Meath East | |
---|---|
Dáil constituency | |
Major settlements | |
Current constituency | |
Created | 2007 |
Seats |
|
Local government area | County Meath |
EP constituency | Midlands–North-West |
Meath East is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects four deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs) on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).
It was established by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2005 when the previous 5-seat Meath constituency was divided into two 3-seat constituencies of Meath East and Meath West.[1] It was first used at the 2007 general election to the 30th Dáil.
It spans the eastern portions of County Meath. It includes Nobber, Slane, Dunboyne, Kells and Ashbourne, the constituency's biggest town.[2]
The Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017 defines the constituency as:[3]
"In the county of Meath the electoral divisions of:
- Grangegeeth, Killary, in the former Rural District of Ardee No. 2;
- Culmullin, Donaghmore, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Kilbrew, Killeen, Kilmore, Rathfeigh, Ratoath, Rodanstown, Skreen, in the former Rural District of Dunshaughlin;
- Ceanannas Mór Rural, Cruicetown, Maperath, Moynalty, Newcastle, Newtown, Nobber, Staholmog, in the former Rural District of Kells;
- Ardcath, Duleek, Mellifont, Stamullin, in the former Rural District of Meath;
- Ardmulchan, Castletown, Domhnach Phádraig, Kentstown, Painestown, Rathkenny, Slane, Stackallan, Tara, in the former Rural District of Navan;
- and Ceannanas Mór Urban."
The Constituency Review Report 2023 of the Electoral Commission recommended that at the next general election, Meath East be increased to a four-seat constituency with the transfer of territory from Cavan–Monaghan and Louth.[4]
For the 2024 general election, the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 defines the constituency as:[5]
"In the county of Meath, the electoral divisions of:
- Drumcondra, Grangegeeth, Killary, in the former Rural District of Ardee No. 2;
- Culmullin, Donaghmore, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Kilbrew, Killeen, Kilmore, Rathfeigh, Ratoath, Rodanstown, Skreen, in the former Rural District of Dunshaughlin;
- Ardagh, Carrickleck, Ceanannas Mór Rural, Cruicetown, Kilmainham, Maperath, Moybolgue, Moynalty, Newcastle, Newtown, Nobber, Posseckstown, Staholmog, Trohanny, in the former Rural District of Kells;
- Ardcath, Duleek, Julianstown, Mellifont, Stamullin, in the former Rural District of Meath;
- Ardmulchan, Castletown, Domhnach Phádraig, Kentstown, Painestown, Rathkenny, Slane, Stackallan, Tara, in the former Rural District of Navan;
- and Ceannanas Mór Urban."
Years | TDs | Boundaries | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007–2011 | 3 | Drumcondra, Grangegeeth, Killary, in the former Rural District of Ardee No. 2; Culmullin, Donaghmore, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Kilbrew, Killeen, Kilmore, Rathfeigh, Ratoath, Rodanstown, Skreen, in the former Rural District of Dunshaughlin; Ardagh, Carrickleck, Cruicetown, Kilmainham, Moybolgue, Moynalty, Newcastle, Newtown, Nobber, Posseckstown, Trohanny, in the former Rural District of Kells; Ardcath, Duleek, Julianstown, Mellifont, St. Mary's (part), Stamullin, in the former Rural District of Meath; Ardmulchan, Castletown, Domhnach Phádraig, Kentstown, Painestown, Rathkenny, Slane, Stackallan, Tara, in the former Rural District of Navan. |
Created from Meath[6] |
2011–2020 | 3 | Drumcondra, Grangegeeth, Killary, in the former Rural District of Ardee No. 2; Culmullin, Donaghmore, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Kilbrew, Killeen, Kilmore, Rathfeigh, Ratoath, Rodanstown, Skreen, in the former Rural District of Dunshaughlin; Ardagh, Carrickleck, Ceanannas Mór Rural, Cruicetown, Kilmainham, Maperath, Moybolgue, Moynalty, Newcastle, Newtown, Nobber, Posseckstown, Staholmog, Trohanny, in the former Rural District of Kells; Ardcath, Duleek, Mellifont, Stamullin, in the former Rural District of Meath; Ardmulchan, Castletown, Domhnach Phádraig, Kentstown, Painestown, Rathkenny, Slane, Stackallan, Tara, in the former Rural District of Navan; and the town of Kells. |
Ceanannas Mór Urban, and of Ceanannas Mór Rural, Maperath and Staholmog in the former Rural District of Kells; and transfer to Louth of
Julianstown and St. Mary’s (part in County Meath) in the former Rural District of Meath. |
2020– | 3 | In County Meath, the electoral divisions of[3] Grangegeeth, Killary, in the former Rural District of Ardee No. 2; Culmullin, Donaghmore, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Kilbrew, Killeen, Kilmore, Rathfeigh, Ratoath, Rodanstown, Skreen, in the former Rural District of Dunshaughlin; Ceanannas Mór Rural, Cruicetown, Maperath, Moynalty, Newcastle, Newtown, Nobber, Staholmog, in the former Rural District of Kells; Ardcath, Duleek, Mellifont, Stamullin, in the former Rural District of Meath; Ardmulchan, Castletown, Domhnach Phádraig, Kentstown, Painestown, Rathkenny, Slane, Stackallan, Tara, in the former Rural District of Navan; and Ceannanas Mór Urban. |
Transfer to Cavan–Monaghan of[11] Ardagh, Carrickleck, Kilmainhamm, Moybolgue, Posseckstown and Trohanny, in the former Rural District of Kells, and Drumcondra in the former Rural District of Ardee No. 2. |
Teachtaí Dála (TDs) for Meath East 2007– | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Key to parties
| |||||||
Dáil | Election | Deputy (Party) |
Deputy (Party) |
Deputy (Party) | |||
30th | 2007[12] | Thomas Byrne (FF) |
Mary Wallace (FF) |
Shane McEntee (FG) | |||
31st | 2011[13] | Dominic Hannigan (Lab) |
Regina Doherty (FG) | ||||
2013 by-election[14] | Helen McEntee (FG) | ||||||
32nd | 2016[15] | Thomas Byrne (FF) | |||||
33rd | 2020[16] | Darren O'Rourke (SF) |
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.
