Cork County (UK Parliament constituency)

UK parliamentary constituency in Ireland, 1801–1885

For the Irish county, see County Cork.

County Cork

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
County| County Cork
1801–1885
Seats| 2
Created from| County Cork
Replaced by| East Cork, Mid Cork, North Cork, North East Cork, South Cork, South East Cork and West Cork

County Cork was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, represented in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1801 to 1885 it returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

## Boundaries[edit]

This constituency comprised the whole of County Cork, except for the city of Cork and the boroughs of Bandon, Kinsale, Mallow and Youghal.

Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the borough constituencies in the county other than Cork City were abolished and the county constituency was replaced by the constituencies of East Cork, Mid Cork, North Cork, North East Cork, South Cork, South East Cork and West Cork. These constituencies were first used at the 1885 general election.

## Members of Parliament[edit]

Year | 1st member | 1st party | 2nd member | 2nd party

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|  | 1801, 1 January  | Viscount Boyle |  | Robert Uniacke Fitzgerald |
|  | 1806, 17 November  | Whig | Hon. George Ponsonby | Whig
| 1807, 16 May  | Viscount Bernard | Tory
| 1812, 23 October  | Viscount Ennismore | Tory[1]
| 1818, 29 June  | Viscount Kingsborough | Whig
| 1826, 21 June  | Robert King | Whig[2]
| 1827, 4 December  | John Boyle | Whig[3]
| 1830, 12 August  | Viscount Boyle | Whig[2]
|  | 1832, 29 December  | Feargus O'Connor[4] | Repeal Association[2][5] | Garrett Standish Barry | Repeal Association[2]
| 1835, 5 June  | Richard Longfield | Conservative[2][5]
| 1837, 18 August  | Edmond Roche | Repeal Association[2][5][6]
| 1841, 15 July  | Daniel O'Connell | Repeal Association[2][5]
| 1847, 2 July  | Maurice Power | Repeal Association[5][6]
|  | 1852, 22 March  | Whig[7] | Vincent Scully | Ind. Irish[8][9]
| 1855, 23 April  | Rickard Deasy | Whig[10][11]
| 1857, 10 April  | Alexander McCarthy | Ind. Irish[12][13]
|  | 1859, 10 May  | Liberal | Vincent Scully | Liberal
| 1861, 28 February  | Nicholas Leader | Conservative
| 1865, 29 July  | George Richard Barry | Liberal
| 1867, 3 February  | Arthur Smith-Barry | Liberal
| 1868, 30 November  | McCarthy Downing | Liberal
|  | 1874, 9 February  | Home Rule | William Shaw | Home Rule
| 1879, 20 February  | David la Touche Colthurst | Home Rule
1885 | Constituency divided: see East Cork, Mid Cork, North Cork, North East Cork, South Cork, South East Cork and West Cork

## Elections[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)

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* 1801 (co-option), (1) Henry Boyle, Viscount Boyle, later Earl of Shannon (to 1807), b. 8 August 1771, d. 22 April 1842 aged 70; (2) Robert Uniacke Fitzgerald, b. 17 March 1751, d. 20 December 1814 aged 63
* 1806 17 November, George Ponsonby (to 1812), b. 1773, d. 5 June 1863 aged 90
* 1807 16 May, James Bernard, Viscount Bernard, later Earl of Bandon (to 1818), b. 14 June 1785, d. 31 October 1856 aged 71
* 1812 23 October, Richard Hare, Viscount Ennismore (to 1827), b. 20 March 1773, d. 24 September 1827 aged 54
* 1818 29 June, Edward King, Viscount Kingsborough,(Whig), b. 16 November 1795, d. 27 February 1837 aged 41
* 1826, 21 June, Robert Henry King, after Earl of Kingston (to 1832), (Whig), b. 4 October 1796, d. 21 January 1867 aged 70
* 1827, 4 December, John Boyle, b. 13 March 1803, d. 6 December 1874 aged 71

### Elections in the 1830s[edit]

General election 1830: County Cork[5][2][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

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| Whig | Robert King | Unopposed
| Whig | Richard Boyle | Unopposed
Registered electors | 3,138  |
| Whig hold
| Whig gain from Tory
General election 1831: County Cork[5][2][14] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

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| Whig | Robert King | Unopposed
| Whig | Richard Boyle | Unopposed
Registered electors | 3,178  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold
General election 1832: County Cork[5][2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

