Sligo–Leitrim (Dáil constituency)

The Sligo–Leitrim constituency was created under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1947,[1] and first used for the 1948 general election. It replaced the two previous constituencies of Sligo and Leitrim, which had been created for the 1937 general election.

The constituency was abolished for the 2007 general election,[2] when it was replaced by two new constituencies: Roscommon–South Leitrim and Sligo–North Leitrim.

The Constituency Commission proposed in its 2012 report that at the next general election a new constituency called Sligo–Leitrim be created.[3] The report proposed changes to the constituencies of Ireland so as to reduce the total number of TDs from 166 to 158.[4]

It was established by the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2013.[5] It replaced the constituencies of Roscommon–South Leitrim and Sligo–North Leitrim, and comprises all of County Sligo; all of County Leitrim; nine electoral divisions of southern County Donegal, and thirty-six electoral divisions of western County Cavan.[3]

The 2013 Act defines the constituency as:[5]

"The county of Sligo;

and the county of Leitrim;

and, in the county of Donegal, the electoral divisions of:

Ballintra, Ballyshannon Rural, Bundoran Rural, Carrickboy, Cavangarden, Cliff, in the former Rural District of Ballyshannon;

Ballintra in the former Rural District of Donegal;

and the towns of Ballyshannon and Bundoran;

and, in the county of Cavan, the electoral divisions of:

Ballyconnell, Ballymagauran, Bawnboy, Benbrack, Bilberry, Carn, Diamond, Doogary, Kinawley, Lissanover, Pedara Vohers, Swanlinbar, Templeport, Tircahan, in the former Rural District of Bawnboy;

Ardue, Arvagh, Ballintemple, Bruce Hall, Corr, Crossdoney, Drumcarban, Kilconny, Killashandra, Killykeen, Milltown, Springfield, in the former Rural District of Cavan;

Derrylahan, Derrynananta, Dowra, Dunmakeever, Eskey, Killinagh, Teebane, Tuam, in the former Rural District of Enniskillen No. 2;

Loughdawan, Scrabby, in the former Rural District of Mullaghoran."

This change was not popular, and created an unusual cross-province constituency, with Cavan and Donegal voters feeling unrepresented. One spoiled vote in 2016 read "I LIVE IN CAVAN!"[6]

From the 2020 general election, the constituency comprises all of County Sligo; all of County Leitrim; nine electoral divisions of southern County Donegal, and eighteen electoral divisions of northern County Roscommon. The electoral divisions of County Cavan were transferred to the Cavan–Monaghan constituency.

The Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017 defines the constituency as:[7]

The county of Sligo;

and the county of Leitrim;

and in the county of Donegal, the electoral divisions of:

Ballintra, Ballyshannon Rural, Ballyshannon Urban, Bundoran Rural, Carrickboy, Cavangarden, Cliff, in the former Rural District of Ballyshannon;

Ballintra in the former Rural District of Donegal;

and Bundoran Urban;

and, in the county of Roscommon, the electoral divisions of:

Aghafin, Altagowlan, Ballyfarnan, Ballyformoyle, Boyle Rural, Boyle Urban, Crossna, Danesfort, Keadew, Kilbryan, Killukin, Lough Allen, Oakport, Rockingham, Rushfield, Tivannagh, Tumna North, Tumna South, in the former Rural District of Boyle No. 1."

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.

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.

John Ellis topped the poll on the first count, but unusually he was not elected.

Following the death of Fianna Fáil TD Stephen Flynn, a by-election was held on 1 March 1961. The seat was won by the Fine Gael candidate Joseph McLoughlin.