^ *: Outgoing TD
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ||||
Labour | Eilish Balfe | |||
Independent | Charles Bobbett | |||
Green | Ruadháin Bonham | |||
Independent | Joseph Bonner | |||
Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne[*] | |||
Party for Animal Welfare | Carolyn Fahy | |||
Irish Freedom | Martin Gurr | |||
PBP–Solidarity | Clara McCormack[a] | |||
Fine Gael | Helen McEntee[*] | |||
National Party | Jean Murray | |||
Independent | Sivakumar Murugadoss | |||
Fianna Fáil | Caroline O'Reilly | |||
Sinn Féin | Darren O'Rourke[*] | |||
Aontú | Emer Tóibín | |||
Fine Gael | Sharon Tolan | |||
Independent | Gillian Toole | |||
Independent | Raymond Westlake | |||
Sinn Féin | Maria White | |||
Quota: |
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
Sinn Féin | Darren O'Rourke | 24.4 | 10,223 | 10,617 | ||||||
Fine Gael | Helen McEntee[*] | 18.3 | 7,691 | 7,856 | 8,123 | 8,333 | 8,937 | 9,416 | 12,984 | |
Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne[*] | 14.4 | 6,039 | 6,095 | 6,348 | 7,637 | 8,222 | 8,999 | 9,622 | |
Fine Gael | Regina Doherty[*] | 10.0 | 4,180 | 4,272 | 4,330 | 4,505 | 4,643 | 5,122 | ||
Green | Seán McCabe | 7.8 | 3,251 | 3,756 | 4,036 | 4,167 | 4,677 | 5,999 | 6,547 | |
Independent | Joe Bonner | 7.0 | 2,934 | 3,053 | 3,240 | 3,338 | 4,037 | |||
Independent | Sharon Keogan | 5.9 | 2,475 | 2,570 | 2,939 | 3,024 | ||||
Fianna Fáil | Deirdre Geraghty-Smith | 4.6 | 1,941 | 1,977 | 2,047 | |||||
Aontú | Emer Tóibín | 3.9 | 1,634 | 1,705 | ||||||
Labour | Annie Hoey | 2.1 | 874 | |||||||
Solidarity–PBP | Andrew Keegan[a] | 1.4 | 569 | |||||||
Workers' Party | Seamus McDonagh | 0.3 | 134 | |||||||
Electorate: 66,507 Valid: 41,945 Spoilt: 253 Quota: 10,487 Turnout: 42,198 (63.4%) |
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||||
Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne | 26.1 | 10,818 | |||||||||
Fine Gael | Helen McEntee[*] | 18.3 | 7,556 | 7,656 | 7,671 | 7,749 | 7,841 | 7,887 | 8,237 | 8,435 | 9,958 | |
Fine Gael | Regina Doherty[*] | 16.5 | 6,830 | 6,889 | 6,899 | 6,979 | 7,064 | 7,109 | 7,247 | 7,477 | 9,612 | |
Sinn Féin | Darren O'Rourke | 14.0 | 5,780 | 5,860 | 5,970 | 6,017 | 6,096 | 6,341 | 6,637 | 7,236 | 8,556 | |
Independent | Joe Bonner | 6.0 | 2,482 | 2,527 | 2,545 | 2,600 | 2,665 | 2,857 | 3,215 | 3,825 | ||
Labour | Dominic Hannigan[*] | 5.5 | 2,270 | 2,307 | 2,325 | 2,350 | 2,494 | 2,525 | 2,680 | 3,084 | ||
Social Democrats | Aisling O'Neill | 4.1 | 1,715 | 1,740 | 1,801 | 1,885 | 2,148 | 2,300 | 2,463 | |||
Independent | Sharon Keogan | 3.7 | 1,528 | 1,579 | 1,600 | 1,663 | 1,709 | 1,805 | ||||
Direct Democracy | Ben Gilroy | 1.9 | 794 | 809 | 841 | 876 | 899 | |||||
Green | Seán Ó Buachalla | 1.9 | 766 | 784 | 801 | 853 | ||||||
Renua | Sarah Tyrrell | 1.3 | 523 | 554 | 563 | |||||||
Workers' Party | Seamus McDonagh | 0.8 | 326 | 335 | ||||||||
Electorate: 65,588 Valid: 41,388 Spoilt: 240 Quota: 10,348 Turnout: 63.5% |
Fine Gael TD Shane McEntee died on 21 December 2012. A by-election was held to fill the vacancy on 27 March 2013. The seat was won by his daughter Helen McEntee.