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| Irish Repeal | Feargus O'Connor | 1,837  | 32.0
| Irish Repeal | Garrett Standish Barry | 1,778  | 30.9
| Tory | Francis Bernard | 994  | 17.3
| Tory | Abraham Morris  | 737  | 12.8
| Whig | Robert King | 401  | 7.0
| Tory | Richard Hedges Becher  | 2  | 0.0
| Whig | Thomas Stephen Coppinger  | 0  | 0.0
Majority  | 784  | 13.6
Turnout | 3,022  | 78.8
Registered electors | 3,835  |
| Irish Repeal gain from Whig
| Irish Repeal gain from Whig
General election 1835: County Cork[5][2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Irish Repeal (Whig) | Feargus O'Connor | 1,630  | 31.0  | −1.0
| Irish Repeal (Whig) | Garrett Standish Barry | 1,613  | 30.7  | −0.2
| Conservative | Richard Longfield | 1,027  | 19.5  | +6.7
| Conservative | Francis Bernard | 984  | 18.7  | +1.4
Majority  | 586  | 11.2  | −2.4
Turnout | c. 2,627 | c. 66.9 | c. −11.9
Registered electors | 3,926  |  |
| Irish Repeal hold | Swing | −2.5  |
| Irish Repeal hold | Swing | −2.1  |

* On petition, O'Connor was declared not qualified and unseated in favour of Longfield

General election 1837: County Cork[5][2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Irish Repeal (Whig) | Garrett Standish Barry | 1,902  | 31.3  | +0.6
| Irish Repeal (Whig) | Edmond Roche | 1,902  | 31.3  | +0.3
| Conservative | Richard Longfield | 1,148  | 18.9  | −0.6
| Conservative | James King  | 1,114  | 18.4  | −0.3
Majority  | 754  | 12.4  | +1.2
Turnout | c. 3,035 | c. 62.2 | c. −4.7
Registered electors | 4,878  |  |
| Irish Repeal hold | Swing | +0.5  |
| Irish Repeal hold | Swing | +0.4  |

### Elections in the 1840s[edit]

General election 1841: County Cork[5][2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Irish Repeal | Daniel O'Connell | 1,274  | 38.5  | +7.2
| Irish Repeal | Edmond Roche | 1,274  | 38.5  | +7.2
| Conservative | Nicholas Leader | 406  | 12.3  | −7.1
| Conservative | Robert Longfield | 357  | 10.8  | −7.1
Majority  | 868  | 26.2  | +13.8
Turnout | 1,680  | 45.3  | −16.9
Registered electors | 3,706  |  |
| Irish Repeal hold | Swing | +7.2  |
| Irish Repeal hold | Swing | +7.2  |

O'Connell's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 2 July 1847: Cork County[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Irish Repeal | Maurice Power | 833  | 60.5  | −16.5
| Conservative | Nicholas Leader | 544  | 39.5  | +16.4
Majority  | 289  | 21.0  | −5.2
Turnout | 1,377  | 30.8  | −14.5
Registered electors | 4,474 (1847 figure)  |  |
| Irish Repeal hold | Swing | −16.5  |
General election 1847: County Cork[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Irish Repeal | Maurice Power | Unopposed
| Irish Repeal | Edmond Roche | Unopposed
Registered electors | 4,474  |  |
| Irish Repeal hold
| Irish Repeal hold

### Elections in the 1850s[edit]

Power was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Saint Lucia, resigning and causing a by-election.

By-election, 22 March 1852: Cork County[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Independent Irish | Vincent Scully | 3,956  | 56.0  | New
| Conservative | Moreton Frewen  | 3,105  | 44.0  | New
Majority  | 851  | 12.0  | N/A
Turnout | 7,061  | 53.5  | N/A
Registered electors | 13,192  |  |
| Independent Irish gain from Irish Repeal | Swing | N/A |
General election 1852: County Cork[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Independent Irish | Vincent Scully | Unopposed
| Whig | Edmond Roche | Unopposed
Registered electors | 13,192  |  |
| Independent Irish gain from Irish Repeal
| Whig gain from Irish Repeal

Roche was elevated to the peerage, becoming 1st Baron Fermoy and causing a by-election.

