: 8,111   Turnout: 32,894 (63.9%)

          1992 general election
          1992 general election: Donegal South-West[11]
          Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
          Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 7,870 26.4 1 1
          Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan 6,639 22.3 2 7
          Fine Gael James White 5,745 19.3
          Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 5,504 18.5 3 7
          Democratic Left Séamus Rodgers 1,825 6.1
          Independent Benny Mooney 700 2.4
          Sinn Féin Anna Rose Doherty 577 1.9
          Independent Fred Coll 539 1.8
          Sinn Féin John McCluskey 409 1.4
          Electorate: 48,528   Valid: 29,808   Spoilt: 688 (2.3%)   Quota: 7,453   Turnout: 30,496 (62.8%)

          1989 general election
          1989 general election: Donegal South-West[10]
          Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
          Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 8,332 28.9 1
          Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan 7,592 26.3 2
          Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 7,160 24.8 3
          Workers' Party Séamus Rodgers 2,768 9.6
          Fine Gael Francis O'Kelly 2,493 8.6
          Independent Thomas Kennedy 521 1.8
          Electorate: ?   Valid: 28,866   Quota: 7,217   Turnout:

          1987 general election
          1987 general election: Donegal South-West[9]
          Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
          Fianna Fáil Mary Coughlan 9,698 30.7 1 1
          Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 8,686 27.5 2 1
          Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 6,331 20.1 3
          Fine Gael Francis O'Kelly 3,072 9.7
          Workers' Party Séamus Rodgers 2,512 8.0
          Sinn Féin Eamonn Monaghan 1,276 4.0
          Electorate: ?   Valid: 31,575   Quota: 7,894   Turnout:

          1983 by-election

          Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Clement Coughlan, a by-election was held on 13 May 1983. The seat was won by the Fianna Fáil candidate Cathal Coughlan, brother of the deceased TD.

          1983 by-election: Donegal South-West[8]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1
          Fianna Fáil Cathal Coughlan 56.6 17,960
          Fine Gael J J Reid 31.1 9,870
          Workers' Party Séamus Rodgers 9.4 2,992
          Independent Eamon Ó Gallachoir 1.7 530
          Independent Leo Armstrong 1.2 373
          Independent Jim Tallon 0.1 37
          Electorate: 45,823   Valid: 31,762   Quota: 15,882   Turnout: 69.3%

            November 1982 general election
            November 1982 general election: Donegal South-West[7]
            Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
            Fianna Fáil Clement Coughlan 9,483 29.5 1 1
            Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 8,544 26.5 2 1
            Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 8,165 25.4 3 1
            Fine Gael Francis O'Kelly 4,035 12.5
            Workers' Party Séamus Rodgers 1,972 6.1
            Electorate: ?   Valid: 32,199   Quota: 8,050   Turnout:

            February 1982 general election
            February 1982 general election: Donegal South-West[6]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2Count 3
            Fianna Fáil Clement Coughlan 25.1 8,321    
            Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 22.9 7,576 8,011 8,270
            Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 21.6 7,160 7,419 10,925
            Fine Gael J J Reid 12.4 4,113 4,300  
            Independent Fianna Fáil Patrick Kelly 11.7 3,868 4,877 5,036
            Sinn Féin - The Workers' Party Séamus Rodgers 3.2 1,056    
            Independent Daniel Harkin 3.1 1,013    
            Electorate: 44,860   Valid: 33,107   Spoilt: 253 (0.8%)   Quota: 8,277   Turnout: 33,360 (74.4%)

              1981 general election
              1981 general election: Donegal South-West[5]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count 1Count 2Count 3Count 4
              Fianna Fáil Clement Coughlan 26.9 9,341      
              Fine Gael James White 23.4 8,117 8,167 12,271  
              Fianna Fáil Pat "the Cope" Gallagher 18.5 6,433 6,969 7,348 7,762
              Independent Fianna Fáil Patrick Kelly 16.2 5,626 5,684 6,197 7,038
              Fine Gael Dinny McGinley 14.9 5,199 5,216    
              Electorate: 44,860   Valid: 34,716   Spoilt: 335 (0.9%)   Quota: 8,680   Turnout: 35,051 (78.1%)

                1965 general election
                1965 general election: Donegal South-West[4]
                Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
                Fianna Fáil Joseph Brennan 7,020 27.3 1 1
                Fine Gael Patrick O'Donnell 6,691 26.1 2 1
                Fianna Fáil Cormac Breslin 6,240 24.3 3
                Fine Gael James White 4,298 16.7
                Fine Gael Frank Reid 1,432 5.6
                Electorate: ?   Valid: 25,681   Quota: 6,421   Turnout:

                1961 general election
                1961 general election: Donegal South-West[3]
                Party Candidate 1st Pref % Seat Count
                Fianna Fáil Joseph Brennan 7,045 29.8 1 1
                Fine Gael Patrick O'Donnell 5,512 23.3 2
                Fine Gael Christopher Gallagher 4,599 19.5
                Fianna Fáil Cormac Breslin 4,536 19.2 3
                Sinn Féin Séamus Rodgers 1,930 8.2
                Electorate: ?   Valid: 23,622   Quota: 5,906   Turnout:

                See also

                References
                1. "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2009: Schedule". Irish Statute Book database. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
                2. Walker, Brian M, ed. (1992). Parliamentary election results in Ireland, 1918–92. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0-901714-96-8. ISSN 0332-0286.
                3. "General election 1961: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
                4. "General election 1965: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
                5. "General election 1981: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
                6. "General election February 1982: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
                7. "General election November 1982: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
                8. "By-election 1983: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
                9. "General election 1987: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
                10. "General election 1989: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
                11. "General election 1992: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
                12. "General election 1997: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
                13. "General election 2002: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
                14. "General election 2007: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
                15. "By-election 2010: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
                16. "General election 2011: Donegal South–West". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 26 February 2011.

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