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
Fine Gael | Helen McEntee | 38.5 | 9,356 | 9,547 | 11,473 | |
Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne | 32.9 | 8,002 | 8,106 | 9,582 | |
Sinn Féin | Darren O'Rourke | 13.0 | 3,165 | 3,370 | ||
Direct Democracy | Ben Gilroy | 6.5 | 1,568 | 1,793 | ||
Labour | Eoin Holmes | 4.6 | 1,112 | 1,245 | ||
Green | Seán Ó Buachalla | 1.7 | 423 | |||
Workers' Party | Seamus McDonagh | 1.1 | 263 | |||
Independent | Mick Martin | 0.8 | 190 | |||
Independent | Charlie Keddy | 0.5 | 110 | |||
Independent | Gerard O'Brien | 0.3 | 73 | |||
Independent | Jim Tallon | 0.2 | 47 | |||
Electorate: 64,164 Valid: 24,309 Spoilt: 259 Quota: 12,155 Turnout: 38.3% |
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||
Labour | Dominic Hannigan | 21.0 | 8,994 | 9,383 | 9,669 | 12,382 | |
Fine Gael | Shane McEntee[*] | 20.6 | 8,794 | 8,994 | 9,142 | 10,143 | |
Fine Gael | Regina Doherty | 20.3 | 8,677 | 8,858 | 9,305 | 10,447 | |
Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne[*] | 13.4 | 5,715 | 5,892 | 7,354 | 8,173 | |
Sinn Féin | Michael Gallagher | 8.9 | 3,795 | 3,958 | 4,025 | ||
Independent | Joe Bonner | 5.8 | 2,479 | 2,866 | 3,074 | ||
Fianna Fáil | Nick Killian | 6.2 | 2,669 | 2,719 | |||
New Vision | Sharon Keogan | 2.7 | 1,168 | ||||
Green | Seán Ó Buachalla | 1.1 | 461 | ||||
Electorate: 64,873 Valid: 42,752 Spoilt: 346 (0.8%) Quota: 10,689 Turnout: 43,098 (66.4%) |
Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||||
Fianna Fáil | Mary Wallace[*] | 25.3 | 10,901 | ||||||||
Fianna Fáil | Thomas Byrne | 18.2 | 7,834 | 7,866 | 8,267 | 8,469 | 8,628 | 9,079 | 9,770 | 10,077 | |
Fine Gael | Shane McEntee[*] | 15.7 | 6,766 | 6,789 | 6,877 | 6,941 | 7,106 | 7,351 | 7,870 | 11,619 | |
Labour | Dominic Hannigan | 11.9 | 5,136 | 5,193 | 5,337 | 5,575 | 6,095 | 6,554 | 7,247 | 8,596 | |
Fine Gael | Regina Doherty | 10.1 | 4,363 | 4,377 | 4,508 | 4,764 | 4,992 | 5,164 | 5,972 | ||
Independent | Brian Fitzgerald | 6.0 | 2,586 | 2,617 | 2,659 | 2,816 | 3,008 | 3,334 | |||
Sinn Féin | Joanne Finnegan | 3.9 | 1,695 | 1,723 | 1,762 | 1,859 | 2,008 | ||||
Green | Seán Ó Buachalla | 3.1 | 1,330 | 1,355 | 1,417 | 1,547 | |||||
Independent | Joseph Bonner | 2.7 | 1,170 | 1,195 | 1,223 | ||||||
Progressive Democrats | Sirena Campbell | 2.2 | 957 | 983 | |||||||
Independent | A. J. Cahill | 0.6 | 269 | ||||||||
Electorate: 67,443 Valid: 43,007 Spoilt: 359 (0.8%) Quota: 10,752 Turnout: 43,366 (64.3%) |