By-election, 23 April 1855: Cork County[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Whig | Rickard Deasy | 3,238  | 41.2  | N/A
| Whig | William Hare[15] | 3,000  | 38.1  | N/A
| Independent Irish | Alexander McCarthy | 1,628  | 20.7  | N/A
Majority  | 238  | 3.1  | N/A
Turnout | 7,866 (est)  | 59.6 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 13,192  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 1857: County Cork[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Whig | Rickard Deasy | 6,788  | 42.7  | N/A
| Independent Irish | Alexander McCarthy | 6,265  | 39.4  | N/A
| Independent Irish | Vincent Scully | 2,852  | 17.9  | N/A
Majority  | 523  | 3.3  | N/A
Turnout | 7,953 (est)  | 50.9  | N/A
Registered electors | 15,633  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
| Independent Irish hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 1859: County Cork[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Liberal | Rickard Deasy | Unopposed
| Liberal | Vincent Scully | Unopposed
Registered electors | 15,716  |  |
| Liberal hold
| Liberal hold

Deasy was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 5 July 1859: Cork County[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Liberal | Rickard Deasy | Unopposed
Registered electors | 15,716  |  |
| Liberal hold

### Elections in the 1860s[edit]

Deasy was appointed Attorney-General for Ireland, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 5 March 1860: Cork County[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Liberal | Rickard Deasy | 5,674  | 62.6  | N/A
| Conservative | Charles Noel | 3,395  | 37.4  | New
Majority  | 2,279  | 25.2  | N/A
Turnout | 9,069  | 57.7  | N/A
Registered electors | 15,716  |  |
| Liberal hold

Deasy resigned after being appointed a Baron of the Exchequer, causing a by-election.

By-election, 28 February 1861: Cork County[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Conservative | Nicholas Leader | 6,441  | 69.3  | N/A
| Liberal | Edmund Roche  | 2,852  | 30.7  | N/A
Majority  | 3,589  | 38.6  | N/A
Turnout | 9,293  | 59.1  | N/A
Registered electors | 15,716  |  |
| Conservative gain from Liberal
General election 1865: County Cork[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Liberal | George Richard Barry | 7,593  | 45.1  | N/A
| Conservative | Nicholas Leader | 6,958  | 41.3  | N/A
| Liberal | Vincent Scully | 2,298  | 13.6  | N/A
Turnout | 14,551 (est)  | 93.4 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 15,572  |  |
Majority  | 635  | 3.8  | N/A
| Liberal hold
Majority  | 4,660  | 27.7  | N/A
| Conservative gain from Liberal

Barry's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 23 February 1867: Cork County[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Liberal | Arthur Smith-Barry | Unopposed
| Liberal hold
General election 1868: County Cork[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Liberal | McCarthy Downing | 8,011  | 43.7  | N/A
| Liberal | Arthur Smith-Barry | 6,610  | 36.0  | −9.1
| Liberal | Robert Boyle  | 3,717  | 20.3  | N/A
Majority  | 2,893  | 15.7  | +11.9
Turnout | 9,169 (est)  | 56.9 (est)  | −36.5
Registered electors | 16,105  |  |
| Liberal hold
| Liberal gain from Conservative

### Elections in the 1870s[edit]

General election 1874: County Cork[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Home Rule | William Shaw | Unopposed
| Home Rule | McCarthy Downing | Unopposed
Registered electors | 15,633  |  |
| Home Rule gain from Liberal
| Home Rule gain from Liberal

Downing's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 17 Feb 1879: Cork County[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Home Rule | David la Touche Colthurst | 8,157  | 80.1  | N/A
| Conservative | Sir George St John Colthurst 6th Baronet  | 2,027  | 19.9  | New
Majority  | 6,130  | 60.2  | N/A
Turnout | 10,184  | 66.3  | N/A
Registered electors | 15,634  |  |
| Home Rule hold | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1880s[edit]

General election 1880: County Cork[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| Home Rule | William Shaw | 5,354  | 43.3  | N/A
| Home Rule | David la Touche Colthurst | 3,584  | 29.0  | N/A
| Home Rule | Andrew Kettle | 3,430  | 27.7  | N/A
Majority  | 154  | 1.3  | N/A
Turnout | 6,184 (est)  | 40.4 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 15,321  |  |
| Home Rule hold | Swing | N/A |
| Home Rule hold | Swing | N/A |

## References[edit]

1. ^ Salmon, Philip. "HARE, Hon. Richard (1773-1827)". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 220.
3. ^ Salmon, Philip. "BOYLE, Hon. John (1803-1874), of Marston, Frome, Som". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
4. ^ O'Connor was re-elected in 1835 but unseated on petition in favour of Richard Longfield on 5 June 1835, on the grounds that O'Connor failed the property qualification required of Members of Parliament.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Walker, B.M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714127.
6. ^ a b "Ireland". Morning Advertiser. 13 August 1847. p. 3 - via British Newspaper Archive.
7. ^ "Election News". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. 24 July 1841. p. 5 - via British Newspaper Archive.
8. ^ ""Success" of Mr. Scully". Cork Constitution. 13 March 1852. p. 2 - via British Newspaper Archive.
9. ^ "County Cork Election". Weekly Freeman's Journal. 20 March 1852. p. 3 - via British Newspaper Archive.
10. ^ "Cork Election". Newry Examiner and Louth Advertiser. 21 April 1855. p. 3 - via British Newspaper Archive.
11. ^ "Undue Influence Exerted in the Irish Elections". Belfast News-Letter. 22 April 1857. p. 2 - via British Newspaper Archive.
12. ^ "Cork County". Dublin Evening Mail. 20 March 1857. p. 2 - via British Newspaper Archive.
13. ^ "Dublin Weekly Nation". 4 April 1857. p. 7 - via British Newspaper Archive.
14. ^ a b Salmon, Philip. "Co. Cork". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
15. ^ "Irish Business in Parliament". Dublin Weekly Nation. 21 April 1855. pp. 8–9 - via British Newspaper Archive.

* The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), 2nd edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973)
* Walker, B.M., ed. (1978). Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. ISBN 0901714127.,Leigh Rayment, David Dickson Old World Colony Corl and South Munster 1630-1830 Cork University Press 2005, Famine in West Cork Fr. Patrick Hickey Mercier Press 2002
* Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 5)

* v
* t
* e

Parliamentary constituencies in County Cork and Borough/City

Parliament of Ireland
to 1800|

* County Cork (????-1800)
* Baltimore (1614-1800)
* Bandonbridge (1614-1800)
* Castlemartyr (1676-1800)
* Charleville (1673-1800)
* Clonakilty (1613-1800)
* Cork City (1264-1800)
* Doneraile (1640-1800)
* Kinsale (1334?-1800)
* Mallow (1613-1800)
* Midleton (1671-1800)
* Rathcormack (c.1611-1800)
* Youghal (1374-1800)

Westminster 1801-1922
and First Dáil 1918|

* Bandon (1801-1885)
* Cork County (1801-1885)
* Cork City (1801-1922)
* East Cork (1885-1922)
* Mid Cork (1885-1922)
* North Cork (1885-1922)
* North East Cork (1885-1922)
* South Cork (1885-1922)
* South East Cork (1885-1922)
* West Cork (1885-1922)
* Kinsale (1801-1885)
* Mallow (1801-1885)
* Youghal (1801-1885)

Dáil Éireann
1918–present|

| Historic|

* Cork Borough (1921-1969)
* Cork City (1977-1981)
* Cork City North-West (1969-1977)
* Cork City South-East (1969-1977)
* Cork East and North East (1921-1923)
* Cork Mid (1961-1981)
* Cork Mid, North, South, South East and West (1921-1923)
* Cork North (1923-1961)
* Cork North-East (1961-1981)
* Cork South (1948-1961)
* Cork South-East (1937-1948)
* Cork West (1923-1961)

|

Current|

* Cork East (1923-1937, 1948-1961, 1981-)
* Cork North-Central (1981-)
* Cork North-West (1981-)
* Cork South-Central (1981-)
* Cork South-West (1961-)

European Parliament
1979-present|

* Munster (1979-2004)
* South (2004-)

Constituencies in Ireland by county

Republic of Ireland|

* Carlow
* Cavan
* Clare
* Cork
* Donegal
* Dublin
* Galway
* Kerry
* Kildare
* Kilkenny
* Laois
* Leitrim
* Limerick
* Longford
* Louth
* Mayo
* Meath
* Monaghan
* Offaly
* Roscommon
* Sligo
* Tipperary
* Waterford
* Westmeath
* Wexford
* Wicklow

Northern Ireland|

* Antrim
* Armagh
* Down
* Fermanagh
* Londonderry
* Tyrone

*[c.]: circa
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